While the Bears didn't get Mario Williams, they still made a very impressive move by trading two third round draft picks for the incredibly talented and psychologically disturbed Brandon Marshall. With this trade, the Bears finally gave their franchise QB Jay Cutler the elite receiver the Bears haven't had since Johnny Morris. I also believe the Bears were NOT aware of Marshall's Lady-Punching incident in New York before making the trade, but it doesn't matter. The Bears needed to make this move strictly because they got a better receiver than Vincent Jackson for a much better price. I also believe Marshall won't be suspended for the alleged incident either.
The Bears also made sure that a Caleb Hanie situation never happens again, by signing Jason Campbell to be the backup QB, and they also added some linebacker depth by bringing in Blake Costanzo while retaining some of their own in Israel Idonije, Kellen Davis, Tim Jennings, Craig Steltz, and Josh McCown.
All these moves the Bears made are fine additions, but they are not the reason Phil Emery was brought in as General Manager. Emery will ultimately prove his worth in the draft. Still, helluva start Phil.
Today also became a significant day in NFL History as for the first time ever, both an NFL GM and a Head Coach were suspended. Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis felt the wrath of Roger Goodell, as the commissioner suspended Loomis for 8 games, and Payton for the entire season as punishment for "Bounty-Gate".
I had predicted Goodell would suspend Gregg Williams for half a season, but Roger went WAY farther than that by suspending Williams "indefinitely". I also predicted Roger would make examples out of the Saints. He definitely came through in that regard, and then some, but not for the reasons I thought he would.
It wasn't so much the fact that the Saints were running a Bounty System that put Goodell in his patented "Hanging Judge Mode". It was the fact that Goodell confronted the Saints about their Bounty System TWO YEARS AGO, and they lied to him. The Saints first denied to the commissioner that the program even existed, then after acknowledging that lie, informed the commissioner that the program does exist and they will cease it immediately.
That was in 2010. Obviously, it didn't stop, and even more obviously, Goodell knew it too.
I'm not one of these blind followers of Goodell who applaud every single decision he makes, but Roger is spot on with this punishment in my opinion. It's bad enough to lie to Roger Goodell's face about something he already knows you're doing, but it's even worse to lie to him again when he gives you a second chance to clean up your act. The Saints weren't smart enough to recognize their second chance, and arrogantly continued the Bounty System.
The lesson ultimately learned? Don't mess with, or attempt to make a fool out of Roger Goodell. Good job Commissioner.
And then there's John Elway. All season long we watched John being tortured by Tebowmania, seemingly a literal prisoner of his own team's awful starting quarterback. Elway made no secret of the fact that he was not a Tebow believer, and yet Elway was forced to begrudgingly support him, as Tebow "smoke and mirrored" his way into the postseason. Tebow also made Elway's situation worse by taking advantage of an old and slow Pittsburgh Steelers team in the first round, before Tebow was finally molested and exposed by the New England Patriots.
It seemed that Elway was trapped into having no choice but to stick with Tebow going into 2012. Elway had to have felt like he was lost at sea desperately looking for any sort of rescue. Then off in the distance another boat appeared in the form of Peyton Manning.
After a very public Free Agency tour and courtship by John Elway, the Denver Broncos convinced Manning to sign with them, and in doing so pretty much ended Tebow's career as a Denver Bronco. Manning gave Elway the perfect "out" from under the gun of Tebowmania, as nobody with a brain would ever suggest that Tebow is better than Manning. Plus, Elway knew that he couldn't keep Tebow behind Manning on the depth chart simply because they would be running TWO offenses. An actual NFL Offense for Manning, and a rinky-dink high school version for Tebow.
Either way, in just under three months, Elway pulled off the amazing trick of not only freeing himself from Tebow, but also bringing in an actual NFL Quarterback whom nobody would question.
Here's the thing though: Manning won't make it out of the preseason. Mark My Words.
I just don't trust Manning's health. It isn't so much the ability of Manning to throw the ball that I'm skeptical of, but rather I don't trust Manning to be able to withstand all the hits that every quarterback takes.
With that said though, I don't think Elway really cares. He only cares that he found the perfect way to get rid of Tebow (despite some hangups in the trade to the Jets today). Elway will gladly roll dice on Manning before having to appease Tebow and his acolytes for one more season.
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