Most of the posters giving you a thumbs down can't handle statements of harsh reality and don't realize the pattern of shity managerial decisions the Bears have made and executed since dumbass Michael McCaskey fired Jerry Vanisi in 1987. Like
@BEARZOMBIE said (and I would love if he was wrong), this is Angelo signing Frank Omiyale all over again. Until they proveme wrong Poles and Cunningham are two more idiots hired by a moronic arrogant ownership. I am middle aged and have seen this this scenario far too much. Now, I will, most likely sing a different tune if they sign Fisher. However, if they barely do anything to protect and help develop Fields, then I don't have many reasons to go out of my way pay attention to this team given I haven't even set foot in the United States in over six years since I moved overseas to stay wife my better half.
Well, I didn't give him (or anybody) a thumbs down, but to suggest anyone who doesn't agree with his opinion is unaware of the Bears' history is moronic.
a) he suggests that any time a player signs elsewhere our GM must not like him or be able to evaluate talent.
b) he jumps to the conclusion that the Bears are offering Bates more $ when that is pure speculation
c) he suggests that paying Bates more is automatically wrong, even though he doesn't know the difference in talent between Bates and Turner, or the projected fit with what the Bears want to do. And he bases this talent evaluation on nothing more than the # of starts they each have had. Based on that, James Daniels is a top OL!
d) You suggest Poles and Cunningham aren't good simply because McCaskey hired them, essentially reaching a conclusion on their abilities based solely on the performance of completely different people!
Most people are taking the sane approach of waiting to see what moves are made before criticizing. That's not the same as saying everyone thinks Poles will never make moves that don't work. It's just common sense, which on this board is very uncommon.