With Ted Phillips emphasizing "talent evaluation" as the reason for Jerry Angelo's firing, other writers have talked about the big-round busts of the GM's tenure. Another way of doing it? Look at the talent that was available when JA was making his top picks.

No human being is going to make perfect choices all the time, but look at what the 2011 Bears starting lineup might have looked like had Angelo chosen more wisely.

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers. In real life, Angelo and Lovie Smith were still trying to develop Rex Grossman in 2005, and after failing to trade down from the No. 4 slot, Angelo selected head case Cedric Benson, despite having Thomas Jones on his roster. Rodgers fell to the Packers at 24. Do-over, please?

Running Back: Chris Johnson. Angelo drafted LT Chris Williams, bad back and all, 14th overall in 2008. CJ2K was still available at No. 24.

Wide Receiver: Mike Wallace. The Steelers star is the best deep threat in today's game, and they picked him in the 3rd round with the 84th pick overall in 2009. For those of you keeping score at home, that was 16 picks after Angelo picked YouTube pool boy Jarron Gilbert.

Wide Receiver: Greg Jennings. I remember thinking that 2006 selection Danieal Manning was a headscratcher in the 2nd round with pick 42. Manning never found a comfortable role on the Bears, but I'll bet the Packers' choice at No 52 would have fit in nicely as the Bears No. 1 receiver.

Tight End: Jimmy Graham. Major Wright, the Bears' first pick in 2010 at No. 75, may never be a legit NFL starter. Jimmy Graham is already one of two elite players at his position. He lasted to pick 95

Tight End: Matt Spaeth, free agent, 2011.

Left Tackle: J'Marcus Webb, 7th round, 2010.

Left Guard: Edwin Williams, free agent 2010.

Center, Andre Gurode. A freakish injury convinced the Bears to part ways with 2002 29th overall draft pick Marc Columbo, who went on to a decent career with the Cowboys. But the Cowboy's pick at No. 37 that year, Gurode, quickly became a dominant center, earning multiple Pro Bowl invites and two All Pro mentions. He plays guard for the Ravens now.

Right Guard: Roberto Garza, free agent 2005.

Right Tackle: Gabe Carimi, 1st round 2011.

DEFENSE

Defensive End: Julius Peppers, free agent, 2010.

Defensive Tackle: Henry Melton, 4th round, 2009.

Defensive Tackle: Vince Wilfork. Bad knees caused the tremendously talented Tommie Harris to fall to the Bears at No. 14 in 2004, but scouts were divided over which of these stud defensive tackles would have the best professional career. Harris hasn't been a factor on anyone's roster since 2006, but the enormous Wilfork (drafted 21st overall by the Patriots) continues to be a dominant force in the interior line. A tough call to be sure, but by no means was it a slam dunk.

Defensive End: Israel Indonije, free agent, 2006.

Outside Linebacker: Lance Briggs, 3rd round, 2003.

Middle Linebacker: Brian Urlacher, 1st round, 2000.

Outside Linebacker: LaMarr Woodley. OK, quick question. Would you rather have talented but underachieving tight end Greg Olsen (31st overall, 2007) or this Pro Bowl linebacker (2nd round, 46th overall) who forced the fumble that sealed the Steelers's Super Bowl win over the Cardinals? That's what I thought.

Cornerback: Nnamdi Asomugha. Angelo traded down from the No. 4 pick in 2003 to acquire two first round picks, using the 22nd overall to select future Super Bowl victim Rex Grossman. The best cornerback in the league was still on the board at pick No. 31.

Cornerback: Charles "Peanut" Tillman, 2nd round, 2003.

Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu. The third Steeler on this list (gee, I wonder why they keep winning Super Bowls?) slipped past the Bears in 2003 when -- in an act that looks even dumber every time I think about it -- Angelo picked Penn State space cadet Michael Haynes with the 14th pick. Despite a pathetic lack of edge rushers, Haynes never really made it as a starter with the Bears. Polamalu, who went to the Steelers two picks later, has been the greatest safety of the decade.Should. Have. Been. A. Bear.

Free Safety: Chris Conte, 3rd round, 2011.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Long Snapper: Patrick Mannelly, 6th round, 1998.

Punter: Adam Podlesh, free agent, 2011.

Kicker: Robbie Gould, free agent, 2005.

Return Specialist: Devin Hester, 2nd round, 2006.

SUMMARY

In some of these drafts you have to really dig a bit for a top flight player that Angelo whiffed on, but in others there are so many to choose from that you seriously wonder how the Bears got things so incredibly wrong.

But passing up Polamalu for Haynes? That alone warrants firing.

OK, so it wasn't a great season, and a lot of us were disappointed. And Jay Cutler didn't post stats on par with his Denver numbers. But when you compare Cutler to our franchise history, he comes out alright for a first season.

Cutler became only the fifth Bear to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season, and 2009 was only the sixth time in franchise history that a passer exceeded the mark. Cutler finished 172 yards behind Erik Kramer's total from 1995.

1995 Erik Kramer 3,838
2009 Jay Cutler 3,666 (the Yardage of the Beast)
2006 Rex Grossman 3,193
1962 Bill Wade, 3,172
1991 Jim Harbaugh 3,121
1997 Erik Kramer 3,011

Cutler threw 27 touchdown passes, two behind Kramer's record and good for third on the single-season franchise list. Alarmingly, it was only the 8th time that a Bear QB threw for 20 or more touchdowns.

1995 Kramer 29
1943 Sid Luckman 28
2009 Jay Cutler 27
1947 Luckman 24
1949 Johnny Lujack 23
2006 Rex Grossman 23
1961 Bill Wade 22
1965 Rudy Bukich 20

More TDs than INTs

In only 27 seasons since 1933 has the Bears passing leader thrown more scores than picks (and we've done it in two consecutive years). That makes us 27-49 in hitting that mark. Yowsa.

20 or more interceptions

Cutler became the ninth Bear to throw 20 or more interceptions in a season. But he's not even close to the record: Sid Luckman's 31, in 1947. Of those performances, Cutler is only the second Bear to throw more TDs than picks (27-26), following Luckman's 23-22 season in 1949.

I compiled these stats in 2006 when we were all wondering what on earth was going on with Good Rex / Bad Rex, so they don't include Orton's 2008 campaign. But you'll get my point: However bad you think our QB history is, it's actually worse.

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Think making the biggest NFL deal in recent memory gets you some time off? Not in Chicago. Acquiring Cutler means its time to update all the Bears off-season scenarios. Here's your list, Jerry.

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