Just about very new GM gets rid of the old GM's players. Poles has been more extreme than many other GMs in this regard, but he was forced to do so since he inherited a team with almost no young talent.

It's good that he realistically appraised what Pace left him. But we still have no idea if he's capable of building a championship roster. Right now, signs are mixed.

Just about very new GM gets rid of the old GM's players. Poles has been more extreme than many other GMs in this regard, but he was forced to do so since he inherited a team with almost no young talent.

He really has not committed long-term to anyone on the roster, has taken a flyer on a few guys that were early round picks, but failed elsewhere, but even those guys only have a year or two left on their deals.

The first big FA signing will tell quite a bit about how he plans to rebuild the roster. It will likely be a lineman, as there does seem to be some decent younger talent on the defensive line particularly that should be available.

The trade down stuff is getting more prevalent, good to see the Bears media types are reading the posts here, welcome aboard Parko, reading in other sections that your silly Bears takes are getting exposed on air. Jalen Carter looks like he could be your legit three technique, you still can get him if you trade back a pick or two, this gives you a key piece of your D and another early pick to address the plethora of needs on both sides of the ball.

The University of Georga may have a better defensive line than your Chicago Bears at this point of the season.

It's good that he realistically appraised what Pace left him. But we still have no idea if he's capable of building a championship roster. Right now, signs are mixed.

The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.

We still don't have a lot of information about Poles as a talent evaluator and draft strategist, but the early returns make me nervous.

Why would he pass on drafting Pickens at 48 then trade a significantly higher second round pick to Pittsburgh for Claypool?

Are 1.5 years of Claypool and 4 years of Brisker better than having 4 years of Pickens and 4 years of a top 3 2nd round pick in the 2023 draft?

It's difficult to make that argument.

We still don't have a lot of information about Poles as a talent evaluator and draft strategist, but the early returns make me nervous.

Why would he pass on drafting Pickens at 48 then trade a significantly higher second round pick to Pittsburgh for Claypool?

Are 1.5 years of Claypool and 4 years of Brisker better than having 4 years of Pickens and 4 years of a top 3 2nd round pick in the 2023 draft?

It's difficult to make that argument.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Pickens has some Antonio Brown in him, and I don't think he's as talented. Even when they are winning, his teammates have to babysit on one the sidelines so he can stop throwing tantrums. I personally believe Claypool is better.

The jury is definitely out on Poles as a talent evaluator. At this point, the Gordon pick is more questionable than the Brisker pick.
However, he drafted a LT in the 5th round who has graded out, since the Washington game, better than the guy most of us want Poles to give $25M a year to this offseason.

Poles also botched free agency this year. He should have made a stronger offer, poison pill'd the offer for Ryan Bates. He then pulled the offer for Larry Ogunjobi who has been healthy and pretty good for the Steelers and his crown jewel of free agency Lucas Patrick(douchy suburb name, sounds like a kid from Glen Ellyn) has been a disaster, a china doll.

Tevin Jenkins has been better than Bates. Ogunjobi could potentially be signed next offseason. He's just a guy. Patrick was a 1 year stop gap. There were no shitty long-term investments. We'll find out about those next offseason.

Pickens has some Antonio Brown in him, and I don't think he's as talented. Even when they are winning, his teammates have to babysit on one the sidelines so he can stop throwing tantrums. I personally believe Claypool is better.

The jury is definitely out on Poles as a talent evaluator. At this point, the Gordon pick is more questionable than the Brisker pick.
However, he drafted a LT in the 5th round who has graded out, since the Washington game, better than the guy most of us want Poles to give $25M a year to this offseason.

The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Pickens had both injury and attitude red flags.

The second round guy we passed who I'm looking at and gets no discussion is Alec Pierce with the Colts. Their numbers are remarkably similar

Pickens hasn't missed a game all season

Pickens is better and will be a top 10 guy by year 3. The Bears fucked up by not getting Pickens.

great

he missed some in college with structural knee damage

How many times have we Bears fans seen them draft someone with a medical red flag which ends in disaster?

Didn't Claypool have "attitude" problems in Pittsburgh? Has he gotten better or worse since his rookie season? Why does he still catch with his body rather than his hands? Can he even run all routes at his position correctly?

The idea that Claypool is better than Pickens seems suspect at best to me. The fact that the Bears gave up a top 35 pick for 1.5 years of the guy makes things seem even worse, especially after they passed on a comparable talent who they could've acquired for a longer time at a cheaper price.

My hope is Claypool and Fields develop some chemistry over the remaining games. Mooney is a nice player, but Claypool gives Fields something that no other player on the roster can provide. He can beat good cornerbacks, has an insane catch radius, and he's excellent at winning 50/50 balls or getting a DPI.

No, Claypool spoke out of turn a couple of times, and he may not be black enough for Tomlin. Statistically, there is no way to tell if he's gotten better. He played with a quarterback whose arm was weaker than Chad Pennington last year. I know he's been in the top 10 of 50/50 catches since he's been in the NFL.

I believe the Bears were targeting Watson. I don't think the Bears wanted Pickens at all. I think the Bears want Claypool long-term. I suspect they'll figure out a deal in the offseason. Claypool is better than any free agent options, and he eliminates the risk of the unknown in the draft.

The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.

Tomlin clearly grew disenchanted with Claypool because of his immaturity, which most famously manifested itself in the Vikings game last year. But Tomlin publicly addressed Claypool's immaturity before that game and apparently demoted him this season due to the same concerns.

It's rather strange that you are making a racially-inflected accusation to discredit Tomlin when you have previously described him as a great coach. That coach had both Pickens and Claypool on his roster at the same time, and he chose Pickens over Claypool. It's fine that you prefer Claypool, but the evidence isn't working in your favor at this point.

I think it's clear that the Steelers decided to cut ties with Claypool at some point late last season and drafted Pickens to replace him. They apparently didn't think much of Claypool but waited for the bad publicity swirling around him to dissipate so they could find a sucker--er, a trading partner--to give them a high draft pick in exchange for an asset of questionable value. That sucker was Ryan Poles. It will take another year to see who was right, but the Steelers have a pretty good track record in identifying top wideouts. Poles couldn't even tell that Jenkins was by far the best offensive lineman on his roster, and the offensive line is presumably his area of expertise.

Tomlin clearly grew disenchanted with Claypool because of his immaturity, which most famously manifested itself in the Vikings game last year. But Tomlin publicly addressed Claypool's immaturity before that game and apparently demoted him this season due to the same concerns.

It's rather strange that you are making a racially-inflected accusation to discredit Tomlin when you have previously described him as a great coach. That coach had both Pickens and Claypool on his roster at the same time, and he chose Pickens over Claypool. It's fine that you prefer Claypool, but the evidence isn't working in your favor at this point.

I think it's clear that the Steelers decided to cut ties with Claypool at some point late last season and drafted Pickens to replace him. They apparently didn't think much of Claypool but waited for the bad publicity swirling around him to dissipate so they could find a sucker--er, a trading partner--to give them a high draft pick in exchange for an asset of questionable value. That sucker was Ryan Poles. It will take another year to see who was right, but the Steelers have a pretty good track record in identifying top wideouts. Poles couldn't even tell that Jenkins was by far the best offensive lineman on his roster, and the offensive line is presumably his area of expertise.

but what has Pickens done that has you clamoring for him?

My hope is Claypool and Fields develop some chemistry over the remaining games. Mooney is a nice player, but Claypool gives Fields something that no other player on the roster can provide. He can beat good cornerbacks, has an insane catch radius, and he's excellent at winning 50/50 balls or getting a DPI.