Emery actually made a fair offer IMO........problem is the same with all aging vet's and it's hard when those vet's fail to realize their career is nearing the end. It is a business now more than ever and a young guy's game. Urlacher said it himself with his comment about putting his body through the rigors of a full season and add in old injuries and it all adds up to the end of a career.

Olin Kreutz didn't want to admit it was time to hang up the cleats and gave it a shot with another team and didn't make it a full season. I will always remember their time with the Bears and what they meant both to the team and us fans but like an old Thoroughbred horse it's time to put them out to pasture.

I think the bridge has been burned on Urlacher returning but I could be wrong if he finds no team willing to meet his price.

I honestly think Tucker will run the type of defense that Trestman and Emery decide they have the personnel for and I imagine only they know the direction in which they want to go.

[i]"Trestman seems open to the most basic decisions, including whether Tucker runs a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme."[/i]

[url=http://tinyurl.com/cfhlqa2]Bears: First glance at Mel Tucker[/url]

Tucker has no preference from what I've read, he has been a part of both 3-4 and 4-3 so I think it comes down to personnel and what direction they want to go.

[i]"In Cleveland, Tucker served as defensive coordinator in 2008 after being promoted from defensive backs coach, a position he held from 2005 to '07. Under Tucker, the Browns operated out of a 3-4 defense.

When Tucker joined the Jaguars in 2009, the team experimented with playing both the 4-3 and the 3-4 before finally settling on the 4-3 full time."[/i]

[url=http://tinyurl.com/cvbky7l]Bears, Mel Tucker reach deal[/url]

Not really all you need is the Pig at nose tackle and a couple Dt's and a whole bunch of LB's/DE's. Looking over the Bears roster and the personnel they have and given they even moved Peppers in at DT in certain downs last season to get more pressure up the middle.

I will say it wouldn't surprise me none no matter how unlikely it may seem and I don't think transitioning would be as difficult as perceived. I really doubt it myself but it honestly wouldn't surprise me if they did.

Or maybe go with a big nose tackle in the draft and switch to a 3-4?............I know it's been said they wouldn't but that was before both Roach and Urlachers departures. Just throwing it out there as Emery has proven to do the unexpected and remains tight lipped on team affairs citing it gives the opposition Intel on what their plans are going into the draft.

With the rule changes that have been put in place since the old greats played I highly doubt any player in the current era having the kind of impact the players of old did.

McClellin? just saying last year when they drafted him we all thought he should be a line backer and Lovie & Co. insisted he was a defensive end. If not Emery has put his back against the wall draft wise especially considering Roach signed with Oakland the available MLB free agents and limited cap cash.

And next year we will be discussing this all over again because he did chose to sit out rather than take a lesser coordinator position and owners may view this for what it is. He still would get paid in full if he took a lesser paying position, the Bears would be on the hook for the remainder of what he was owed salary wise for 2013.

Owners do look at at whether a coach is willing to take lesser to stay in the league and coaching but Lovie is saying if I can't be a head coach then I'm going to sit on my payday and wait. This can either work in his favor and he gets a shot next season or backfire and he be passed over again in which we will be talking about why he didn't get any offers again.

I know I should have worded it differently I agree Armstrong's is worse but both are making headlines on a daily basis and to hear some talk about Te'o and the ridicule and jokes it begged me to ask the question.

The guy is gullible and near the end figured it out and lied to try not to expose himself for what had happened. The guy Tuiasosopo who pulled off the hoax on Te'o used his female cousin as the voice on the phone.

It shouldn't really harm his draft stock the guy can play in the NFL he will just have this gullible label attached to him and ridiculed all of his career.

I don't know what's worse a gullible Te'o or Lance Armstrong's doping and lying about it.

I can only speak for myself and I found it a good game to watch, I would say if your a Falcon fan the whole second half was bad.

Congrats to the 49'ers and their fans, that was a good game to watch.

So much so you are over hear doing your usual trolling huh? Obvious Troll to obvious try and be more conspicuous next time.

To hard to just pound the rock nowadays in the NFL a prime example is Minnesota, although they did get into the playoffs they were quickly eliminated.

I also didn't necessarily mean a full out aerial assault either what I meant was a balanced attack move the chains throw on first downs once in awhile. A quick 3-6 yard pass is as effective as trying to pound the rock all the time, efficient is the word that comes to my mind.

Under Lovie once he got a lead he immediately got conservative, that is playing not to lose IMO.

Yep the Rooney Rule requires all NFL teams to interview a minority candidate for any head coaching and senior football operation positions. I personally think it's a dated rule and anyone regardless of race, color or religion will get an opportunity based on their qualifications, none the less it is a controversial subject none the less.

I do think Emery and Trestman are cut from the same mold and why I believe Trestman was hired, they are both grinders and you get the feeling they both will do everything in their power to put forth their best effort.

I always complained about Lovie playing not to lose rather than to win, he seemed to play to get a lead and then play conservatively to protect that lead. Whether that was Lovie's style or simply a product of failing to get the right O.C. remains a mystery. In today's NFL that doesn't work, in the old days it did, let's face it the days of playing stout defense and running the ball/grinding out wins doesn't work anymore. You have to be able to put points on the board nowadays period, the rule changes sort of dictate/play into the offenses hands.

Trestman is putting together what seems to be a decent coaching staff and Cutler better be open to Trestmans coaching or it could be curtains for him heading into this final contract year. It's basically do or die IMO, the honeymoon is over and if Cutler isn't receptive to Trestman's coaching and offense I'm sure Emery and Trestman will move on to a Q.B. that is or will.

I'm sure we Bear fans are going to see a different team next season it will be hard for a new coach to get and implement a new system and make the playoffs. Even besting Lovie's 10 wins as he did this season would be a feat and why I say I don't expect it.

Since the end of the George Halas era 45 years ago, only Dick Jauron and Dave Wannstedt posted first seasons better than the coaches they succeeded;

Lovie Smith: 2004 - 5 wins.
Replaced.
Dick Jauron: 2003 - 7 wins.

Jauron: 1999 - 6 wins.
Replaced.
Dave Wannstedt: 1998 - 4 wins.

Wannstedt: 1993 - 7 wins.
Replaced.
Mike Ditka: 1992 - 5 wins.

Mike Ditka: 1982 - 3 wins.
Replaced.
Neill Armstrong: 1981 - 6 wins.

Armstrong: 1978 - 7 wins.
Replaced.
Jack Pardee: 1977 - 9 wins.

Pardee: 1975 - 4 wins.
Replaced.
Abe Gibron: 1974 - 4 wins.

Gibron: 1972 - 4 wins.
Replaced.
Jim Dooley: 1971 - 6 wins.

Dooley: 1968 - 7 wins.
Replaced.
George Halas: 1967 - 7 wins.

The bears interviewed Mike Singletary and keith Armstrong.

Yep most head coaches want their staff in place and not holdovers from the old coaching regime.

Take a break from the serious side of things for a moment and watch the video below. :)
[youtube]watch?v=Zce-QT7MGSE[/youtube]

Way to much IMO, Didn't Alex Smith explore free agency last year when it was reported the Niners were interested in Manning? He didn't find any takers last year so I would wonder this year.

I could see Arizona or Jacksonville interested but no way do I believe anyone gives up 2-2nd rnd. picks for him. Maybe a 3rd at best considering he's 29 and although had a little success during his time with the Niners he's never really produced to be worth 2-2nd rnd. picks.

You are going to find players on both sides of the argument under any coach, Young and Gannon sure liked and endorsed Trestman and more recently Garrett Wolfe who played under Trestman in Canada thought Trestman was a good coach.

If you listen to most all of the Bears players Lovie was a great coach? Hester is even contemplating retiring over it even though he denies it's due to Lovie losing his job. Hester called all of us fake fans.........LOL

Trestman was interviewed last year by the Colts before they opted for Pagano.