Thomas Jones = SW VA pride

**imported_Counts** · January 23rd, 2007, 10:29 AM

I want to see Thomas succed as much as anyone and I do think that the Bears could have picked a QB with the #4 pick rather than picking a backup RB.....That being said TJ is starting to get some milage on him and teams will go with young RBs 4 out of 5 times

**imported_mega** · January 23rd, 2007, 10:35 AM

thats not the point, and unforunately you didnt read TJ's quote in the sun times that gave a TON of credit to Benson for wearing down the defense by constantly pounding the rock.

Benson averaged over a yard a carry more about the last 6 games of the season. Yet thats STILL not the point.

The point is, there is a salary cap, it doesnt matter who is the better back because realistically, they are both very close in ability. There are running backs taken in rounds 3-7 every year that are cheap, affordable, and have potential. Ever heard of Frank Gore, you know the all pro Frank Gore, hes a 3rd round pick making less than 1 million a year.

Back to that salary cap thing, the thing you have to stay under(ever heard of it?), anyway Benson commands 40 million, they cant get rid of him, it would be a huge salary cap hit. TJ is over 30 and 30+ year old running backs just dont command alot of money in the open market.

TJ had his big contract with the cardinals, he understands the situation, its the same thing as he and Pittman went through in Arizona.

Again, it does not matter who is the better running back, its about being able to keep your superstar players together, Lance Briggs is a superstar, not TJ, not Cedric. You keep your best players and build around them. What about this do you not understand? Its pretty simple, you pay certain players, you part with players that are more easily replaceable. I promise you, there is a bigger drop off between Lance Briggs and Jamar Williams, than there is Jones and Benson.

Have you not followed the Patriots? They let everyone and their mother go in the free agent market and built around Brady and they are still superbowl caliber. We dont have a Brady, but we do have a defense, you keep the defense in tact. Urlacher, Briggs, and Harris are the heart and soul of the team. Without them, Chicago is nothing.

**imported_mega** · January 23rd, 2007, 10:39 AM

Counts, who were they going to pick, Aaron Rodgers? Come on man. That would have been stupid. Everyone bags on Rex but hes alot better than Aaron Rodgers. Rex only threw 25 TDs this year and had more 100+ QB ratings than anyone in the league besides Manning. This is his first full season, you gotta stick with him.

At the time, TJ had never played a full season, the Bears went after the most durable back in college football. Benson had more yards and carries than anyone over that 4 year stretch. Ronnie Brown would have likely have been the pick if he were still there. Had both not been there, they would have drafted either Cadillac Williams or Antrel Rolle. A QB was out of the question and probably the dumbest one that could have been made.

**imported_Counts** · January 23rd, 2007, 12:28 PM

LOL Rodgers would not have been any worse than Rex has been playing.

I think there best bet would have been to trade down IMHO QB was a bigger need than RB that being said it does seem to have worked out well for them this year which is why they are a GM and I never will be [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

**imported_mega** · January 23rd, 2007, 02:46 PM

They wouldnt have taken a quarterback no matter what. You dont use a 1st round pick on a player, then while hes injured give up on him just to draft another QB. I think everyone has been a little hard on Rex to be honest. With the exception of the Green Bay game, his stats over the last 6 games have looked like this:

7 touchdowns 1 interception(which was off of Muhammad's shoulder after it hit him in both hands), and a QB rating of 89.6. I think people need to lay off Rex a little bit, hes doing what hes being told to do. If they have to open it up, they will, Rex is capable.

Coming into the superbowl, Grossman has a higher postseason rating than the guy on the other team this postseason and John Elway's qb rating for the 86 season was worse when he led Denver to the superbowl. Im really not sure why people rip on Rex so much, hes still in his first season. He needs more consistency sure, but hes had some amazing games this year. Everyone talks about the defense saving his arse, but hes actually saved the defense in a couple of meltdowns, i.e. the rams game, the bucs game, the lions game.

It wont matter though, even if he wins the superbowl, he still wont get any respect

Its like Parcells said, what are you supposed to do, dial 1800-get a quarterback.

Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers were the only 2 qbs taken in the first round that season, both stink, Im still waiting for a better idea. Cedric Benson was not a bad choice at all. Antrel Rolle would have probably been the best pick.

**Biggin** · January 23rd, 2007, 02:47 PM

smith doesnt totally stink he is getting better every game.

they have some pieces now, young QB in Smith, getting better, a a monster from da u named gore, who should be an all-pro

**imported_mega** · January 23rd, 2007, 03:09 PM

I agree, he doesnt stink, he is coming along, but at the same time, they need to surround him with more talent. I think he wasnt prepared for the nfl to begin with(Meyers system) so its taken him longer. While I called Boller and Harrington busts, Smith's learning curve is steeper and he could be a late bloomer like Brees was.

**R0cketer** · January 23rd, 2007, 04:36 PM

I do see the point on the Benson but I also see the point of he was a running back who has yet to prove it himself. He may turn out to be great but he may not. There have been quite a few backs who came in with better numbers, or that was a better physical specimen who just didn't make it. College success doesn't necessarily mean pro success. One of the biggest reasons Thomas gets at least respected if the Bears are smart is team chemistry. You can't always go by that, and supposedly they think the switch came on for Cedric. It is a tough situation actually.

As for Rex, he has had several great games but some horrible games. He is an extremist. He's either extremely good or extremely bad. The Bears can win most games as long as he's not extremely bad. It seems he's learning that. He needs to be a slightly better version of Dilfer with the Ravens. He doesn't need to win games, just not lose them.

**imported_mega** · January 23rd, 2007, 04:59 PM

Its hard to say how Cedric Benson will turn out, he was one of the top 10 rushers in ncaa history and has played well with limited playing time. I will say this, those guys(benson and jones) make each other better, the 1-2 punch the other day was far more lethal than Bush and McCallister. Noone would have thought that coming into the game. TJ is a team guy, all of these guys are playing for each other right now. They remind me of the first patriots superbowl team. Every man is important and I dont think there will be any ill feelings about playing time until at least training camp.

TJ has one more year left on the contract, the bears would probably like to keep him, his value is more than just getting a draft pick, however they will not want to rework his contract.