Thread: Five Key Issues Facing Emery Now...................

Originally Posted by BigClaws

Emery has to use the "new guy in prison" theory and shank some people. Ruskell was his first shanking. But he needs to let Lovie and everyone under him that he is calling the shots. Simple as that.

In the prison scenario you're supposed to shank the biggest guy in the joint. That means you, Virginia.

He needs to stick the shiv in Drake next.

Originally Posted by GSH Monsters

Several fans thought J.A. had total control but I've argued differently, I expect no difference with Emery, Phillips will give the illusion Emery is in the drivers seat but the hierarchy will be the same. The fact is Phillips is actually acting as the McCaskeys G.M. and the G.M. role is actually more of glorified personnel guy and the draft, free agents etc is done via a discussion involving the G.M. head coach etc. with Phillips presiding over it and reporting to the McCaskeys. Lovie has as much input as the GM does because it's the GM's job to acquire the players to the best of his abilities that the head coach wants/needs but has to do so within the confines of the salary cap and of course how much Phillips says he can spend.

Remember the spending spree on Peppers, Manu, Taylor, Collins Phillips had to okay the amount there was even article out mentioning Phillips gives J.A. green light to spend in free agency, and in conjunction with Martz and Smith input the players where picked. Yes J.A. pulled the trigger on them but it was a collaborative effort not just the work of the GM alone, Manumaleuna and Collins was Martz's input, mistakes yes but not the GM's alone and I imagine the final demise of both Martz and J.A. as they where fingered by Phillips for the wasted money. Money is Phillips motivating factor in this IMO and why Lovie was kept as Phillips didn't want to buy out the remaining contracts of both.



That's probably the best way I've heard it worded as several seem to think that being a GM you are given an open checkbook from the McCaskeys/Phillips to do with as the GM likes but it's not that simple.

Maybe fans will open their eyes a bit and see Emery in a different light than they did J.A. Emery will still be a part of the draft and in charge of acquiring free agents etc. but keeping in mind the process at Halas hall hopefully some fans will realize it's not all one mans fault but the fault of the organization as a whole.

Let's all hope Emery can work within the confines at Halas Hall better than J.A. did.

Good points one and all. There are certainly times when it does seem like Ted Phillips is a de facto GM. Giving the permission to spend the money didn't give JA license to spend it poorly though. I think these last couple of years since Martz was hired were pretty dysfunctional with an OC needing all of what he needed to make his system work and a GM who never wanted him anyway making only a half-hearted effort to supply it.

I think there are very few NFL GM's who have complete and total control over the checkbook and certainly Emery, who it's been said has little expertise regarding cap matters and contracts, won't have that privilege either. Ted Phillps still stands guard at the door to the vault and Cliff Stein is the teller who helps determine how that money is paid out.

Emery is exactly what Phillips said he was looking for. One of the best pure talent evaluators and personnel guys in the NFL. My guess is they don't want a guy who's too business saavy. That's his job and he's actually pretty good at it.

Originally Posted by Jimmors

What? this crap again? thought we went through this circus LAST time Briggs got a new contract. Same thing applies that did last time Lance, you are a great LB, but you are replaceable. If hes gonna pull another temper tantrum, i say trade him away. Maybe we can even get a good draft pick out of it.

Emery strikes me as a guy who won't be moved or intimidated by Briggs and Rosenhaus. I think he'll give it some consideration after he talks with Lovie about it. Right now I think it's about 1/3 he tosses him a small bone to make peace, 1/3 he tells him tough shit, suit up and play, and 1/3 he gives Rosenhaus the go ahead to seek a trade.

If the last is the case I'd put a price tag on him high enough that I'd actually be relieved to be rid of him and his ways when it comes to his contract. He's turning into the Randy Moss of LB's.

Originally Posted by soulman

Just based on Emery reputation as a great evaluator of college talent I'm expecting our drafts will improve. We had a very good draft through the first three rounds last year. Carimi, Paea, and Conte have all shown starters abilities. We have 5 picks in the first 4 rounds this year and we need at least two more impact players out of this group now. The "now" is the main reason I hesitate to spend a first round pick on a WR who will take two to three years to mature instead of a pass rushing DE or OLT who can step in and start or be part of the rotation in 2012. We can't be wasting first round picks on non-starters right now.

Repairing the offense includes signing a FA WR who can contribute at a high level now. It's time to get Jay Cutler that taller, wide body receiver he's been wanting since he arrived. This is the first of Jerry Angelo's many wrongs that needs to be righted. But I don't agree that a TE is such a huge need. We have four currently on the roster. Davis has shown signs of being at least as good a pass catcher as Olsen was and a far better blocker. Kyle Adams caught some attention last year but got injured. Spaeth is no pass catcher but blocked well and the guy I'd really like to see get a shot, Andre Smith, spent almost all of the last year on the PS. If there's an interesting guy in FA or later in the draft who has a shot at making the team I'm not opposed to picking one up but I disagree that it's a major need this year.

The rest shouldn't be brain surgery. The reason Emery is here is because Angelo and Lovie were not great evaluators of talent. Lovie needs to just step aside and let Emery do his thing. We either sign Forte, franchise him or trade him for a first round pick. This squabble with him has gone on long enough. And Briggs I would trade if we could get a first for him but unfortunately that won't happen. He's under a contract that was heavily front loaded so he has nothing to bitch about. The best I do is offer him a modest one year extension and raise his 2012 salary a little but every dollar more we give him is a dollar less for us to use somewhere else.

If I were Emery, I WOULD NOT hesitate to trade Briggs and one of the third rounders for a first round pick. I don't know how that works to be honest with you, but I think Briggs is on the downhill slide of his career, and the fact that he's bitching about his salary after getting paid well in 2008 leaves me a little bit jaded. It would not bother me at all to trade Briggs.

As far as receivers and tight ends are concerned, we have at least one multi-faceted tight end who is capable of being a dynamic player in Kellen Davis. I think he's capable of being one of the better TE's in the league, and he keeps improving his blocking with every season that he plays. With Tice as OC, I look for big things out of him. I think we will see a difference of some kind at WR this season, whether it be through the draft or via free agency. I would prefer that Emery acquire a WR via free agency, but I will take a big body any which way that we can get one.

If Emery hits big with a first round pick this year, I think that I might climax. Wouldn't that be a mess?

Originally Posted by Jimmors

What? this crap again? thought we went through this circus LAST time Briggs got a new contract. Same thing applies that did last time Lance, you are a great LB, but you are replaceable. If hes gonna pull another temper tantrum, i say trade him away. Maybe we can even get a good draft pick out of it.

There's a guy out of Florida State who WindyCity suggests we should draft to replace Lance Briggs. He's good in coverage and would be ideal for the Cover 2.