Bearstalk

7. At least one key member of the Chicago coaching staff had rookie RB Matt Forte ranked higher than former Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall. A league source told Scout.com that when Matt Forte went through his paces at a private workout for Chicago and showed his football intelligence during a film session, at least one influential member of the coaching staff was set on adding him to the roster over Mendenhall. So even though Mendenhall was available to the Bears when they made their first pick at No. 14 overall, they opted to select OT Chris Williams instead. That allowed the Steelers to snag Mendenhall at No. 23. Chicago patiently waited until the 13th pick i…

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24830585/

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=256 The Bears * Very slow news time for the NFL. So ESPN's John Clayton fills the gap by listing the top seven non-moves of the offseason. You guessed it. The Bears were near the top. 2. Bears don't improve passing offense Coming off their 2006 Super Bowl run, the Bears naturally had to stick with Rex Grossman at quarterback. But the offense dropped to 29th in the NFL last season. Since then, what the Bears did to fix things looked like a caulking job at old Soldier Field. They invested little money to improve the offense. Grossman and Kyle Orton were re-signed for backup salaries ($3 million a yea…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=257 The Bears * Former Bear Roosevelt Colvin is claiming interest from the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets. Michael david Smith at profootballtalk.com thinks it might be a ploy to drum up interest (and I agree). * Bob LeGere writes a nice piece on Bears new/old WR Marty Booker. On the QB "competition": "Dude, in my career I've had like almost 20 different quarterbacks (17 actually), so as far as adjusting to anybody, that's not a problem," he said. "That's the least of everything." Booker might or might noot have the savvy that Muhsin Muhammad had but its pretty evident h…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=258 The Bears * Larry Mayer answers an interesting question on chicagobears.com. In the "fair" camp competition between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, how will the Bears simulate the pass rush? The question is significant because the perception is that Orton stands in against the rush better. Here's the answer: The defense blitzes and rushes the quarterback in training camp, but as you mentioned, they’re not allowed to make contact. The quarterbacks are taught to unload the ball when under pressure and find their “hot” receiver when blitzed, but there’s truly no way to replicate actual game conditions. I …

Keep in mind, I'm not considering whether he'll get a new contract, just accept what he has , etc...this is simply regarding if he shows up on the lawn.

Booked my ticket today

Brian Urlacher will attend the Bears' mandatory three-day minicamp starting Friday, the linebacker told the Tribune Thursday evening. Urlacher, who has missed all of the team's voluntary off-season activities up to this point, had been lobbying for more money than the Bears offered in a one-year contract extension. The deal was believed to include $5 million up front, and $1 million added to his base salary per season granted he participated in 85 percent of the snaps. The extension through 2012 also was believed to include a base salary of $7.5 million in the last season. The Bears likely would reworked that if Urlacher is still active Urlacher signed a nine-ye…

from profootballtalk.com BEARS INK A ROOKIE Posted by Mike Florio on May 30, 2008, 9:13 a.m. The Chicago Bears have reached a contract agreement with rookie tight end Kellen Davis, a league source tells us. Per the source, it’s a four-year deal for the fifth-round pick from Michigan State. Davis is the first rookie to sign with the Bears from the 2008 draft class.

The Bears will be good this year, not great. At QB, I see a solid competition between the two QB's bringing out the best in one of them. I still think it'll be Grossman but I could be wrong. Frankly, the reason I'm leaning Grossman at this time is because I think he let his success in 2006 get to him a bit in 2007. He was constantly thinking, the Bears are "dissing me" by not signing me up long term for a new big money deal. Like the New Years Eve Game, he took his eye off the prize, didn't show the required amount of pride in being his best at all times, and regressed. This isn't a defense of Grossman, I think that type of behavior is completely unacceptable. …

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2008/05/id...g_way.html#more Peace

Got to love Cliff Stein. http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2008/05/be..._pick.html#more Peace

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....-mini-camp.html Peace

from the trib Hester story Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek (bruised hand) didn't practice and Harris (knee) was limited Friday. Anthony Adams and Israel Idonije received the first-team reps as the interior linemen. Linebacker Jamar Williams is nursing a tender ankle. … Kyle Orton started the day running the first-team offense, although Rex Grossman got a lot of work too. Man I getting tired of DD and JW on the sidelines, If harrison pans out I see DD going bye bye,

When they ask you about your contract, say "No Comment" - perfect. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,2541170.story Peace

Points of View, May 31, 2008 http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=259 The Bears * The Chicago Tribune's David Haugh has a nice take on Brian Urlacher deciding to show up for mandatory workouts. Showing up simply represents the best negotiating ploy for Urlacher, who still will be seeking a new contract Friday when he enters Halas Hall. If he is cleared to participate fully in practice, this would give Urlacher a great opportunity to disprove any doubts about his back and surgically repaired neck. Nothing backs up Urlacher's words that he has recovered well from neck surgery and got in shape in Arizona than showing it on a practic…

Very good article. I would be happy if it worked out this way. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...mully01.article Peace

Oakley is the backing up Metcalf at left guard and Beekman is backing up Kruetz at center. Peace

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=260 The Bears * Brad Biggs of The Chicago Sun-Times blogs that Bears RB Cedric Benson has lost only four pounds between last year and this year, something he clearly doesn't believe: Slimmed down running back Cedric Benson is listed at 216 pounds, down four from last year's list. If he's 216 now, he wasn't 220 last year. Well, whatever he weighs now and whatever he weighed then, if the weight loss is all flab then its all good. * From Pro Football Weekly's Whispers Column: Injury-prone Bears WR Mark Bradley, who is recovering from early-May arthroscopic surgery on his right…

Full size pics through the thumbnails.