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I could see bringing him in for one year as a stop gap as our new LB learns, but that's about it.

So...confused....How can you say this after saying this?

He's looking for less then Winfield, half of what Jennings is asking for. This isn't some part time player getting 7M. This is a full time player looking for 5.5~. We have bodies at most positions, young bodies. Who is our MLB? No one! Makes far more sense financially then Jennings or Winfield. And besides that we hurt a division rival by taking a veteran leader, not sure what they even have in place if they lose him. Everything I've heard is it was just assumed he'd re-sign with the Bears.

There's extenuating circumstances here! If they don't sign him, I'm fine with it. But to stick it to the Bears after sticking it to the Packers a few years ago? And get a guy to play the position until we find someone else? Golden!

Demi wrote: He's looking for less then Winfield, half of what Jennings is asking for. This isn't some part time player getting 7M. This is a full time player looking for 5.5~. We have bodies at most positions, young bodies. Who is our MLB? No one! Makes far more sense financially then Jennings or Winfield. And besides that we hurt a division rival by taking a veteran leader, not sure what they even have in place if they lose him. Everything I've heard is it was just assumed he'd re-sign with the Bears.

There's extenuating circumstances here! If they don't sign him, I'm fine with it. But to stick it to the Bears after sticking it to the Packers a few years ago? And get a guy to play the position until we find someone else? Golden!

agreed!

Demi wrote:He's looking for less then Winfield, half of what Jennings is asking for. This isn't some part time player getting 7M. This is a full time player looking for 5.5~.

Is Urlacher A) a three-down player at this point and B) a noticeable upgrade from Erin, EJ or Jasper at this point?

We have bodies at most positions, young bodies. Who is our MLB?

Erin Henderson could kick inside. We also have Audie Cole and a likely high-round draft pick. Brinkley could always re-sign as well.

Makes far more sense financially then Jennings or Winfield.

Debatable. Does Urlacher bring more to the table at $5.5 million than Jennings at $8 million (or Winfield at $7.5 million)? I'd rather have Erin Henderson at MLB and Jennings at WR than Urlacher at MLB and Stephen Burton or Jerome Simpson as starting WR. YMMV. Neither is ideal.

And besides that we hurt a division rival by taking a veteran leader, not sure what they even have in place if they lose him. Everything I've heard is it was just assumed he'd re-sign with the Bears.

Nick Roach is their contingency (even though he's an UFA and has had visits elsewhere). Safe to say they'll be targeting Ogletree/Te'o/Brown same as us no matter where Urlacher ends up. Honestly, I don't know how much it would really hurt them at this point. The Bears obviously aren't worried.

There's extenuating circumstances here! If they don't sign him, I'm fine with it. But to stick it to the Bears after sticking it to the Packers a few years ago? And get a guy to play the position until we find someone else? Golden!

I thought you were against stopgaps and aging/declining players? I know I am. I'm just giving you a bit of a hard time here.

Matt Cassel - QB - Chiefs

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora "continues to hear" the Vikings "really like" Matt Cassel.

Who better to make up for the loss of Percy Harvin and Antoine Winfield than a backup quarterback who's committed 30 turnovers over his past 18 starts? Kidding aside, Cassel would be an upgrade over Joe Webb in that he could theoretically pilot a run-heavy offense if pressed into action, but we'd hope the Vikings don't surrender a seventh-round pick. Cassel will be released soon enough.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter

dead_poet wrote:Matt Cassel - QB - Chiefs

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora "continues to hear" the Vikings "really like" Matt Cassel.

Who better to make up for the loss of Percy Harvin and Antoine Winfield than a backup quarterback who's committed 30 turnovers over his past 18 starts? Kidding aside, Cassel would be an upgrade over Joe Webb in that he could theoretically pilot a run-heavy offense if pressed into action, but we'd hope the Vikings don't surrender a seventh-round pick. Cassel will be released soon enough.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter

pick up Cassel and put Webb in at WR

Is Urlacher A) a three-down player at this point and B) a noticeable upgrade from Erin, EJ or Jasper at this point?

Noticeable? That's all the further you'd go? Hell yes he's a noticeable upgrade from them! Especially with Erin never playing the position and not being the most physical linebacker in the league!

Last I heard Jennings wanted closer to 10M a year? And Winfield was already getting moved to the slot, only going to get worse from here on out. And was getting over 2M more then Urlacher is looking to get.

Nick Roach is their contingency (even though he's an UFA and has had visits elsewhere). Safe to say they'll be targeting Ogletree/Te'o/Brown same as us no matter where Urlacher ends up. Honestly, I don't know how much it would really hurt them at this point. The Bears obviously aren't worried.

They have no middle linebacker worth mentioning on their roster right now. And this would almost force them to draft one early. That's worth taking him right there! Forcing the Bears hand. How much would it hurt them? After all the discussion about how a veteran slot corner is going to affect the Vikings? Urlacher has been the face of that defense for over the last decade. And we're going to worry more about losing a tackling corner?

I thought you were against stopgaps and aging/declining players?

I sure as hell am...unless the other option is Jasper Brinkley being a buffoon out there. If they're going to give Audie a shot. Great! Or draft one early? Fine. Filling a position for a reasonable contract and hurting a division rival in the process would be worth the stop gap. Especially with the lack of anything approaching good options at the position. At least our corners showed flashes, and Simpson/Wright showed up now and then. Erin? Jasper? Nothing.

Demi wrote:Especially with Erin never playing the position and not being the most physical linebacker in the league!

Erin has played MLB on numerous occasions. He filled in for an injured Brinkley as well as took over those duties in the nickel quite a bit. He's a solid run defender. I'm not sure where you get that he might be soft.

Last I heard Jennings wanted closer to 10M a year?

Last I read it might be closer to $7-$8 million now with the lack of interest.

And Winfield was already getting moved to the slot

That was the plan last season too but he still played on over 90% of the snaps due, in part, to injuries. Depending on FA and draft acquisitions, injuries and Robinson's growth he may have been playing a lot more than nickel duties again in 2013. And, honestly, even if he was there's a good chance he'd be playing > 70% of snaps given what he brings to the table and how often teams put three or more receivers on the field.

only going to get worse from here on out. And was getting over 2M more then Urlacher is looking to get.

Meh. I think Winfield deserves more after the way he played last season. I feel he's still better at his position at his age than Urlacher is at his.

They have no middle linebacker worth mentioning on their roster right now. And this would almost force them to draft one early. That's worth taking him right there! Forcing the Bears hand. How much would it hurt them? After all the discussion about how a veteran slot corner is going to affect the Vikings? Urlacher has been the face of that defense for over the last decade. And we're going to worry more about losing a tackling corner?

Say what you want about Winfield only being a "tackling corner" but he was one of PFF's highest ranked corners, with 3 INTs, 12 PDs and, most importantly, QBs only had a 70.4 QBR when throwing against him and didn't allow a single touchdown in coverage all season. You can keep repeating that he was "only" a tackling corner (which is still significant as it relates to what he brings to the table as a defender as a whole), he performed well in coverage in 2012.

I sure as hell am...unless the other option is Jasper Brinkley being a buffoon out there. If they're going to give Audie a shot. Great! Or draft one early? Fine. Filling a position for a reasonable contract and hurting a division rival in the process would be worth the stop gap.

I'm still not convinced how much "hurt" it would really put on them. And I don't think with Urlacher's lower body the way it is right now he's noticeably better than Brinkley or Henderson, particularly in coverage (though the bar is set awfully low there)

and Simpson/Wright showed up now and then. Erin? Jasper? Nothing.

Simpson was worthless. Wright showed promise when he was finally allowed on the field. Erin and Jasper actually had decent seasons (or maybe my expectations were low to begin with), though generally only in the run game.

Wow. That's rich.

LaRon Landry - DB - Colts

Colts signed S LaRon Landry, formerly of the Jets, to a four-year, $24 million contract.

The deal includes $14 million guaranteed. It's a boon for a player who gambled on himself last offseason and took a one-year deal with Gang Green. One of the hardest hitters in the league, Landry is a playmaker who's stout in the box. He adds presence to a defense that was one of the softest in the NFL last season. The only concern is his health. Landry appeared in all 16 games for the Jets last season, but missed 15 contests between 2009-10.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter

dead_poet wrote:Wow. That's rich.

LaRon Landry - DB - Colts

Colts signed S LaRon Landry, formerly of the Jets, to a four-year, $24 million contract.

The deal includes $14 million guaranteed. It's a boon for a player who gambled on himself last offseason and took a one-year deal with Gang Green. One of the hardest hitters in the league, Landry is a playmaker who's stout in the box. He adds presence to a defense that was one of the softest in the NFL last season. The only concern is his health. Landry appeared in all 16 games for the Jets last season, but missed 15 contests between 2009-10.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter

Wow. Really.

ibleedPurple wrote:Darius Heyward-Bey is on the market he was just released yesterday. I've heard nothing but good things from raider fans.

You might be talking to the wrong fans.

DHB has stones for hands and an inability to run anything besides a vertical route. He recorded a grand total of 11 touchdowns and averaged 37.8 yards per game in four seasons. Sounds a bit like one Jerome Simpson to me.

His 2011 was promising, I'll give you that, but he regressed noticeably in 2012. At this point, why not give him an incentive-laden one-year "prove it" deal?

DHB sucks.

He is NOT a football player.

ibleedPurple wrote:Darius Heyward-Bey is on the market he was just released yesterday. I've heard nothing but good things from raider fans and I believe he was cut due to money owed this season. We are in heavy need of a big tall fast receiver he has all the tools to succeed at this level he is only 26 I think spielman needs to jump on this guy.

Gets open.
Drops balls.
Maybe he'd be good if they allowed guys to use stick-em on their hands, like they used to.

DanAS wrote: Gets open.
Drops balls.
Maybe he'd be good if they allowed guys to use stick-em on their hands, like they used to.

Maybe he has Williamson Eyes... let's sign him and send him to a specialist who can make him special goggles so he can see the ball.

(the song betty davis eyes just went through my head... but the lyrics were a bit different.. maybe he has Williamson Eyes..

Have there been any more rumblings about Cruz? I'm just curious.