The Bears will add a RB in the draft or through free agency. The Thomas Jones saga wasn't going away and he wasn't happy here so they let him go. Benson was going to start next year. Now a rookie or an average back will back him up.

Crazy question: Do the Bears go after Michael Turner now?

I just mean Benson is a tough runner like Larry Johnson and sat on the bench like LJ waiting for Priest Holmes to leave. Id like to see Benson get 20 carries per game and someone else get 5-10 carries.

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May 1, 2007 - CSFMB Civil War
“Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it.”

Just a guess but Willis will want a big contract, much more than Ahman Green just signed for.

When I saw the RB's that were being cut/were available, I knew the market for TJ was not going to be incredible. I remember the second half of last year where Benson clearly outplayed TJ. I also figured Jones was going to hold out this year as there was no way he would accept playing behind Benson.

It's a decent move. Sure I would have wanted more but there just was not a market. The Bears could secure half the offensive line for the next 5 years with this move, if they choose. They could draft a TE and a WR. They have lots of options with this move.

The only concern is that I am not sure what kind of player Benson will be if he is not motivated by fear of a lack of playing time. His main complaint in the past was lack of a defined role..well, here is your defined role. You better make the most of it.

Is Peterson good enough to be a primary backup? I think I would like to give him a shot in that role.

This pick also gives Jerry Angelo the chance to trade out of the first round to get a 2nd and 4th rounder like he loves to do!

How could they do what you claim? All the Bears got in exchange for Jones and their second round pick was the Jets' better second round pick.

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A tackle like Staley with the first. A guard like Sears with the second and Krutz.

I'll buy that. I think that he has that same type of ceiling if he can stay healthy...

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I'd love to move #31 down for a mid/later 2nd rounder, and a mid/later 3rd rounder like last season.

If we do that, it would be 2 #2's, 2 #3's, and a 4th.

I wouldn't make any moves until draft day. Maybe a guy falls to them at 31 that they weren't expecting...

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I'd agree with that.

NFL running back is the easiest position to fill. There are about 4 or 5 elite backs at any given generation of the NFL and then everybody else is the same. Some have slightly better numbers becasue that team has a better line.

Thomas Jones got every yard he was suppose to get. He rarely got yards that he shouldn't have gotton.

Look at Denver through this decade. They plug in a new ass hole every other week and he gets 100 yards.

There were 3 back ups on NFL rosters that would have gotton at least 1200 yards if given the carries.

The Giants back up

The Dallas back up

and Cedric Benson

There might be more but those come to mind.

Agreed. For the most part. There are some shitty backs, too, but I get what you're saying.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I'd take Michael Turner over 3/4 of the starters in the league.

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You know me like that.

I would be more comfortable going into next season with Turner than I am with Benson. He'll be a starter for someone.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

Or not

Chargers GM A.J. Smith doesn't sound willing to entertain trade offers for Michael Turner. "It's over," Smith told the New York Daily News. "It'll take a 1 and a 3." No one is going to pay that price, so it looks like Turner will indeed back up LaDainian Tomlinson again in 2007. Keeper league owners should remain patient with Turner. (Mar. 02, - 9:21 AM EST - Source: NY Daily News)

The Chargers will extend the first- and third-round tender to restricted free agent running back Michael Turner. "I'd just feel better to have him in '07," GM A.J. Smith said. "If anything happens to LT - God Almighty! - that he gets hurt." Turner can negotiate with teams, but no one will sign him to an offer sheet and want to give up both picks. While Turner is very likely to play in San Diego for $2.35 million, the Chargers can and probably would listen to separate trade offers until he signs. (Feb. 28, - 9:09 PM EST - Source: San Diego Union-Tribune)

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

i would of rather had a 3rd rounder than swapping 2nd round picks!

miami got a 2nd and a 7th from the pats for wes welker! great job jerry!

Keep in mind there are plenty of RBs in this market. The bears did what they could if they were going to trade him.

I would have loved if they kept TJ and let him finish off his contract. I have a feeling the content of the discussion between Angelo and Jones after the Super Bowl was Jones saying "if you don't trade me I will hold out."

He very nearly said as much in the media, didn't he? IIRC, he all but demanded a trade. I don't understand the controversy; neither running back was happy with the situation. Sure, we'd all love to have them both (no doubt the Bears would too), but it just wasn't going to happen. Angelo did what he could.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

He's gone and fine, they'll put a plan together and I'll see what they do.

But, this idea that we had to get rid of Jones because he would be unhappy makes me ill. What in his history tells you Jones would underperform because he is "unhappy"?

Everytime I see the guy he looks unhappy. He's been unhappy since they drafted Benson and had the 2 best years of his career. He's unhappy on the sidelines, unhappy when he scores, unhappy when he's drinking Gatorade. He gets off the bus unhappy. The guy might not have a career if he gets a better attitude.

I'm not singling you out Matt (wait, I just did) but others have said it too and I think that's ridiculous. Not Devin Hester ridiculous, just plain, old everyday ridiculous. He's a professional and would do his job well. That I'm sure of.

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You know me like that.

I don't think people believe he would underperform, as that does not seem to be in his nature. I think people believe he would not perform at all, as in not show up to camp. He has already shown a willingness to do that.

This was his last contract so he is desperate enough for one last payday to sit out a very long time.

I don't think sitting out his contract year as a 30 year-old RB does him any good. I think given the choice of sitting or collecting a check and demonstrating what he has, he's going to go out there and bust his ass.

But, we'll never know now.

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You know me like that.

There is no direct evidence - only circumstancial evidence that leads to that.

1) He apparently did request a trade before last season, meaning he may have acted as a professional last seaon, but he wasn't thrilled with his situation in Chicago.
2) Rosenhaus is his agent - we have seen what happens to other players entering the final year of their contracts with him advising.
3) Mentioned in #2, but Jones was in the last year of his deal, and Benson needs to get on the field for Chicago. Bears feel he'll be a stud, and if he did get 60% of the carries next year, what would that do for Jones free agent market ?

You are right - he hadn't complained publicly, but there were signs that a problem could arise.

I think the main reason the trade happened though was not Jones, It was all about benson.

I just don't think they wanted to find out. He's getting older, he didn't like his situation, he might have held out, and on top of it all, if he plays one year and walks you get nothing. Obviously there's risks either way, but the Bears certainly weren't being unreasonable, IMO. In truth, they did the man a favor.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

I'll just miss Baldinger saying "Thomas Benson" and "Cedric Jones". Good times.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I hadn't read the paper before my first post. But, from reading Angelo's comments, it looks like a favor is exactly what they did here.

It read like Angelo and Jones had an agreement that they would trade him if Jones gave them a solid effort in the 2006 season. So, fine.

I'm over this anyway. Sorry to prolong a thread that I'm already tired of (in every forum). Let's just sign a guy and prepare for the Lance Briggs discussions on why he's not in camp and who's fault it is.

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You know me like that.

Market must be down for Running Backs:

Willis McGahee is traded from Buffalo to Baltimore for a 2007 3rd/7th round picks and a 2008 3rd rounder.

Of course it is. Take the top 5 and the bottom 5 RB's out and the rest are all the same. That includes some back ups.

Althought I think because McGahee is younger the Jets would have done better to get him. He'll bet the same average guy for 4 years. Jones is declining right now.