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We can afford someone the question is do we blow it all on one guy like Albert or go a little cheaper.Quote:
Originally Posted by short faced bear
It could come down to
Albert
Or
Bushrod and Roach
Bushrod and Izzy
Both Roach and Izzy make about 2 million a season.
Also if we are going to go with the NO protection model then the 2 million dollar difference between Albert and Bushrod would be better spent on the interior.
The NO system does not require OTs of Alberts calibre they require Bushrod and money to be spent at OG.
I don't think Bushrod is a stud, but I also don't want to put all my money in a LT when I need a LG and C as well.
I know traditionally LT is they most important position, but some teams value LG just as much.
The fact that we have to over pay a guy like Bushrod sucks, but it is the post Angelo reality.
We shouldn't have to sign an OT in free agency.
We drafted 2 OTs in the 1st round in the last 5 years and both have been busts. When you wiff on 2 1st round picks you have to go to free agency.
Whether it is 7 million for Bushrod or 9 million for Albert we have to pay the piper for Angelo's failure to draft.
First of all, Reid talked smack about Albert's injury to keep his price down. He missed just 2 games. That was before KC secured Smith, which pretty much guarantees they're taking Joeckel #1 instead of a QB, and tagging Bowe, and letting Albert walk into FA. That's sure the way it looks. 90% chance anyway. Obviously Emery has to do medical due diligence on the guy first just like he did mental/emotional due diligence on Marshall this time last year. If he doesn't pass, then we pass. I trust Emery on this one. He was proven right on BM when a lot of people had a lot of doubts about bringing a "talented but head case" WR to Chicago too. Secondly, the "$2 million difference" was just made up today by the cap being announced at $3 million higher than anticipated. So the same cap space moves that would have had to be made for Bushrod 24 hours ago now apply equally to Albert who we all agree is the better (and slightly younger) FA LT. If you're gonna upgrade the position and spend millions to do it, then UPGRADE it or don't do it at all, that's all I'm saying.Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
Emery puts a lot of stock in them too by his own admission.Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
So why do you think he's going to be A) available and B) significantly cheaper?Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
I think we all know that Albert is very likely to be available soon.
My plan for RT is GABE CARIMI. Laugh if you will. I'm not ready to give up on the guy and the valid reasons to believe that are well known. He's playing for his very career survival next year and another bad season pretty much relegates him to journeyman status and no big follow-up contract so I'm sure motivation won't be a factor. If we sign Albert, he competes against Webb, loser becomes swing (Webb would be an ideal an economical swing OT btw) and Scott is a goner. If Webb is starting LT (more likely IMO), then he is de facto starting RT with Scott and/or Brown backing him up.Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
Yeah, I do believe that our OT situation isn't as dire as some would believe. Concerning yes, but not irretrievable. If we happen to draft Fluker at 20 there's another RT possibility if needed. I see LG and C as much more pressing needs right now. And if Bushrod was a potentially sign-able FA two days ago, then Albert ought to be today since the cap went up a couple million in the meantime and it looks like KC is prepared to replace him with their #1 draft pick.
Dont get me wrong--I understand your reasoning behind Bushrod but I see it as a very second-best option if we truly want to pursue a FA OT since the cap increase was announced. Go big or don't go at all IMO.
Albert is higher on my list as well, but he is the best LT available and someone is going to pay him and then someone will pay Long, Vollmer and A. Smith. The trickle down affect in my opinion and the sheer number of OTs on the market will lead to a reduced price on a guy like Bushrod.
The cap went up a million bucks yesterday just in time for us to tag Melton and spend it all.
Going into next season with Carimi as your RT would be a huge risk to take and I mean huge. We cannot afford to be helping both tackles and Webb is far from being a solo blind side protector.
What has Carimi done to even be thought of as a potential starter? He has 1 decent game as a rookie and 14 abysmal games as a 2nd year player.
Carimi deserves to compete for a job and see if he can ever get his knee back. But I am relying on him for nothing. This team is in win now mode and I am not risking that trying to salvage some value from Carimi.
He played 2 games in his rookie season, and in those two games you don't as much as in 16 games. This years was sort of this guys rookies years, and I think they rushed him back to the field, so he couldn't come back 100%.. That will affect your game. This years was his rookie season, let's see how he does next season as a 2nd year player.Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
This ^^^^Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
We're delusional if we think we don't have to do something like this. I am "hoping" that Carimi and Webb pan out ok. But the more I think about it, I think that's just blind "hope" like old Jessie Jackson spouts "Keep Hope Alive" ......good luck with THAT one. It should be the Bears & Cubs motto. Hope something good happens.
We have definitely come to a point where we have to overpay for a LT. Even still, it will not be as much as we overpaid for Peppers.Quote:
Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99
All I'm saying is lets not be too quick to throw Gabe under the bus. A lot of us here are in favor logically of bringing Urlacher back for another year or two despite a tough (injury-induced) season last year, so why give up on Carimi who's played only one total and at the START rather than the end of his potential career?Quote:
Originally Posted by ZifanQ
Yeah, have a contingency plan in place sure. I'm all for that. Could be Webb, could be Scott, could be Brown, could even be Fluker if we draft him in the 1st. But let's not put the "bust" label on Carimi yet. He deserves another year to decide that still.
Yep, at least give him as many seasons as ol' Webb has/is getting.Quote:
Originally Posted by MPBears68