TJ Quietly Having A Good Year

**Gotch** · November 19th, 2007, 07:03 PM

All of that is speculation..but it's speculation based on evidence.

In fact it could be argued that the 4-6 record is a direct result of the difference.

Factor in TJ's leadership qualities and overall team play. Balance that against Benson's anti-social behavior and his lack of effort and the Bears may well be a playoff team again this year?

How much $ is that worth as compared to being an also-ran?

November 19th, 2007, 07:37 PM

A lil off topic...but there is a Thanksgiving Day Special on the Jones gang. Not bad for a bunch from BSG.

**imported_mega** · November 19th, 2007, 07:49 PM

man its only 10 yards difference each game. Their record would be no better in my opinion based upon the fact that there has been numerous games like yesterday where the offense has put up alot of points and the D has been gashed. The worst thing the Bears could have done is kept both and given TJ a new contract simply because they have many many other issues to address this offseason. First being QB, second oline, then you have to decide to cut Muhammad who is aging or keep him another year, then decide to pay Berrian or let him walk, then bring in some safety help and find someone aside from an injured Dvorcek who can help stop the run. The bears cant even play much cover 2 this year because they cant stop the run. With Vasher out the corners are sorta weak with no safety help. They are banged up so bad, Harris may go ahead and call it a season and have his knee scoped.

PVfan, I agree with that assessment until the end. If a doctor told me I had a sprained knee and possible ligament damage, I probably wouldnt have went back into the game either, espcially knowing that I had two other quality running backs that could potentially get the job done. Benson isnt very good, I always had a lovefest with Gore and McGahee but aside from Darren McFadden, theres no way I'd spend a first rounder on a running back or even spend lots of money on one in free agency. The team that gives Michael Turner 30 million dollars is the team thats wasted alot of cap space towards making the rest of their team better. Do like Minnesota and spend your money on the oline and dline. They need a QB but they have a solid core all the way around them. Even if Peterson goes down, Chester Taylor will keep the sticks moving.

Gotch, Im not sure about the whole lack of effort/being an introvert thing. Ricky Williams was the same way but could put up 1800 yards easily. I'll just say Benson isnt that good and leave it at that. Most of his teammates actually do like him once they get to know him per the newspaper clippings. They arent a bad team, they could tweek a few positions and be right back in the hunt next year. Brady was surrounded by nothing on offense last year and look how far they got. A good QB makes a world of difference. I just cant believe philly would part with McNabb. They could build around him easier than getting rid of him and building around a new guy. They better make sure Kolb is the man before they get rid of him. Injuries or not, McNabb is still a baller.

**Gotch** · November 19th, 2007, 08:30 PM

They (the Bears) have a 3 pt loss a 7 pt loss and a 9 pt loss. Ten or so rushing yards and no fumbles along with more effective blocking and team play could very well have turned any or all of those games around.

It's a game of inches. Ten yards = a lot of inches....

I really believe TJ's presence actually helps more in the area of intangibles as compared to Benson than it does in actual yardage, but 1/2+ per carry is significant.

**Gotch** · November 19th, 2007, 08:33 PM

I do understand the business side of the issue that you are getting at.

On the other hand nearly every sports dynasty of the past 25 years has been fallen by business decisions. Not calling this situation a dynasty by any means.

**sup-rbeast** · November 20th, 2007, 10:07 AM

IMO, Chicago's business savvy bites them in the a$$...that is why they are only competitive 3 years out of every 10. If they don't have the money or are too tight to spend it, bring in someone that isn't..or be the same ol Bears for the next 30 years that they have been for the last 30.

**imported_mega** · November 20th, 2007, 10:26 AM

what are you talking about, they are 10 million under the cap going into next season. Twenty other teams have more money to spend going into this offseason and the 10 other teams that have spent more than Chicago are all terrible with the exception of the Colts. All you have to do is look at their roster and see that their offense is very old and their defense is the yonger part of their team where most of their money is spent. Spending tons of money in Free Agency is a recipe for disaster. You have to draft well. They have drafted well and have alot of picks this coming season. Cap space has to be allocated for a guy like Tommie Harris who will command in excess of 50-70 million. NE lets people walk every season. They will probably let Asante Samuel walk next offseason and keep on winning. The Bears dont have Tom Brady but if he were available Im sure they would make a push to sign him. The nature of the nfl is to build and rebuild. Aside from the Pats and Colts, there hasnt been a consistently good team this decade. Angelo has had 3 playoff teams the last 7 years with all 3 making it past wildcard weekend. Aside from Philly who has had, you got it, the best QB in the nfc for a long time, there hasnt been any nfc teams that has had much more success than Chicago this decade. A franchise QB goes a long way towards stability. But franchise QB's are rarely available either.

**sup-rbeast** · November 20th, 2007, 10:32 AM

It ain't about $$ to fans...it's about wins and losses...No one becomes a fan of a team because they know how to save $$...they become fans of them because they like the team. I don't doubt that the Bears have money...but I do doubt they'll win another Superbowl trophy until they learn to use it right...and saving isn't always right in pro sports.

**imported_mega** · November 20th, 2007, 10:54 AM

right,the Detroit Lions are #1 in spending, yet they are basically getting ready to fall apart it looks like. The Washington Redskins pay out more dead cap space than anyone. I realize money has to be spent correctly and thats a whole other arguement. To say Chicago isnt spending money is being ignorant though, all you have to do is take a look at the cap figures and youll see that. To just say they wont win another superbowl until they spend every cap dollar is funny, I mean you could say that about 20 other teams given that there have only been 12 different superbowl champs since 1985. Stability in the nfl is all about QB development. There are the haves and the have nots. Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer are the exceptions to the rule but those great teams never got multiple championships either. Look around the league, Ozzie Newsome, Jerry Angelo, and Scott Piloi are 3 of the most highly regarded GM's in the league. All draft well, all get bits and peieces in free agency. Its a common formula for winning in the nfl. Newsome and Angelo have McNair, Boller, Grossman, and Griese, Pioli has Tom Brady. Lets go ahead and annoint the Lions the best since they are spending the most money, are 2 games above .500 and have Matt Millen as their GM. The nfl is the not for long league, it was clear the Bears had nowhere to go but down. Same with the Rams, Bucs, Eagles, Seahawks and Panthers.

**Gotch** · November 20th, 2007, 11:19 AM

I'm going to get back on the threads original point for a minute:

I was wrong about TJ's career total. He is already over 6,100. If you figure about 6,500 by the end of this season then he is only two decent season away from being among the top 20 rushers in NFL history. Sort of a surprise but it's true.