Bearstalk

I thought he'd be in the mix for running backs the Bears hope to bring in for competition (Translation: To replace the overpaid asswhipe who started the season for us this year) Although I'm surprised he signed this early and for this cheap. It gives me hope that a guy like Julius Jones will be "inexpensive." Here's the story from PFT.: "After generating only 1,016 yards in four full seasons with the Raiders, running back Justin Fargas busted out in 2007, nearly equaling that totaling 14 games, with seven starts. For that, Fargas has been rewarded with a new contract. According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, it's a three-year, $12 million deal with $…

Here in Central Illinois, it's cold, rainy, windy as hell, the temperature's dropping, and we're supposed to get 2 inches of snow. In other words, I'm bored as hell. I decided to look up every mock I could think of & share the results. With the major sites, everyone seemed to have something different. When I got to the lesser-known guys, they all seemed to agree that Jeff Otah was our man. #1 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7786546...g-close-to-home Fox has us taking FS Kenny Phillips @ #14 saying "He's the best player who can help the Bears immediately." That'd be nice except I can't help wondering: 1) Who the hell is our strong safety if he's a…

I lost my feed to NFL Network. (Dang Dish Network!!!) And was hoping to see some Combine stuff, specificially the OLer's and Flacco!! By the by, I for one am disappointed to see Muhammad go. He may not have been like they hoped he would have been 3 years ago but I believe that he was a strong and positive influence in the locker room with the younger players. And, he was willing to go over the middle, despite his advanced years. Good luck Moose wherever you end up next.

PFT is reporting that Andre Davis was just re-signed to a 4yr/$16m deal w/ an $8m bonus. Yes, that is right. $8m bonus. Same amount we offered Berrian. Yea, I know we offered Berrian more money overall, but if Andre Davis is going to get $8m, what the heck will a good WR get. I fear the combination of a huge salary cap jump (meaning many teams w/ huge cap dollars to spend) combined w/ a very weak crop of FA WRs, will lead to very mediocre WRs getting paid big bucks and good WRs getting ridiculous money. More than ever, I think this deals sells me that we need to sign short term solutions at WR. After that, we can (a) see if Hester/Bradley/Hass can develop (…

http://www.nfl.com/players/shaneolivea/profile?id=OLI195248 http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/charg...052-mccree.html only 26 and needs to prove himself.

The Bears and Brian Urlacher are discussing a restructuring of his contract. Urlacher signed a nine-year deal in 2003, but will make just $3.95 million this season, as salary inflation has far exceeded the increments in his agreement. The timing is bad for Urlacher, though, as he suffered with a sore back for much of last season, and still won't be able to run for two more weeks after undergoing neck surgery. Source: Chicago Tribune Michael Turner is visiting the Falcons Friday. Atlanta, looking for a power rusher, is the most logical landing spot for Turner. We wouldn't be surprised if he signs Friday. The Lions, Bears and Saints are also said to be actively …

http://ww3.startribune.com/vikingsblog/?p=1394 Was that Berrian? You betcha March 1st, 2008 – 12:12 PM by Judd Zulgad An odd thing happened as media members waited in the Winter Park practice facility for the Madieu Williams’ news conference to begin. A Vikings official and someone wearing a Vikings cap and with a Vikings jersey in his arm emerged from the team’s weight room. First thought: Did we just see Bernard Berrian? It certainly wasn’t Williams and it looked like Berrian. (Update: After examining his picture in the Bears media guide, we are now sure it was the 6-foot-1 Berrian.) Later in the Williams’ news conference Vikings coach Brad Chil…

From PFT: 'SKINS MADE A PLAY FOR BRIGGS Though the decision of linebacker Lance Briggs to re-sign with the Bears has created the impression that he had no options elsewhere, a league source tells us that the Redskins made a run at Briggs. It was, per the source, "very close" between the Redskins and the Bears. In the end, Briggs decided given the similarity of the numbers to stay home. Factoring in the $7.2 million salary he earned as a franchise player in 2007, Briggs will earn $28.8 million over four years. Factoring in the Lamborghini he crashed and abandoned, the number is more like $28.3 million.

I'd like to see the Bears sign him. He's a proven RB. Give him a shot.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/82...i030408.article

Booker agreed to terms with the Bears damn near immediately after Jabar Gaffney agreed to terms with the Patriots. In other words, Booker was either hoping to land with NE, or he was hoping to use both teams against one another as leverage. The same thing happened with Demorrio Williams on Saturday. He was scheduled to meet with the Bears on Tuesday. The Bears resign Briggs, and within an hour he's a Chief. I find this interesting as hell for a lot of different reasons: 1. Those of us who follow the NFL "rumor-mill" constantly don't know nearly as much as we'd like to. The Chicago papers had reported the Bears seemed to have no interest in Booker. I h…

BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com One wide receiver has run a fly pattern out of Halas Hall, and the Bears might have to make a decision on another before long. Restricted free agent Rashied Davis, a slot receiver, is generating substantial interest, and he's an attractive option for teams because they would not have to compensate the Bears for signing him. The Kansas City Chiefs might make a move for Davis. They have only four wideouts under contract, including former Chicago Rush star Bobby Sippio, and would be able to use Davis as a returner. The Chiefs ranked 30th in kickoff returns last season. Davis, who turns 29 in July, received the low tende…

Here is a summary of most of the major sites and who they believe the Bears will select: Chris Williams - OT - x5 (NFL.com, Pro Draft Guide, NFL Draft Countdown, PFW, SportingNews) Jeff Otah - OT - x4 (About.com, Draftek, Consensus Draft Services, NFL Draft Guys) Brian Brohm - QB - x4 (FoxSports, Football Futures, The Huddle Report, Draft.com) Rashard Mendenhall - RB - x3 (CNNSI.com. Scout.com, Athlon) Joe Flacco - QB - x2 (NFL Draft Guys1, NFL Draft Guys3) Malcom Kelly - WR - x2 (CBS Sports, Scouts Notebook) Ryan Clady - OT - x1 (College Football News.com) Summary (21 total): OT - 10 QB - 6 RB - 3 WR - 2 I will add more as …

Another FA WR option gone: from PFT: HACKETT LANDS IN CAROLINA Posted by Mike Florio on March 17, 2008, 12:19 p.m. The Carolina Panthers continue to load up on pass catchers who might benefit from all the attention that Steve Smith receives. After bringing back Muhsin Muhammad, the team has now added D.J. Hackett, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network and Adam Caplan of Scout.com, Hackett will sign a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Panthers. Hackett has shown flashes of ability during his NFL career, but that potential wasn’t enough to get a team to open its wallet wider than $1.75 million per year. Other t…

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/ McKINNEY WANTS TO RETURN TO TEXANS Posted by Mike Florio on March 25, 2008, 6:58 p.m. The Houston Texans told offensive lineman Steve McKinney that they cut him loose in order to give him a chance to find a new team that would pay him the same $1.6 million salary that he was due to earn in 2008 from the team that signed him as a free agent in 2002. And so McKinney will look around for something else, and possibly could re-sign with the Texans. “It caught me off guard,” McKinney told the Houston Chronicle, “but they left the door open for me to return. I owe it to myself to test the market, but, truth…

For all those that think we'll either take Mendenhall, or let him slip to the Lions, you might reconsider. I'll agree with Madlith that he is Top10 material, I watched him quite a bit and he will be the real deal. If he does make it to our pick at 14, JA will be on the hot seat to make the right decision, but IMO he'll luck out b/c Mendenhall will be long gone and there Bears will get the best player for there team. Here's my prediction. 1 Miami- Needs DE, DT, QB, WR, and OL. Chris Long DE-Long will be an ideal fit for Parcells to build his 3-4 D. With the face of there franchise J. Taylor being slowly pushed out the door, they will bring in a new face in H…

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/index Mort, jaws , Kiper and tirico talking about Bears. I think Mort is talking out of A$$. Keep Berrian? for that money? He talks about it as though the only decisions on players are whether you have depth there. I think he just didn't do his homework. And as far as spending cash, look you we have coming up in contract talks-Harris, Hester and who we have signed in the last year- Vasher, Tillman and Briggs. Starters anywhere.

Bears offense: >[WR]Booker [WR]Bennett[RT]Tait [RG]Garza [C]Kreutz [LG]St. Clair [LT]Williams [TE]Olsen[WR]Hester [QB] Grossman [RB] Forte If the Offensive line can hold there own, I see this line up being one that could put up some points. Hester to stretch the field and pull a safety deep Olsen matched up against a LB running a intermediate route Forte sits back on a delayed play action, helps on a chip block and sits for a dump off Bennett working the slot coming accross the middle Booker on a curl or slant

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...forte04.article excerpt: "As much as Toledo is going to miss the player, he's going to miss the person. A day after being drafted, Forte attended the Tulane football banquet last Sunday with his parents. ''You know, he didn't have to do that,'' Toledo said. The next day he was at the school to work out -- twice. Forte went through conditioning exercises in the morning and was back in the afternoon to take part in drills with former teammates."

Good ol' Chicago citizens