Thread: Roster Breakdown and Grades Heading Into FA.............

Originally Posted by Chicagoan

no, "stupid" is expecting different results from Webb after 3 years. he is sub par. end of story. to settle for mediocrity (and that's being generous) while our defense ages is "stupid". and no one said anything about blowing up the whole line.

All I'm suggesting is that we be a bit patient and see how the players grade out under the new coaches. Soul mentioned the possibility that Webb could end up a decent swing tackle. That could be the case. Regarding blowing up the whole oline, I believe we'll see a lot of roster change there. We'll keep the best, get rid of others & you could see a starter or two be graded out as solid backups - they stay on the roster, but are not starter quality players.

That's all I'm saying. I'm not attacking you here. Sorry, if it came across that way. I actually posted that in reply to Soul's post, before I even read yours.

Originally Posted by Chicagoan

Yeah, 3 years of suckage. Why not go for 4? All b/c he's "cheap"? Makes sense.

Personally, I'm done with the excuses for Webb. Wait....is that "pure frustration and emotion" or is that just expecting more from a starting LT and done with settling for less? There's a time and place to cut your losses and this is it. There's no way in hell that Cutler can take any more abuse than he has with Webb at LT. Either protect the Bears investment (Cutler) or GTFO.

Yep it is so go stand with the rest of those who pay no attention to the salary cap and simply scream for guys like Jake Long. Webb makes $1.3mil if he starts and about half that if he doesn't and in all likelihood he won't.

If you read what I said, all of what I said, my thoughts would be to replace him at LT with a vet FA and let him compete with Carimi for RT and/or become the Swing Tackle as backup at both LT and RT. Nowhere did I advocate keeping him as a starting LT.

We paid Scott $700k as a backup last year and Webb is at least as good or better than Scott and unless he starts every game he probably won't earn even that much. For that kind of money I'd keep him around for the last year of his deal just to see if he keeps improving.

We've gone this far with him so we might as well see what we can get out of him. If we could survive with him as a starter we can sure as hell use him as an inexpensive backup until we find better.

Originally Posted by Chicagoan

no, "stupid" is expecting different results from Webb after 3 years. he is sub par. end of story. to settle for mediocrity (and that's being generous) while our defense ages is "stupid". and no one said anything about blowing up the whole line.

So you say yet I just read where based on all factors considered and in comparison to all other NFL lines the Bears graded out as 16th. Middle of the road and needing to improve but not the worst or even close to it. All of the problems in that offense weren't about the line.

Webb may have been and always will be sub par as an NFL LT but he's a good run blocker and he may make a decent RT in the event that Carimi still isn't back to the level he played at when we drafted him. And if he is then we have a guy with starting experience at both LT and RT who could easily be a better backup than anyone else we could get as cheaply as we're getting him.

So yeah I say again, you're opinion is based on your frustration and anger with Webb and not on whatever common sense there may be in keeping him around as an experienced backup. If we can sign a FA LT who else would you suggest for that spot who has played both LT and RT with the number of starts he has?

Originally Posted by Chicagoan

don't tell me about salary cap...I'm an accountant, I am well aware of our spending limits. to say I'm in the Jake Long Club is just ridiculous. the difference between you and I is that I am not willing to settle for this crap oline product we have been fielding forever. Webb is a failure. you see improvement and I still see garbage output. you see "if's" and I see "has been". I would fire an employee that couldn't do their job in 3 freaking years. That is fact and has nothing to do with "anger at him". it has to do with RESULTS.

And you are correct, I do not want him as some cheap backup. he'd be nothing but some shoddy bandaid. I didn't advocate for any of the other bums we've dumped as back ups either. Can't do the job, get out and make space for someone that can or at least has some potential. I don't give a damn how much money you save by hanging onto garbage. the end result is winning. restructure contracts, cut the dead weight, spend wisely in FA, draft intelligently and start developing players that can actually contribute, be it rookies, current backups, etc...keeping Webb as a backup is still just settling, imo..who cares how many snaps he's played. he still sucks.

so i guess we'll have to agree to disagree, Soul.

Well then we're professional brethren because I'm a Financial Consultant and we can agree to disagree. That's a fair enough resolution. Oh, and you aren't in the Jake Long club either. A poor and overboard statement on my part. Mea culpa and guilty as charged.

I've stated my case and you've stated yours. It was a fair debate and we see it differently. That was my intention when I began this thread.

You aren't by chance a Southsider are you Chi? You're as hard headed as I am and I was one a very long time ago and I guess it hasn't left me yet. LOL


God I love this place. But make mine a root beer.

Originally Posted by Chicagoan

Soul, in the 5 years that I have posted here, this is the first debate that I have been involved in that ended amicably.

Bullshit!

Originally Posted by Chicagoan

Soul, in the 5 years that I have posted here, this is the first debate that I have been involved in that ended amicably. For that and the good discussion, I thank you!!!!!

As for being a Southsider, I have to admit that I was raised a Northsider.....hardheaded must be a Chicago thing. It's one thing I miss from the Midwest. People with convictions. So. Cal'ers are a little lackadaisical for my tastes.

I love to debate this stuff Chi. Ten months from now I may agree with your viewpoint 100% and that we should have kicked the bum to the curb while we had the chance but today I have a different perspective on it. Not necessarily right, just different.

Denver is pretty laid back too which is why I come around here to exercise my southsider's hardheadedness. I came by it honestly and I don't want to lose it through lack of proper conditioning or practice.


All's well that ends well brother.