Re: The Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Wilson A2000]

I'm fertilizing Bernard Berrian's house tomorrow. If he answers the door, what should I say to him?

 

pooping on his lawn doesn't exactly qualify as "fertilizing" it

 

Well Bernard was not home. Big surprise. His grass was about two feet long. House isn't for sale either. But guess who lives a couple of doors down? Either Devin Hester or Mark Bradley. They were all hanging out in the garage looking at someone's incredible 4-wheeler. I hope it wasn't Hester's. I wonder if he has a clause in his contract saying that he can't ride one of those. Then they got into Bradley's SUV and went fishing (really). Their houses really weren't that big. They were your typical four-bedroom suburban house. I guess if you are single and don't have a monster contract you don't need an enormous house. But their cars, well that's a different story. I was hoping they would grab a football and start playing football in the street.

[Sweep The Leg Johnny]

I hear people talk about the Bears QB situation all the time but I never hear people give suggestions as to what the Bears could have done about it.

 

Great point. If there were good viable options, at least promote it. I am not aware of one option at QB that would help out the Bears next year. Sure, they could of drafted a QB early, but does that help them next year? Does it even help them the year after? Probably not.

 

Bears picked up two QB's after the draft that were projected out as 5th round. With these guys, plus the guys they have on roster, they have enough guys to try and "develop".

[Jon]

How the labor situation might impact Hester's contract negotiations:

David Haugh[/url]"]Before the league's 32 owners voted unanimously to opt out early from the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association that was to have run through 2012, Hester had two years left on his rookie deal before he could have attained free agent status.

 

That unfathomable option—a potential Hall of Fame player being allowed to sign with another team, even for compensation—gave Hester unspoken leverage during ongoing negotiations to extend his contract.

 

Now it has vanished as quickly as Hester through the wedge on a kickoff return. If the 2010 season takes place without a salary cap, maybe the biggest result of Tuesday's vote, then an oft-overlooked provision written into the original agreement in 1993 extends the amount of required service for potential free agents in an uncapped year from four seasons to six.

 

That means Hester wouldn't be permitted to test free agency until after the 2011 season at the earliest—in essence buying the Bears two more years of highlights from Hester and more time to work out a long-term deal.

..........

Harris already has turned down an offer from the Bears one source said was richer than the record-setting seven-year, $50.5 million deal the Raiders gave Tommy Kelly. Why would the Bears up the offer amid labor uncertainty?

 

That's a question Harris might want to ponder, not that his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will persuade him to settle for anything other than a historic contract.

[Banedon]

I don't envy Angelo. Everyone on this team is clamoring for cash right now.

[Jon]

According to the Trib, Mark Bradley had his knee scoped. They don't know if he'll be ready by the start of camp.

[Wilson A2000]

According to the Trib, Mark Bradley had his knee scoped. They don't know if he'll be ready by the start of camp.

 

He had a neoprene sleeve on it and he was hobbling around a bit when I saw him last Friday

[rawaction]

According to the Trib, Mark Bradley had his knee scoped. They don't know if he'll be ready by the start of camp.

 

What's the chances he's cut? If he can't make it back by the start of camp and with all the other WR options....I'd think he'd be on the hot seat.

[jersey cubs fan]

According to the Trib, Mark Bradley had his knee scoped. They don't know if he'll be ready by the start of camp.

 

What's the chances he's cut? If he can't make it back by the start of camp and with all the other WR options....I'd think he'd be on the hot seat.

 

There may be other bodies, but options? Not so much. They are weak at WR with Bradley, and cutting him would leave them even weaker. If somebody steps up in camp and performs incredibly well in preseason games and Bradley struggles then I could see them cutting him. He's been in the doghouse for years anyway, so it wouldn't be that much of a surprise.

[Jon]

Trib[/url]"]The Bears agreed to terms with rookie tight end Kellen Davis on a four-year deal, agent Drew Rosenhaus said Friday.

 

Davis, a fifth-round pick out of Michigan State, is expected to sign the deal today. The 6-foot-6-inch, 260-pounder would become the first Bears' rookie to sign out of the team's 12 draft picks.

 

Financial terms of the contract were not immediately available. The news was first reported by profootballtalk.com

[jersey cubs fan]

And Urlacher is expected to participate in the upcoming mini-camp. Not sure if this is a sign that he's caving or that he feels the Bears are negotiating in good faith.

[Soul]

I wonder if any part of this is because Urlacher could use a little extra rest this offseason because of his back or other little nagging injuries.

 

I say that because it doesn't really seem like Brian was ever seriously going to hold the Bears' feet to the fire. It's almost like he's logging an official complaint just to get it on record, and then sitting out a few non-mandatory activities just to make the point.

 

It might make sense to me for him to do that, if he wanted to "kill two birds with one stone" -- first, get it on record that he'd like more money, and then at the same time use the opportunity to rest his body that tad bit more.

 

I don't know, I'm just throwing it out there.

[Balsa]

Some Bears news, courtesy of Rotoworld...

 

Alex Brown opened minicamps as the Bears' starting right end, as expected.

 

Mark Anderson is going back to his situational rushing role, in which he had 12.5 sacks as a rookie. Anderson managed 4.5 as a starter last season. Brown isn't a double-digit sack threat, but is a far more complete player.

 

Chicago Sun Times columnist Mike Mulligan predicts that Kyle Orton will be the Bears' starting quarterback this season.

 

Now both Chicago papers (also the Tribune) have their money on Orton. Mulligan admits he's guessing, but points out that the simple act of opening the job to competition for the first time since 2004 indicates the Bears might inherently be pulling for Orton over Rex Grossman. OC Ron Turner says "consistency" will be the No. 1 factor when the Bears pick their starter.

 

Bears NT Dusty Dvoracek is recovered from the torn ACL he suffered last September, but is now sidelined with a hand injury.

 

The Chicago Sun Times calls the injury "minor," but Dvoracek is not practicing. He has appeared in only one game since being drafted in 2006.

 

The Bears could be interested in Chris Simms if he's released by the Buccaneers, according to ESPN's John Clayton.

 

With Bruce Gradkowski gone, Simms is now a fifth-stringer. Simms has not participated in any offseason work. It's very likely that he'll be let go within the next three months, but he could make it to August with the team.

 

Bears DE Daniel Bazuin (knee) has resumed practicing with the team.

 

Bazuin has had at least two surgeries since being a second-round pick in 2007. He appeared to be a highly promising draft choice and potential three-down player, but it's hard to have high expectations for him this year.

 

Cedric Benson measured 5'11/216 at the Bears' offseason weigh-in Friday.

 

It's four pounds lighter than the weight Benson played at in 2007. Initial offseason reports had Benson dropping ten pounds. Rookie Matt Forte weighed in at 216 as well. He is 6'1 and was listed in the 220s at Tulane.

[rawaction]

I'd be very interested in Chris Simms. Hopefully, he gets cut sooner, rather than later so he has a chance to compete for the starting job.

 

Good move regarding Alex/Anderson.

 

Need a big season from Dvoracek. He has definitely shown flashes, even moreso in practice, according to the coaching staff. Thankfully, Bazuin doesn't have to be a huge factor. The biggest thing is that these 2 give the Bears 14-16 games this year, in order to determine their futures with the organization.

 

Benson lighter is good. He'll probably get a little lighter in mini and training camps.

[RedFlash]

I'd be very interested in Chris Simms. Hopefully, he gets cut sooner, rather than later so he has a chance to compete for the starting job.

 

Good move regarding Alex/Anderson.

 

Need a big season from Dvoracek. He has definitely shown flashes, even moreso in practice, according to the coaching staff. Thankfully, Bazuin doesn't have to be a huge factor. The biggest thing is that these 2 give the Bears 14-16 games this year, in order to determine their futures with the organization.

 

Benson lighter is good. He'll probably get a little lighter in mini and training camps.

 

If Bazuin and Dvoracek are healthy, along with the literal heart and soul of the defense Mike Brown, (these are big questions) the Bears should have a Top 5 defense next yr. Along of people don't realize this is still the same defense that took the Bears to Super Bowl 2 yrs back. The Bears D should be fun to see again. I will make the case, the Bears "D" will be better then both the Packers and Vikings.

 

As for Simms, can't we just trade a conditional 6th/7th rd pick for him and get it over with?

 

I hope Cedric Benson brings it this yr. I hope the incident with the Texas law, put a series chip on his shoulder. Cause I really like to see Benson/Forte rip defenses apart this yr.

[Balsa]

Re: Brown, one more today.

 

Bears FS Mike Brown, coming off a torn ACL, has been medically cleared for all workouts and is reportedly looking "like his old self."

Brown, who's played just 21 games since 2003, jumped a pass to Rashied Davis at Sunday's practice and returned it for an imaginary score. There's no reason to think he'll play a full season, but Brown's return is welcomed.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Re: Brown, one more today.

 

Bears FS Mike Brown, coming off a torn ACL, has been medically cleared for all workouts and is reportedly looking "like his old self."

Brown, who's played just 21 games since 2003, jumped a pass to Rashied Davis at Sunday's practice and returned it for an imaginary score. There's no reason to think he'll play a full season, but Brown's return is welcomed.

 

 

I hope this is true. Mike Brown is like Kerry Wood in my eyes. I love Brown so much and all I want is for him to be healthy because it's so fun watching him out there and healthy. Also seems to be a huge fan-favorite and loves being a Bear (or Cub, in Kerry's case).

[Brian]

I know it's coming, but the Mike Brown injury will sadden me this year just as it has every year.

[rawaction]

I know it's coming, but the Mike Brown injury will sadden me this year just as it has every year.

 

I wanted to cry last year. First game of the season. Big situation. To top it off, he was held on a dirty play by the SD fullback. I didn't know how serious he was hurt the year before vs. Arizona, but I knew his season was over in San Diego.

[Banedon]

Mike Brown should really make playing the whole season his goal above all else. How huge would that be to have a consistent starting safety that was worth a damn...?

 

Where do I put my money on Benson looking spectacular in camp and then being very mediocre/bad in the regular season?

[Soul]

If I believed in jinxes, I'd sit Mike Brown for the first couple games to clear the jinx period.

 

But I don't believe in jinxes.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is Travis Henry worth thinking about? Denver doubting his commitment just adds to the list of negatives about him, but going strictly by on field performance, he could be a significant addition to the Bears backfield situation. If they could bring him into camp, I would have to think the competition between Henry, Benson and Forte would be tremendous.

 

Unless he absolutely refuses to be a share the load RB, I would think being released by Denver would act as a wakeup call and a team like the Bears would be one of the better fits.

[YearofDaCubs]

Is Travis Henry worth thinking about? Denver doubting his commitment just adds to the list of negatives about him, but going strictly by on field performance, he could be a significant addition to the Bears backfield situation. If they could bring him into camp, I would have to think the competition between Henry, Benson and Forte would be tremendous.

 

Unless he absolutely refuses to be a share the load RB, I would think being released by Denver would act as a wakeup call and a team like the Bears would be one of the better fits.

I would sign him if the price was right.

[Balsa]

I'm still waiting for us to sign Kevin Jones....surprised that we haven't yet.

[rawaction]

Travis Henry is an A-hole. That said, I'd take him. He'd be worth a look, though I doubt the Bears give it much thought.

[imb]

odds are that one of his kids is going to be athletic and you have the inside track to sign them when they hit FA