2009 Chicago Bears offseason

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think the Bears think they are that far away from contending, though I tend to agree with you that they need more than what they are doing right now.

 

As for TO falling into our lap, I'm pretty sure there were 31 teams who were surprised that TO wound up signing a 1 year deal for decent but not great money. Also -- he signed much more quickly than most people expected. I'm not sure most NFL teams even knew what was happening beyond their initial "he's a cancer, no" -- analysis. I wonder if Angelo would have considered him if he knew what he was going to go for, but it's too late now.

 

The 31 other teams excuse doens't hold much water. There were only a couple teams where it would have made sense to bring him in. New England wasn't a fit. Indy wasn't a fit. The only teams where it would make sense are teams where he would be the #1, where they stood a chance of contending with him, but didn't have much to lose if he blew up.

 

There's no way he just took the first offer and signed before other teams had a chance to offer more. He took that money because nobody was offering more. His release was not a surprise, and Angelo should have been prepared to open up talks immediately.

[dew1679666265]

then change the bottom # to 900 and he still is valuable tot he Bears

 

Oh yeah, he can still have value to the Bears as a 900-1200 yard per year guy. I would stay away from him, however.

[Soul]

I don't think the Bears think they are that far away from contending, though I tend to agree with you that they need more than what they are doing right now.

 

As for TO falling into our lap, I'm pretty sure there were 31 teams who were surprised that TO wound up signing a 1 year deal for decent but not great money. Also -- he signed much more quickly than most people expected. I'm not sure most NFL teams even knew what was happening beyond their initial "he's a cancer, no" -- analysis. I wonder if Angelo would have considered him if he knew what he was going to go for, but it's too late now.

 

The 31 other teams excuse doens't hold much water. There were only a couple teams where it would have made sense to bring him in. New England wasn't a fit. Indy wasn't a fit. The only teams where it would make sense are teams where he would be the #1, where they stood a chance of contending with him, but didn't have much to lose if he blew up.

 

There's no way he just took the first offer and signed before other teams had a chance to offer more. He took that money because nobody was offering more. His release was not a surprise, and Angelo should have been prepared to open up talks immediately.

 

You know Angelo just blew this off and never even considered it. I'm definitely not in agreement with not considering it, but I guess I just knew JA was never even going to put it on the table.

[jersey cubs fan]

You know Angelo just blew this off and never even considered it. I'm definitely not in agreement with not considering it, but I guess I just knew JA was never even going to put it on the table.

 

Yes, I felt that was going to be the case, but there was no reason why it had to be. It's not just a case of Jerry choosing not to get involved in a big-named player where the Bears already had somebody, but him refusing to improve a blatantly obvious must improve position.

[rawaction]

 

I have my doubts about Holt's ability to produce outside of an offense first passing team that plays in a dome against division foes that don't play defense.

 

The Rams haven't really been pass first for a while. Not since Steven Jackson has become a star. They threw the ball 55.5% of the time this year to the Bears 54.8%. He was the Rams leading WR this year when the team was an absolute mess and clearly phasing him out of the offense. Neither TO or Holt will make the Bears championship contenders, but they could easily put up the same numbers, though they are different types of WRs. Add in the lack of distraction created by Holt and the off chance that he could work with Hester, Bennett, and a rookie WR to become 1/2 the route runner that he is, then I think Holt is worth a 4th or 5th rounder. He probably wouldn't whine too much about playing for the Bears, because he would be getting his money and he does have some history w/ Lovie.

[Magnetic Curses]

strange signing since they barely used jones as the season progressed.

 

I'm glad they kept him so they can at least avoid having to use a draft pick on the position. You really have to wonder what the motivation was for not using the guy much and running the crap out of Forte. Then again, they played Marty Booker over Earl Bennett all year and had no intention of keeping him either, and he wasn't doing a thing to help the team.

 

 

I'm really disappointed that they could have had TO for very little and apparantly didn't even express interest. The WR position would have been solved for this season, giving them flexibility to draft guys at any spot. Since they are ignoring the position in free agency they have to get one early and hope he contributes early. I like Hester as a receiver, but thinking of him as a #1 is way past being just a stretch. He'd be a solid 2 with a real receiver taking double teams, but there's no way he's going to be the "must stop" guy that any defense worries about every play.

 

oh, i'm glad they signed him, it's just that i was glad that they signed him last season only to never use him. he's really a nice backup to forte because he's a very similar player. he's fast, strong, and catches the ball well out of the backfield. using him late in games at least would have saved some mileage on forte.

 

holt is waht we need.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

I have my doubts about Holt's ability to produce outside of an offense first passing team that plays in a dome against division foes that don't play defense.

 

The Rams haven't really been pass first for a while. Not since Steven Jackson has become a star. They threw the ball 55.5% of the time this year to the Bears 54.8%. He was the Rams leading WR this year when the team was an absolute mess and clearly phasing him out of the offense. Neither TO or Holt will make the Bears championship contenders, but they could easily put up the same numbers, though they are different types of WRs. Add in the lack of distraction created by Holt and the off chance that he could work with Hester, Bennett, and a rookie WR to become 1/2 the route runner that he is, then I think Holt is worth a 4th or 5th rounder. He probably wouldn't whine too much about playing for the Bears, because he would be getting his money and he does have some history w/ Lovie.

 

If Holt is asking for a release so he can be a free agent, and choose his location, what makes you assume he won't be a distraction if that request is denied and he is traded to the Bears, who don't know what a passing game is?

 

If they do get Holt, then not going after TO is forgiveable, but they are extremely unlikely to land even Holt.

[Soul]

This is the GM who decided the first thing he would talk about after the season is the need to get better at QB. Then he signed Basanez, and apparently that's going to be about it. Maybe a token vet signed after June 1, who knows.

 

Angelo's idea of improving at offense is very, very strange to begin with. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't even thought about Holt.

[Magnetic Curses]

i just saw that the rams released orlando pace.

[minnesotacubsfan]

yea, its been speculated he would be released, but he's getting up there in years

[salukifudd]

i just saw that the rams released orlando pace.

 

Do 3 year "splits" count in football for a 34 year old lineman? If so, no.

[Butterscup1679666578]

i honestly had no idea pace was still in the league.

[Flames24Rulz]

i honestly had no idea pace was still in the league.

 

I'm pretty sure he's missed about 3/4's of the season every year for the past three years or so.

[Magnetic Curses]

he played 14 games last year. he may have another year or 2 left in him.

[jersey cubs fan]

Balls.

 

While re-signing offensive tackle John St. Clair remains a priority, the Bears addressed another position of need Wednesday via the scarce free-agent market.

 

Free safety Josh Bullocks, who spent four seasons with New Orleans, agreed to a one-year deal that includes $525,000 guaranteed. Bullocks, 26, started 43 games his first three seasons before coverage issues sent him to the bench. He has six career interceptions and started just six games last season.

 

Metcalf released: The Bears released veteran offensive guard Terrence Metcalf, a third-round draft pick in 2002. Metcalf's agent, also Nalley, said he requested it earlier this week. The Bears acquired guard Dan Buenning from Tampa Bay last season.

 

I don't really like that everybody insists resigning JSC should be, and is, a priority. He's not good. The priority should be replacing him with somebody better. JSC is just another body at the position. Screw the familiarity. All that familiarity has gotten them so far is a bad offensive line. Why would anybody want to maintain the continuity of a bad offensive line. Hopefully the delay in signing him is more about the Bears looking elsewhere than anything else.

 

Also, why is Tait's official retirement taking so long?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Also, why is Tait's official retirement taking so long?

 

i was going to bring this up too. it's probably nothing, but i think the longer it drags out the more likely its not going to happen.

[jersey cubs fan]

Also, why is Tait's official retirement taking so long?

 

i was going to bring this up too. it's probably nothing, but i think the longer it drags out the more likely its not going to happen.

 

I'm guessing he doesn't want to leave all the money on the table, and he is trying to get the Bears to buy out a portion of his contract. But if it's a matter of just waiting to be sure he really wants to retire, I'm fearful that he'll return, out of shape, with no motivation, taking up cap space.

[rawaction]

Bullocks was very mediocre in NO. He did have a pretty good reputation for being a ballhawk with good speed and instincts coming out of Nebraska 4 years ago. He has good size and good enough speed. He's probably the "truest" FS the Bears have had since Mark Carrier, but that's not saying much. I think something good can be salvaged from his talent if the Bears have the coaching to bring it out of him. That is the $1,000,000 question though.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bullocks was very mediocre in NO. He did have a pretty good reputation for being a ballhawk with good speed and instincts coming out of Nebraska 4 years ago. He has good size and good enough speed. He's probably the "truest" FS the Bears have had since Mark Carrier, but that's not saying much. I think something good can be salvaged from his talent if the Bears have the coaching to bring it out of him. That is the $1,000,000 question though.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYJhqDm0L-A

 

exciting times to be a Bears fan

[NCCubFan]

The Bears have placed Tait on the retired list and signed DB Marcus Hamilton to a one-year contract.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

The Bears have placed Tait on the retired list and signed DB Marcus Hamilton to a one-year contract.

 

That has got to free up some cap... not like they are going to use it.

[Magnetic Curses]

i didn't know it was possible to look worse than archuleta. you've outdone yourself, jerry.

[Magnetic Curses]

The Bears have placed Tait on the retired list and signed DB Marcus Hamilton to a one-year contract.

 

That has got to free up some cap... not like they are going to use it.

 

yeah, i'm pretty disappointed.

[Banedon]

Jay Cutler has officially asked for a trade from Denver, and says that he won't report to the first team meeting on Monday.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3983805

 

Come on Jerry...make up for a crappy offseason and get this done.

[wekse]

getting cutler would be nice.