EdB

[AZCB34]

I am curious on your thoughts on the Bears picking Briggs in round 3. He seems to be cast as a MLB and they compare him to Zach Thomas and I have read alot of things that discuss his sideline to sideline abilities. Was this a pick as a hedge against Urlacher leaving after 2004? Or is this a depth issue? So far I am assuming it is a depth issue but With Urlachers salary going up substantially in 03, I wonder if the Bears are concerned about him leaving after 04.

 

[Ed B]

You're a Bears fan, you would probably know better than I, but as an outside observer I would assume that the Bears would rather play 2004 naked than play without Urlacher. Letting him go would be a public relations disaster of unheard of proportions. Jerry Angelo and the McCaskeys are dumb.....VERY dumb. Dumber than Bidwill and the Cards have ever been.

But the idea of them being dumb enough to let Urlacher walk, regardless of his price, is insane.

It would cripple their defense as much as it would cripple their fan base. They really are perilously thin at LB so I assume Briggs was just a depth pick. The only backup I can think of is that Brian Knight kid (#90) and he's just a body.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Ed B
You're a Bears fan, you would probably know better than I, but as an outside observer I would assume that the Bears would rather play 2004 naked than play without Urlacher. Letting him go would be a public relations disaster of unheard of proportions. Jerry Angelo and the McCaskeys are dumb.....VERY dumb. Dumber than Bidwill and the Cards have ever been.

But the idea of them being dumb enough to let Urlacher walk, regardless of his price, is insane.

It would cripple their defense as much as it would cripple their fan base. They really are perilously thin at LB so I assume Briggs was just a depth pick. The only backup I can think of is that Brian Knight kid (#90) and he's just a body.

That is what I assumed but with Urlacher's contract coming up in 04, I was wondering if they are talking up Briggs as an heir apparent or something. Don't listen to Chicago radio so I am not sure how his being drafted is being played.

Is McCaskey dumb enough to let Urlacher go? IMO, yes. Urlacher is the man with the fans. If he was cut or not resigned, there could very well be another Great Chicago Fire!

 

[Ed B]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Don't listen to Chicago radio so I am not sure how his being drafted is being played.

Honestly no one knows who Briggs is, but the draft generally is just getting hammered.

Everyone agrees that the trade was great but Michael Haynes is getting compared (justifiably) to Philip Daniels and the Grossman pick is getting panned like you wouldn't believe, they're already calling him Rex Wuerffel and stuff like that. If Angelo had any cred, it's gone.

The selection of 4 Florida players in one draft just makes him look like a total amateur which, frankly, I think he is.

The most lambasted pick aside from Grossman is the 2nd rounder, Tillman, which is ironic because the kid might actually be their nickel back this year.

And Haynes will probably be a B+ player but you know the fans here, they want superstars.

The Grossman pick was just an abomination though and I'll bet you it won't take long for that to become apparent. Bad attitude and no arm, at 6 feet tall, spells disaster for a QB.