I know how long he has been on the team. He is nowhere near on a trajectory to be an impact defensive lineman, and that is what I was referencing. This will be his third year, as all know, and he is effectively a rookie.

I want him to succeed as much as anyone, but I still reserve the right to bitch about it. I have been nice to him, I have been mean to him, I have been in-between with him. I understood drafting him at the time...Few seemed to.

I am going to estimate that I have made approximately 28 negative posts in the past two years as regards Justin. Coincidentally, that is how many tackles he has made in the last two years, coupled with no sacks, no forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries. He is being moved to DE, and he is ostensibly a run stuffer--he will be changing gears, here...

As far as the money goes, he generously agreed to no signing bonus when we signed him. He did receive a salary of 285k for 2007, along with a roster bonus of 962k.

He has a guarantee of 8.1 million, btw.

For 2008, he got an option bonus of 5.3 million dollars, a base of 370k, and a 162k roster bonus.

So, for a mere 7.079 million dollars, we have got 28 tackles, of which, 18 were solo, but I'm being nice here. That is $252,821.43 per tackle.

For 2009, he will make 460k base plus 186,625 in another roster bonus.

If we cut him at the end of training camp (for example). It will cost us 1.021 million, satisfying his guarantee. If he stays on the team, it will actually cost us a bit less at 646,625.00 for the year, with of course the differential in guarantee remaining, or put another way, about two tackles worth (sorry, can't help myself).

At these prices, Justin Harrell can endure my bitching about it on a forum.

that's the whole thing with harrell, can this guy stay healthy. i really did not understand drafting an injured player in the first round when there was such a glaring weakness on offense, and a solution to that weakness was available instead of harrell.

is the torn muscle in his arm healed, and is his back ready to go?? if yes, then this guy should be productive.

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On one side, I agree with you. He hasn't been healthy for ages and it was a very risky pick. We could've had a Michael Griffin, for instance. With our holes at safety, that would've been nice. (2007 was the season before Atari's break-out year)

On the other side, he did look like an amazing athlete for his size and position. Like Foster-Dave had been hammering on, he might be one of those once in a generation players, if only he could stay healthy. Maybe we should've traded back since, apart from Michael Griffin (Who's playing as a FS), there wheren't any guys on the board that we really needed at this point. Any O-lineman would've been a reach for instance.

what about greg olsen. he is a productive starter.

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He went at the 31st pick, though. I've mainly seen him go late first to early second in mock drafts. Would've been a nice pick in hindsight.

Joe Staley would've been a decent pick as well when you look at it now. He would've been great as a developmental player behind Tauscher and Clifton and last year would've been the perfect year to put him into the starting line-up, when Tauscher went down.

like its been posted several times, justin has the tools, he is healthy (supposedly) and he should be a solid player and contribute this season.

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Somebody get the Delorean out of the professor's garage.

We'll trade back.

how about just making the right decision in the first place.
steer clear of injured players in the first round. seems pretty simple to me!

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Were we very deep at DT when Harrell was picked? I'm not being a smartass like usual, I'm asking.

I think DT's are a premium in this league, whereas TE would be an easier position to fill in the later rounds. Some GM's stick to a draft strategy, which I think Ted Thompson does. I think weighing postions you'll find it to go QB, LT, Corner, Dline as most important positions to fill.

Greg Olson has done the work to be fine NFL tight. Kudos to the Bears.

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in the last 2 seasons

Donald Lee 87catches 878yards 11TD
Greg Olsen 93catches 965yards 7TD

Yeah, Olsen is pretty good but I don't get the people always acting like it is some huge mistake that we didn't get him.

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