The Bears Offseason Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

The return of Rusty Jones is good news. No more bear fat.

 

not even in the wintertime?

[rawaction]

I'm not sure how anyone can make predictions about records for next season when the draft hasn't even taken place yet. That's kinda putting the cart before the horse.

 

You know someone in this thread said that Archuleta isn't a coverage safety, he's a guy that can come up and hit somebody hard...isn't that what I heard about Todd Johnson too? I don't know Archuleta that well, so it could be a bad comparison, but that was my first thought.

 

He's probably a better version of Todd Johnson, at this point.

 

I hope he's replacing Johnson and Worrell. Depth, not meant as a key player. And I wonder if he'll see some special teams play, like those two did.

 

That's what I'm hoping too. And I would be interested in Danieal playing a little CB. He has the speed and ability to play a slot WR as the nickel if 1 of Tillman/Vasher is out a month again.

[RichHillIsABeast]

The return of Rusty Jones is good news. No more bear fat.

 

not even in the wintertime?

 

These bears had better not be hibernating. :lol:

[Soul]

chicagosports.com[/url]"]The Bears signed eight coaches—including offensive coordinator Ron Turner and recently-named defensive coordinator Bob Babich—to three-year contracts Wednesday.

 

Tight ends coach Rob Boras, wide receivers coach Darryl Drake, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, running backs coach Tim Spencer, defensive backs coach Steven Wilks and strength and conditioning coordinator Rusty Jones are the other coaches signed to extensions.

 

Crap.

 

i don't see why that's so upsetting. turner runs nothing special, but with a defense like the bears have, there's no reason to get super cute on offense.

 

The OC is always an easy target for fans' ire.

 

Turner has taken what was the worst offense in the league, and raised them up to #15th overall last year (IIRC). He's getting little or no help from Lovie, because Lovie doesn't know offense. So it's all him.

 

He's doing a good, though not spectacular, job.

[RynoRules]

Interesting Tidbits from the Daily SouthTown:

 

The Bears had a need for depth at safety because backups Todd Johnson and Cameron Worrell left via free agency and Mike Brown's future with the team is uncertain. Brown had foot ligament surgery last season, his third straight injury-plagued season.

 

"Mike's still rehabbing," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. "We want to see how he continues in his rehab."

 

Smith made it known he'd like to have a healthy Brown back.

 

"Mike Brown is a big part of what we've done around here," Smith said. "The injuries have hurt him, but I think eventually you have to get over those injuries. I'm hoping that's the case with Mike because we need Mike. I see Mike on the field next year for us helping us win.

 

"To get to the point we did this past year without a couple of our key (injured) players -- Tommie Harris, Mike Brown -- just imagine as I start dreaming right now about what we can do with these players."

 

If Brown remains a Bear, there could be a change in the works for second-year safety Danieal Manning. Brown is the Bears' strong safety, but moved there from free safety. It's possible Brown could move back to what is considered his natural position.

 

As a rookie, Manning started 14 regular-season games and all of the playoff games at free safety. However, coaches noted his speed -- he might be among the three fastest players on the team -- makes him a potential cornerback candidate.

 

Angelo confirmed at the scouting combine last month that Manning playing cornerback or nickel back wouldn't be out of the question next season. The Bears may be in need of another backup cornerback because return man Devin Hester is being moved to the offense.

 

I think that Manning to a CB role makes sense down the road if we don't keep both Vasher and Tillman.

 

Sheesh I really like everything they are saying here. If we retain Brown and move Manning to CB, then we are 4 deep at CB. Much easier to find a serviceable backup saftey than a serviceable backup at CB, IMO.

 

Plus I love the idea of Hester on offense.

[goonys evil twin]

chicagosports.com[/url]"]The Bears signed eight coaches—including offensive coordinator Ron Turner and recently-named defensive coordinator Bob Babich—to three-year contracts Wednesday.

 

Tight ends coach Rob Boras, wide receivers coach Darryl Drake, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, running backs coach Tim Spencer, defensive backs coach Steven Wilks and strength and conditioning coordinator Rusty Jones are the other coaches signed to extensions.

 

Crap.

 

i don't see why that's so upsetting. turner runs nothing special, but with a defense like the bears have, there's no reason to get super cute on offense.

 

The OC is always an easy target for fans' ire.

 

Turner has taken what was the worst offense in the league, and raised them up to #15th overall last year (IIRC). He's getting little or no help from Lovie, because Lovie doesn't know offense. So it's all him.

 

He's doing a good, though not spectacular, job.

 

Amen brother.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

SI continues its Bears hating campaign way into next season.

 

Don Banks wrote about the Bear's "Unrest" at quarterback. This guy absolutely hates Grossman. Banks is the one that wrote the Bears won DESPITE Grossman against the Seahawks, and was the first write in the national media to write about Grossman being the worst qb in super bowl history.

 

From all indications, the defending NFC champion Bears will be status quo on their quarterback depth chart in 2007. Despite his brutal moments at some points during Chicago's Super Bowl season, Rex Grossman will go apparently unchallenged for the starting spot, with Brian Griese and Kyle Orton back at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. There might not be five people in all of Chicago who think there's no need whatsoever for change at quarterback, but one of them happens to be Bears coach Lovie Smith. And he may be the only guy who really matters. As one league observer noted to me: "Lovie's locked in with Grossman. He's got his ego involved now in making Grossman his guy, and he can be stubborn about stuff like that. Nothing's happening there.''

 

Then Michael Silver wrote the Bears had the worst offseason so far. Well I guess I dont have a problem with that. Espn had a similar article and didnt even mention the bears.

[BigSlick]

I dunno man, we haven't had a great off-season, but I don't think we've hurt that bad.

 

This is really frustrating because we very likely could be better next year, not make the Superbowl, and be criticized without end on how bad Jerry Angelo is.

[biittner77]

I didn't get to see all of the games this year. Did Hester ever look good in coverage? From what I saw he didn't look very good but I didn't see enough to know if it was inexperience or incapable.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

I didn't get to see all of the games this year. Did Hester ever look good in coverage? From what I saw he didn't look very good but I didn't see enough to know if it was inexperience or incapable.

 

No he did not look good. But it was definitely inexperience, not capability. With that said I was too busy crying and laughing in joyful hysterics watching him return kicks and punts.

[ToupeeOnFire]

The Bears have been pretty busy...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2812251

 

signed 49er DT Anthony Adams to 4 year deal

signed Steeler S Tyrone Carter to 3 year deal, 2.4 million

resigned Ruben Brown to a 1 year deal, 2.2 million

 

That pretty much means the end of Ian Scott, who seems to be drawing a lot of interest from other teams. I don't know much about Adams, but he seems to be a good fit. I was becoming fairly convinced that the Bears were going to pick a DT with one of their top 2 picks, but this would seem to preclude that.

[Soul]

The Bears have been pretty busy...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2812251

 

signed 49er DT Anthony Adams to 4 year deal

signed Steeler S Tyrone Carter to 3 year deal, 2.4 million

resigned Ruben Brown to a 1 year deal, 2.2 million

 

That pretty much means the end of Ian Scott, who seems to be drawing a lot of interest from other teams. I don't know much about Adams, but he seems to be a good fit. I was becoming fairly convinced that the Bears were going to pick a DT with one of their top 2 picks, but this would seem to preclude that.

 

It's interesting that S & DT have been addressed in FA this year, when Angelo usually likes to draft at those positions. I think this signals a change of approach for JA. He's officially out of building mode -- looking for veteran help instead of relying so heavily on the draft.

 

At this point I really don't have much of a clue what Angelo will do come April.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Bears have been pretty busy...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2812251

 

signed 49er DT Anthony Adams to 4 year deal

signed Steeler S Tyrone Carter to 3 year deal, 2.4 million

resigned Ruben Brown to a 1 year deal, 2.2 million

 

That pretty much means the end of Ian Scott, who seems to be drawing a lot of interest from other teams. I don't know much about Adams, but he seems to be a good fit. I was becoming fairly convinced that the Bears were going to pick a DT with one of their top 2 picks, but this would seem to preclude that.

 

It's interesting that S & DT have been addressed in FA this year, when Angelo usually likes to draft at those positions. I think this signals a change of approach for JA. He's officially out of building mode -- looking for veteran help instead of relying so heavily on the draft.

 

At this point I really don't have much of a clue what Angelo will do come April.

 

Good idea - how many years of drafting S does Angelo need to do? I still have hopes for D. Manning improving quite a bit. Also, the Bears could still go S and I wouldn't be surprised.

 

I expect OL to be a priority in the draft. After that, LB (replace Briggs), WR, TE, S.

[Jon]

If you want to be depressed: http://www.chicagobears.com/Top10Plays.asp

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not sure it's as much a change by Angelo as it is Lovie asserting his newfound power in the organization. Scott was a pre-Lovie draft pick, Boone was also around before Lovie. The DT is relatively small. Another safety increases the chances that Mike Brown could be gone.

[Soriano12]

Tyrone Carter = camp fodder.

[goonys evil twin]

Tyrone Carter = camp fodder.

 

The contract makes it seem like they expect him to be a regular contributor to special teams, at least.

[Chocolate Milk]

Tyrone Carter = camp fodder.

 

The contract makes it seem like they expect him to be a regular contributor to special teams, at least.

 

I read somewhere else that he resigned with the Steelers? I dunno, nothing on Bears.com about him. Does anyone know for sure?

[Banedon]

Tyrone Carter = camp fodder.

 

The contract makes it seem like they expect him to be a regular contributor to special teams, at least.

 

I read somewhere else that he resigned with the Steelers? I dunno, nothing on Bears.com about him. Does anyone know for sure?

 

It's not in the article that was linked, so I dunno where that came from...

[goonys evil twin]

Tyrone Carter = camp fodder.

 

The contract makes it seem like they expect him to be a regular contributor to special teams, at least.

 

I read somewhere else that he resigned with the Steelers? I dunno, nothing on Bears.com about him. Does anyone know for sure?

 

It's not in the article that was linked, so I dunno where that came from...

 

From a trib article:

"The Bears also signed former Steelers safety Tyrone Carter to a three-year deal estimated at $2.4 million with a signing bonus of $280,000, according to ESPN."

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Tyrone Carter = camp fodder.

 

The contract makes it seem like they expect him to be a regular contributor to special teams, at least.

 

I read somewhere else that he resigned with the Steelers? I dunno, nothing on Bears.com about him. Does anyone know for sure?

 

It's not in the article that was linked, so I dunno where that came from...

 

From a trib article:

"The Bears also signed former Steelers safety Tyrone Carter to a three-year deal estimated at $2.4 million with a signing bonus of $280,000, according to ESPN."

 

espn.com still has him listed as unsigned.

[goonys evil twin]

From the "Peter King still has not found his way out of Tomy Romo's pants" department:

 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There will be sexier stories than commissioner Roger Goodell tweaking the player-conduct policy at the annual NFL meetings here this week. Like the announcement this afternoon of the first two prime-time games of 2007 on NBC, including Eli Manning opening his second straight season on the first Sunday night game of the year, this time against Dallas. (My, how Tony Romo's star continues to rise.)

 

 

So the fact that Dallas will be playing the Giants in the first Sunday night game of the year is a reflection of just how bright a star Tony Romo is, and has nothing to do with the fact that Giants/Dallas is always an overhyped event and networks go out of their way to get Dallas games on TV whenever possible?

 

The biggest reason Romo's star is on the rise, if it even is on the rise, is because Peter King can't stop pimping the guy out to the nation.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

From the "Peter King still has not found his way out of Tomy Romo's pants" department:

 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There will be sexier stories than commissioner Roger Goodell tweaking the player-conduct policy at the annual NFL meetings here this week. Like the announcement this afternoon of the first two prime-time games of 2007 on NBC, including Eli Manning opening his second straight season on the first Sunday night game of the year, this time against Dallas. (My, how Tony Romo's star continues to rise.)

 

 

So the fact that Dallas will be playing the Giants in the first Sunday night game of the year is a reflection of just how bright a star Tony Romo is, and has nothing to do with the fact that Giants/Dallas is always an overhyped event and networks go out of their way to get Dallas games on TV whenever possible?

 

What a dolt.

[pitchcs]

If you want to be depressed: http://www.chicagobears.com/Top10Plays.asp

 

I'm not sure why this is depressing?

[Soriano12]

The latest SI Mock has the Bears taking Robert Meachem

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/03/23/mock.draft4.part3/index.html

 

With the latest signings of Archuleta and Adams, I wouldn't mind Meachem. Too good of talent to pass up.