Most definitely, there are no #1 options in free agency for WRs. Complimentary receivers are needed though considering most of the options on the market are better than the current depth chart.

And additionally since the consensus is that Matt Cassel is not part of any solution what options should the Bears pursue at QB, the draft? an older vet? Orton again?

The Bears will never be a top competitor year after year without a QB. It is the most important thing in a franchise and the fact that there has never been a perennial pro bowler in the 80 year history of the Bears at QB is laughable. Just by sheer luck they should of hit on someone by now.

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America wasn't founded so that we could all be better. America was founded so we could all be anything we damned well pleased. -P.J. O'rourke

Like it or not, Orton is going to be the starting QB next year.

The Bears have other priorities to be concerned about...WR, DE, SS, OL.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Other priorities? If you are talking about replacing Angelo (whose drafts have been overall a joke) and the entire coaching staff then yeah they have priorities, but right at number three is get a real fucking QB. Naming Orton the starting QB for 2009 already absolutely cements the fact that this staff is a joke. Are they not seeing what the rest of the world is seeing? What other NFL team is Orton starting on? He is a backup at best, he cant throw deep, or hit recievers in stride. Althoug I am not saying they are not shitty, you do not know what you truely have at WR with Stare Down Party Neck behind center. Even when he threw a completion, it looked retarted when the catch was made. The WR's always had to adjust to the shitty throw, and deep balls??? Oh man he is TERRIBLE. And Forte?? He looks good, so did Curtis Penis and Rahaan Salaam after year one. Lets see how good he will be next year. Ive had enought with Lovie and his bullshit, the D looked like swiis cheese all season in the secondary, Babich blew, I've had it with Turners bull shit play calling. A real organization would go out and get Cowher, us we're stuck with another year of a team that never looks as good as it's record.

You certainly live up to your moniker.

There are a lot of reasons the Bears are not going to the playoffs. QB play is on that list, but it is most decidely nowhere near the top of that list, and should not be a top priority for 2009. With the right tools, Orton will win a lot of games for the Bears.

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Um, I agree with you on that one. The right tools being QB talent, which he has but not enough to make him a playmaking QB. He just can't do it consistently and was exposed in the second half of the season. Sure he throws a nice three step drop slant pass, or one heck of a WR screen, but he can't make all the throws needed. Have you been watching the games? Do watch other QBs in the league, Brees? Rodgers? Mannings? Rivers? Cutler? There is a huge difference, its called 1st string and 2nd string. Orton is 2nd string. He already has won a lot of games for the Bears, good for him. He will never win a Super Bowl as a starter and I think thats the point.

Are Brees, Rodgers, or Cutler in the playoffs?

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Wait.. it's possible for the line play to be worse? Oh shit...

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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?

Deverey Henderson and Shawn McDonald are upgrades for us, but just barely. I'd prefer Henderson, but he's injury prone and while a big play guy, hasn't really emerged as the quality possession guy that the Bears need. Boldin is. If we add these guys, I think we would have done little to improve our stock at receiver and will go into 2009 hoping for further development of Hester and Olsen, with Clark and Forte as rocks.

Regarding Boldin, and not saying you are suggesting this, but Urlacher for Boldin is a massive internet rumor. The Bears just restructured a significant amount of guaranteed money to Urlacher, which would become a cap hit if he were traded. Urlacher is still a top 7 MLB in the NFL. He's no pushover. The Bears will get another 3 quality seasons out of him. Quality being the opportune word. Boldin will likely cost anywhere from a 1st and a 3rd to a pair of 1sts. If the asking price dips to a 1st round pick, I would snap him up in a 2nd. If I was the Bears, I would try and get him for a 1st round pick this year and a 3rd in 2009. Then I would lock him up to a huge deal.

Definite needs: 1. WR, 2. DE, 3. Safety, 4. LB - Depth needs: 1. O-line, 2. RB, 3. LB, 4. WR, 5. QB, 6. CB, in close, but not exact order.

Clark is due to decline any day now, but I'm actually pretty confident that Olsen will just get the additional touches. Each TE tends to depress the numbers of the other somewhat because there's only one football.

I think I agree wth your rankings, BD.

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Fire Phil Emery

Very optimistic on Olson going forward.

Among TE's in the NFL, here is where Olsen finished the season:

10th in catches
12th in yards
7th in TD's

Not bad considering he played in a two TE system all year where Des Clark was arguably also a top 3 receiver for the Bears. Also, that was his 2nd year. Let's hope his 3rd year will be better.

Also, he finished strong. Over the last four games, Olsen had 20 catches, 176 yards, and 3 TD's. I know we're not big on projections, but just to show you the level of play that he finished the season on, if you projected the final four over a 16 game stretch, its 80 catches, 700 yards, and 12 TD's. Not saying he would've had that or anything like that, but it does go to show that in the final 1/4 of the season, Olsen may have turned a corner. More importantly, he was consistent week to week over that stretch. No ups and downs.

I am not a big stats guy like you or IB, but I am also very optimistic about Olsen going forward. He seems to run very precise patterns, has good hands, very good speed, and should be more productive once the Bears get a decent WR to take some pressure off of him.

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He is no worse at blocking than St. Clair.

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Olson is the least of our concerns. He has a very good future. We have problems, he's not one of them.

If he got "his ass handed to him" in a "few" games, how is it that he had a "decent" year. When someone overachieves by being below average, he's still below average, not decent.

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Actually, I'd say people have overvalued Forte moreso than Olsen. Forte will never be a game-breaking player and likely maxes out as a good to very good receiver who is only a slightly above average runner.

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Olson is a pass catching TE. He does that very well, and should only get better. His blocking did improve over his rookie season, but he's being paid to catch the ball.

I'd also love to have the complete package, but I'm very happy with what we have with Olson.

I agree--his blocking is improving, but the Bears drafted him for his receiving skills. I think he can have a breakout season next year.

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He's a better G than LT, but played at a higher level than many of us thought. Most had him getting Orton killed in Week 1 against Freeney. Of course, he had some bad games, but, on the whole, he played ok at an extremely tough position.

Olson could be a very very good TE if he had a couple WRs around him who could catch and take the coverage away from him.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

True, that would enhance his ability, and give him more favorable matchups since he often was foreced to line up as a WR this season.

I'm of TM's view that St. Clair was less than OK. Luckilly it won't be a concern because Williams will be starting next year.

The one good thing about the injury is that it's kinda like the Bears get two 1st round picks this year.

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Fire Phil Emery

St Clair had lots of help on his side of the line as well. He sucks, Nas. Barring an injury, he is not a starter on any other team.

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He also was lined up in a split formation opposite Forte many times too. Would they do this with better tackle play?
St. Claire only really had decent games when he had lots of help. i think this is a simple spot to hire an upgrade.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Chris Williams, our 1st round pick, will be our starting LT next season. That should hopefully be an upgrade.

Right. Hopefully he will be ready to go and we can move St. Claire over to G. But he's still going to be inexperienced, so my expectations for a good athlete with limited experience are not as high as they were for St. Claire.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

He's inexperienced, but he's had a year to learn the offense, and LT is a position where rookies have stepped in and done a good job, so I'm optimistic there.

I think St. Clair gets moved to right tackle or guard, and a guard is drafted somewhere in the middle rounds. I think the line is in the middle of a three year reclamation process that is currently headed into year two.

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Fire Phil Emery

Ok you would take Orton over any of those you mentioned? Are you Ron Turner?? I agree Olsen will be a monster, when he gets a real QB. Let's not forget, the coaching staff here swore by Grossman so much so that they benched your Neck Bearded hero in favor if him. Now what all of a sudden Orton is that much better?? I don't think so, this whole organization is ametuerish(??) has been for a while now, even when they win after the game you're left thinking.. "Hmmm how did they do that?"

Time for changes or next year will be a lots more of the same.

Are you Doug or OB? Either way, welcome to the board, meathead.

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