Re: Bears Offseason Thread

[Banedon]

Last time the Bears thought that Mark Anderson was better than Brown, they started Anderson and ended up going back to Brown. Brown can still play. This is a bad idea.

[David]

If the thinking is that it would free up $5M to use toward an upgrade at safety, like Atogwe, I'm ok with it.

[jersey cubs fan]

A release would be foolish. I'm all for a trade if they can get anything though.

[Banedon]

A release would be foolish. I'm all for a trade if they can get anything though.

 

What do you mean by "anything" though? Is a 6th rounder enough? 5th?

[jersey cubs fan]

A release would be foolish. I'm all for a trade if they can get anything though.

 

What do you mean by "anything" though? Is a 6th rounder enough? 5th?

 

If a release is really on the table, then I'd be okay with a 5th, but without knowing they were contemplating a release, I would have hoped for a 3rd or at least a 4th. Maybe if somebody would want Olsen and Brown together somehow they could get a couple picks - like a 2nd and 4th for Olsen, Brown and the Bears 5th.

[WrigleyField 22]

Brown is one of my favorite players. They should keep him around. If they really need to free up more money for a safety, I'm sure there's other dead weight laying around that we could get rid of.

[Tyrant]

I'm not sure he'll have much value if the Bears say they'll release him if they can't trade him. Doesn't that sort of kill his trade value?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not sure he'll have much value if the Bears say they'll release him if they can't trade him. Doesn't that sort of kill his trade value?

 

If he goes to free agency, presumably he would cost more than if he was traded and then signed to an extension, so maybe they are just floating that idea to get people thinking about how much they might want Alex Brown, and how much they'd give up for exclusive negotiating rights.

[JonJayCutler]

Why would we release a guy who has been our best DE over the past number of years? His sack totals aren't great, but that doesn't tell the whole story with Brown. It would be a stupid move.

[WrigleyField 22]

Here's what I'd do. Keep around Alex Brown this year and give Anderson some opportunity at more playing time. If Anderson proves worthy, you have situation going forward where you have options. You could split their playing time 50/50 or go completely with the younger Anderson. I mean, who is going to be our #3 DE if we let go of Brown? Melton? I guess Idonije and Gilbert can play some DE too, but they also play DT.

[jersey cubs fan]

Here's what I'd do. Keep around Alex Brown this year and give Anderson some opportunity at more playing time. If Anderson proves worthy, you have situation going forward where you have options. You could split their playing time 50/50 or go completely with the younger Anderson. I mean, who is going to be our #3 DE if we let go of Brown? Melton? I guess Idonije and Gilbert can play some DE too, but they also play DT.

 

Idonije is going to be focusing specifically on DE, playing a little lighter this year.

[Soul]

My guess is they're thinking Gilbert/Izzy.

 

I don't know. Alex had a typical year for him last year (48 tck, 6 sacks), but he's also 30 years old. I'm not sure what all the factors are in shopping him or what they could get. But I'm not opposed to the idea entirely. I guess at this point it just depends on what we'd be talking about in terms of return value, if any.

[WrigleyField 22]

In seasons which Alex Brown was the full time starter, he has gotten between 5.5 - 7 sacks, and 44-58 tackles. Just incredibly consistent. The two years he wasn't a full time starter was his rookie year in 2002 n which he had 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and 2007 (41, 4.5). So we can say with confidence he is likely to have at least 40/5. Why would you just give that up? For Mark Anderson and Israel Idonije?

[Soul]

I'd give it up under two scenarios:

 

1) I was getting what I thought was good value in return for him.

2) I had another player who I thought would be better at a cheaper price, and younger.

[jersey cubs fan]

In seasons which Alex Brown was the full time starter, he has gotten between 5.5 - 7 sacks, and 44-58 tackles. Just incredibly consistent. The two years he wasn't a full time starter was his rookie year in 2002 n which he had 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and 2007 (41, 4.5). So we can say with confidence he is likely to have at least 40/5. Why would you just give that up? For Mark Anderson and Israel Idonije?

 

I wouldn't just give it up, but I'd trade him no doubt. He's a nice player, but hardly irreplacable, especially on a team that just signed Peppers.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'd give it up under two scenarios:

 

1) I was getting what I thought was good value in return for him.

2) I had another player who I thought would be better at a cheaper price, and younger.

I would have to agree, but I don't think either of these will apply. We'd probably get a 5th rounder, maybe 4th if we were lucky.

 

And I don't think anyone on the roster will outperform him, at least not next year. I have a feeling Marinelli just gets enamored with athleticism. He was all gushy over Gaines Adams too, who never showed much on the field. Now he is raving about Anderson who has only been a disappointment since his rookie season.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd give it up under two scenarios:

 

1) I was getting what I thought was good value in return for him.

2) I had another player who I thought would be better at a cheaper price, and younger.

I would have to agree, but I don't think either of these will apply. We'd probably get a 5th rounder, maybe 4th if we were lucky.

 

4th rounders have value, that's where they got Alex Brown, and Orton. I'm not interested in them signing Brown to an extension after this season, when the cap will likely be back. So if you can get something of value for him today, why not?

[WrigleyField 22]

I'd give it up under two scenarios:

 

1) I was getting what I thought was good value in return for him.

2) I had another player who I thought would be better at a cheaper price, and younger.

I would have to agree, but I don't think either of these will apply. We'd probably get a 5th rounder, maybe 4th if we were lucky.

 

4th rounders have value, that's where they got Alex Brown, and Orton. I'm not interested in them signing Brown to an extension after this season, when the cap will likely be back. So if you can get something of value for him today, why not?

Because we are still trying to compete this season, and I don't trust the talent behind him on the depth chart.

[rawaction]

I don't have a problem w/ trading Alex Brown. I just don't see the justification for it for the reasons I outlined earlier (Anderson inconsistent, Idonije has played DT for a couple years, Gilbert/Melton no experience and weren't exactly top draft picks). It would be one thing if Gilbert or Melton showed flashes or were top 50-60 draft picks w/ a strong pedigree.

 

If you can get something of value for Brown and use his salary on a bigger need (DB), then fine. But I don't see any way that happens. Even if they don't come out and say they are going to trade or release him, who's going to trade away something of great value for a 31 (in June) yo DE who isn't an elite pass rusher?

[jersey cubs fan]

Because we are still trying to compete this season, and I don't trust the talent behind him on the depth chart.

 

There has to be some balance between now and future. They've traded away a bunch of draft picks and spent a ton of dough focusing on the now, some of it has to be for tomorrow.

 

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Idonije completely replaced Brown's production. He's going to full-time DE, so you have to assume that is the staff's plan.

[Soul]

I don't have a problem w/ trading Alex Brown. I just don't see the justification for it for the reasons I outlined earlier (Anderson inconsistent, Idonije has played DT for a couple years, Gilbert/Melton no experience and weren't exactly top draft picks). It would be one thing if Gilbert or Melton showed flashes or were top 50-60 draft picks w/ a strong pedigree.

 

If you can get something of value for Brown and use his salary on a bigger need (DB), then fine. But I don't see any way that happens. Even if they don't come out and say they are going to trade or release him, who's going to trade away something of great value for a 31 (in June) yo DE who isn't an elite pass rusher?

 

Not something of top value certainly, but you wouldn't even say a 4th rounder for a player who has been consistent as hell like Alex Brown?

 

I also believe Izzy could replace Brown's production.

[rawaction]

I don't have a problem w/ trading Alex Brown. I just don't see the justification for it for the reasons I outlined earlier (Anderson inconsistent, Idonije has played DT for a couple years, Gilbert/Melton no experience and weren't exactly top draft picks). It would be one thing if Gilbert or Melton showed flashes or were top 50-60 draft picks w/ a strong pedigree.

 

If you can get something of value for Brown and use his salary on a bigger need (DB), then fine. But I don't see any way that happens. Even if they don't come out and say they are going to trade or release him, who's going to trade away something of great value for a 31 (in June) yo DE who isn't an elite pass rusher?

 

Not something of top value certainly, but you wouldn't even say a 4th rounder for a player who has been consistent as hell like Alex Brown?

 

I also believe Izzy could replace Brown's production.

 

If Izzy can replace Brown's production, that's fine. But w/ an uncapped year, I'd still keep Brown around for insurance in case that doesn't happen, which is far from a given being that Izzy has almost exclusively played DT for 2 years and has never been on the field for more than 1/2 the time at any point in his career and is late in his prime at best.

[David]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0328-bears-chicago--20100327,0,5519790.story

 

One possibility, according to a league source, is Brown could be traded for guard Rob Sims, whom the Seahawks are trying to unload. He's a mauler who does not fit the zone blocking scheme of new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and offensive line guru Alex Gibbs. He is the kind of blocker, however, new Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice likes.

[rawaction]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0328-bears-chicago--20100327,0,5519790.story

 

One possibility, according to a league source, is Brown could be traded for guard Rob Sims, whom the Seahawks are trying to unload. He's a mauler who does not fit the zone blocking scheme of new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and offensive line guru Alex Gibbs. He is the kind of blocker, however, new Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice likes.

 

Works for me. He was given an original round tender by Seattle (4th). A 4th rounder for Alex Brown would probably be on the high end, since everyone knows he may get cut. I would trade a 4th for Sims, a RFA, if the Bears had a regular sampling of draft picks. Sims isn't a stud, but he's better than average. He's also just 26 until December.

 

While I'm not 100% for trading Brown, this is exactly the type of deal I would do. A 31 yo DE for a 26 yo OG, is nearly a no-brainer considering they are at similar levels of play w/ Brown on the downside and Sims entering his prime. I think this trade strengthens the OL more than it weakens the DL.

[RedFlash]

Updating a previous item, the Chicago Sun Times reports the Seahawks are not interested in trading OG Rob Sims for Bears DE Alex Brown.

 

Seattle has made it clear that Sims is as good as gone, but they don't want to pick up Brown's $5 million salary. Instead, they're seeking a draft pick in return for Sims. If the Bears are truly interested in picking up Sims to start at guard, they could sign him to an offer sheet at the cost of a fourth-round pick

 

Sounds like a potential Brown for Sims really is more wishful thinking then anything right now. Otherwise it sounds like a perfect trade for both teams.