VicMan Software Users Community

Reader Q&A: Dan Pompei's Bears mailbag Aloha Dan,air jordan 12, Will the Bears be able to replace Brian Urlacher and remain competitive, -- Mahalo, Rich Sandowski, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
I believe the Bears will miss Urlacher. It's hard to say how much because we don't know who will be replacing him. If they replace him with a first or second round draft pick, that player may perform as well or better than Urlacher could in his 14th season. But it is highly unlikely that whoever is lined up at middle linebacker will provide the kind of presence Urlacher has for so long. There is no question the Bears will miss his ability to quarterback the defense, his knack for bringing people together, the standard he set in terms of work ethic, and the confidence he gave those around him. The Bears still will be competitive. But they won't be the same.
Related
New look in store for NFC North
Photos: 10 key Brian Urlacher moments
VOTE: Did Bears disrespect Brian Urlacher,
Video: Tribune's Biggs on Urlacher leaving Bears
Blache: 'Heart is bleeding' for Urlacher
See more stories ,
XBears' idea of respecting Urlacher looks disingenuous, deceitfulVideo: Pompei on Urlacher not ending career with BearsUrlacher calls Bears' offer 'insulting'Brian Urlacher timelineBears' Rodriguez arrested in Miami BeachBears sign tight end ManeriAsk Dan Pompei about the Bears Urlacher played 13 years and was one of the most looked up to players in the locker room. What kind of a message do you think ousting him sends to his now former teammates, -- Chuck Durante, Guilin, China
The message it sends is there is no room for sentiment in the NFL. Loyalty in football is a myth. But they already knew that if they were paying attention. The other part of this is the Bears did not "oust" Urlacher, to use your word. They offered him a contract to return. He didn't like their contract offer. So they pulled their offer because they believed they needed to start using the cash and cap space they were prepared to commit to him. The Bears wanted to sign other players before the best free agents all were taken off the market. But I really believe the Bears wanted Urlacher back -- at the right price.
If Urlacher has lost a step, then by last year Ray Lewis had lost two. But Ozzie Newsome understands and respects leadership and gambled on the storybook ending he got. Do you think he would have been raising the Lombardi trophy last month if he had treated Lewis the way Phil Emery just treated Urlacher, -- Jim Dimas, Eldersburg, Md.
Yes I do. I think Ray Lewis had very little to do with the Ravens winning the Super Bowl. Lewis was a wonderful player, but he had nothing left at the end. The Ravens were better off when he was not on the field. His only real contribution was to galvanize the team and give them an emotional rallying point. Urlacher at this stage is a much better player than Lewis.
What's going on with Rolando McClain, I hear he is going to be cut but can't understand why it hasn't been done already. Is there a trade and a restructuring that could make sense, Your thoughts, -- Thedchav, Moscow, Russia
The middle linebacker has been given permission by the Raiders to seek a trade. But the logical outcome is he will be released. As the eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft, McClain has to be intriguing for the Bears. He is incredibly talented. But he has not played like an eighth overall pick. He has been a huge disappointment on the field, and has had several brushes with the law off the field. That explains why he is available. McClain might be worth taking a chance on if the risk can be negated. That means no trade compensation and a minimal salary. Maybe he could be salvaged in a new environment and with a new set of coaches. He was one hell of a player at Alabama.
Why hasn't the team signed Charles Tillman to an extension yet, This would accomplish two things -- create more cap space for this year and hopefully ensure that our best DB ever plays his entire career for the Bears only. -- Raymond Manczarek, Chicago
The Bears have not signed Tillman to an extension yet probably because they aren't sure if they want him in 2014, or what he will be worth after another season. Tillman is a valuable player now. But that can change in a hurry. He is 32-years-old. Last year, there were only six cornerbacks in the NFL older than 32 who were full-time starters. That's because age manifests itself in two ways in athletes -- injuries and diminished athleticism and speed. Tillman can't reverse the clock. But if he can keep the hands from moving too fast, he will earn an extension offer,cheap air jordan 2, probably after the season or late in the season.
Will losing Nick Roach qualify the Bears for a compensatory pick next year, -- @Bavick34, from Twitter
No, the Bears won't be getting any comp picks next year because they signed Jermon Bushrod and Martellus Bennett. Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that lose more unrestricted free agents than they sign. The formula for awarding comp picks is understood by very few mortals. But I can tell you the picks are determined by the difference of the contracts signed by the players lost and the players acquired, as well as the performances of the players. At least part of the formula is subjective.
Trestman has declared that the read option will be a component of the Bears' offensive playbook. I presume he is referring to the standard scheme in which the QB determines whether to keep the ball or hand off to his running back based on whether or not the opposing DE is crashing down. Does Trestman intend to have Jay Cutler direct the read option, Would he be courting disaster by running the read option with a starting QB who has a history of concussions, Conversely, running the read option with another player under center would appear to telegraph the play. Thoughts, -- Nicholas Secco, Chicago
Trestman did not say if Cutler will be his read option quarterback,air jordan 23. But I can't imagine taking him off the field. You don't run a football play thinking about injury consequences. You run a football play thinking about touchdowns. And Cutler is well suited to run the read option. I think he could be very good in it. I recently spoke about this topic with former Nevada coach Chris Ault, who used the read option extensively and invented the Pistol formation,jordan retro 6. Ault believes the offense is not exceedingly dangerous for quarterbacks. He pointed out about 75 percent of the read option runs are handoffs, not quarterback runs. The purpose of the read option really is to enhance the one back offense, not to get the quarterback to run for 1,000 yards. Ault also said quarterbacks have to be smart when they do run, especially at the NFL level. He pointed out Robert Griffin III did not get hurt on a read option play. It was a scramble.
Don't you think that J'Marcus Webb's psyche was damaged at the press conference for Bennett and Bushrod when Phil Emery kept referring to Bushrod as an upgrade at left tackle, What motivation does J'Marcus now have to play well considering how down his GM is on him, -- Robert Krieger, Ohio
If Webb doesn't have the motivation to play after being inadvertently criticized, he has no future in the NFL. If his psyche was damaged by the truth, he's not worth spending another minute on. But the truth is Emery believes he is worth investing more in. That's why he is keeping him on the roster and moving him to right tackle, where he has a very good chance to start. It wasn't exactly a revelation that Webb was inconsistent last year, and that Bushrod has been an above average left tackle for an extended period of time. I had one personnel director from another team this week tell me he thought Bushrod was the best offensive tackle who hit the open market. No one ever has put Webb in that class.
dpompei@tribune.com Twitter@danpompei
More air jordan 12 articles :


air jordan 9 ix 9269

Pirates 2B Walker ready to put back issues to rest - MLB - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice