Bearstalk

One veteran lineman definitely won't be back as guard Terrence Metcalf requested and was granted his release. A third-round pick in 2002, Metcalf made 25 starts for the Bears. He signed a six-year, $12.2 million contract in 2006 and was expected to start at left guard last season before arthroscopic knee surgery in training camp opened the door for Josh Beekman. Newly signed free agent Frank Omiyale is expected to take over at left guard. The Bears had hoped to carry Metcalf at least through training camp and the preseason, but they have more depth with veteran Dan Buenning and starting right guard Roberto Garza, so they allowed Metcalf to depart now to find a new te…

Up until now, most all the talk has been surrounding the top 4 OTs in the draft. Britton seemed like an after-thought. But his stock seems to be on the rise, and I am not sure how much, if at all, he would be considered a reach at 18 now. Assuming the top 4 are gone, should Britton be a consideration? Reading up on Britton was pretty interesting. As I can tell, there are two key knocks on him. (a) He comes from a spread offense, but I would argue that more and more teams are using this, and you can not dismiss players from the spread offenses. They may require more evaluation, but w/ so many colleges using spread systems, you have to still look at them. …

BROWNS CUT SHAFFER Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 12, 2009, 6:13 p.m. The Cleveland Browns cut starting right offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer today rather than pay him a pending $1.5 million roster bonus, according to Adam Caplan of Scout.com. Per a source, Caplan reports that the Browns created $1.45 million in salary-cap room for 2009. Yet, the team will still be forced to hold $4.56 million in dead money due to the proration of the guaranteed money remaining over the final four years of his contract. Agent Alan Herman, who represents Shaffer, said that the Browns are still interested in possibly re-signing Shaffer. Ryan Tucker is expected to replac…

I hear it over and over, so I wanted to check a bit. There is probably some legit study piece out there that went into far greater detail, but when looking over the 1st round OL drafted in the last 10 years, it sure does seem like OL is a pretty safe pick. Does that mean there we no busts? Obviously not, but the number simply seems less. One potential reason, IMHO, is how many OTs were drafted in the 1st, who were expected to be LTs, but didn't make it there and ended up becoming solid RTs or inside OL. Their inability to play LT may have been a disappointment, yet at the same time, still being a solid or better starter is a huge plus. Is there any other positi…

http://www.nflplayers.com/images/fck/FINAL...20Ownership.pdf

This is a mock looking at team needs after FA signings as of Monday. We have a good shot at either Andre Smith OT or MIchael Oher OT and then a good chance Robiskie/Nicks is available at RD2. Some guys I have higher than other mocks, but I'm thinking some teams may reach a little to fill the need. ROUND 1 01 Detroit...........Matt Stafford QB I have a feeling Detroit is spinning right now not knowing which way to go, they can gamble Sanchez will be there at 20 or hope a OT is there. I have them taking Stafford, b/c you can't gamble a QB will be available further down Team needs: QB, MLB, OLB, OT, SS Options: Aaron Curry LB, Eugene Monroe OT, J…

The guy that succesfully projects the comp. picks for the draft has posted his projections for this year. He's having us getting a 4th for Berrian (maybe a third) and 2 7th rounders for Gilmore and Ayanbadejo. Detailed explanations if you click the link. http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=307910

Tait retirement becomes official; Bears still seeking right tackle By Brad Biggson March 12, 2009 4:32 PM You can cross one name off the list of potential right tackles for the Bears this coming season. John Tait has turned in his retirement papers as an NFL source said his name came across the waiver wire less than an hour ago. The Bears have placed him on the reserve/retired list. Tait informed the Bears in January that he was seriously contemplating retirement. No move was official at the time. When the club asked him if he wanted an announcement to be made, he said no, proof that he was going to continue to think it over even if he was mostly sure wha…

I had a little time on my hands so I looked up all the guys the Bears have taken with their second pick excluding Grossman since he was in the first round.Here is the list: 2002 Roosevelt Williams Tuskegee actually a 3rd rounder.What's he doing now? 2003 Charles Tillman Louisiana Lafayette 2004 Tank Johnson Washington 2005 Mark Bradley Oklahoma 2006 Devin Hester Miami he along with Daniel Manning were picked in the second round with Manning actually being the Bears top pick. 2007 Dan Bazuin Central Michigan What's he doing now? 2008 Matt Forte Tulane

He wouldn't be a bad backup, but obviously if Orton doesn't pan out the Bears would still be in need for a QB.

We've now signed two guys that none of us had a clue the Bears were in contact with. We're getting smoke screens on St. Clair and Sharper and then we sign Omiyale and Bullocks. Since the Bears aren't targeting any big name players, the media has no clue who the Bears are targeting unless they a) start calling all the agents b.) the agent volunteers the news to the media, but doubtful with a lesser name player c) Bears volunteer the news, also doubtful unless a smokescreen or trying to lure another team to start a bidding war. I believe there used to be inside moles that would leak some info to the media previously, but with some harsh words printed the past few ye…

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/03/be...sh_bullock.html I remember liking him when he was coming out, but getting a guy from the terrible New Orleans secondary does not seem like the best move.

On either of these guys. I have been out of the NFL loop lately and recently heard that Cutler has been in an on again, off again situation with his new HC McDaniels(?) and recently is in a definite off again frame of mind? And, over in Philly I hear again the rumblings of McNabb possibly entertaining the idea of going elsewhere, especially with the recent loss of Tra Thomas (and other key players before). With either of these guys as potential(s) is there a possiblity of either coming to Chicago? I hear that both would be interested if the situation arose. If I had to choose, as much as I like McNabb, I think Cutler would be the better choice of the two …

Just curious what everyone else thinks... Personally, I always thought Jauron rhymed with moron too easily, and it fit him all too well. When he lucked out with the defense in 2001 and rode them to success, the team won in spite of him. When he held on to that simpleton John Shoop, I knew he was not that bright - call it blind loyalty if you want. So, what happens in Buffalo? Does TO do well? Does Jauron's ultra-conservative, coal-to-diamond rectum loosen up a bit and let TO be the explosive player he is? Does Trent Edwards make it to the halfway point in the season before TO calls him a fake, mini Rothlisberger? Does Lee Evans attempt to sabotage TO wi…

If we trade down I think we only have two possible partners. The Giants have 29-----------45----------60. They need a WR, OLB, and another RB add to the mix. Would they want a WR that would be there at 18 enough to give back 29 and 60 for? The Patriots have 23----------34--------47 They need to add a couple of young LBs to help Mayo. Vrabel gone and Bruschi will turn 36. Would they give us 23 and 60 if Cushing or Maualuga drops to us would they pull the trigger?

The Score is reporting the Bears released Metcalf today.

I know we like St. Clair, but we do like OT's with bad backs. This was from PFT: BARNES WON’T BE A RAIDER, AFTER ALL Posted by Mike Florio on March 7, 2009, 9:50 a.m. So much for those reports that free-agent tackle Khalif Barnes was set to sign with the Oakland Raiders. According to the San Francisco Chronicle and other publications, the deal has fallen apart. Per David White of the Chronicle, all talks between Barnes’ agent, Kenny Zuckerman, and the Raiders are now off. Barnes is now close to signing with an undisclosed team. As White points out, the collapse of the deal could push the Raiders back to free-agent tackle Marvel Smith of the Stee…

It seems like everyone is waiting for Holt to be released, which is most likely to happen soon. As I understand it, he is due to receive about $1.5m in bonus money on 3/17, and Stl is expected to cut him prior to that, but should we wait? The top reason he has not drawn trade intest is his contract. I think his 2009 base salary is in the neighborhood of $6.5m, and when you add the bonus, his salary/cap hit for 2009 is quite high. This has prevented teams for looking to trade for him, even though Stl is reportely only looking for a mid/late day two pick in return. But I am reading about more and more teams who are interested in him, and will likely make a ru…

Rams | Pace released Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:48:03 -0700 The St. Louis Rams have announced they have released OT Orlando Pace. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do we look at him so we have a veteren in place and maybe bring someone in thru the draft to learn under him until they are ready to take over the reigns as he probably only has a couple of years left in him anyways?

Remember when we signed Phillip Daniels, and he got something like $8m SB, and that was considered top tier money at the time? Today, that is a tad more than we have given an OL who has started one game in the last 4 years, w/ two different teams. In the last few days, I have been discussing FA w/ some friends, and in those discussions, I came to realize something. We all had been shocked in the last couple years at the deals FAs have been signing. The idea of giving X of dollars to some average player was simply shocking. To me, the money given to average/just above average players has been even more shocking than money given to big ticket players, who have alwa…