Bearstalk

Who would you take if we had the #1 overall pick? I'd take Crabtree. It's just the Fitzgerald factor- after watching him over the playoffs, I think he's the closest thing to Fitz that's come out in a while- good size, good hands, not overwhelming speed, quiet guy, etc.

I knocked on the office door, and the old man answered. He was hunched over, with sunken eyes and brown skin that looked weathered. He wore a blue Members Only jacket, denim jeans and white Reebok sneakers. When he walked, his feet shuffled, reminding me of my 83-year-old grandmother making her way through her Florida assisted living community. The date was Feb. 15, 1999, and I was visiting a suburban Chicago office complex to meet Walter Payton, the Bears' Hall of Fame running back who had recently announced that he was suffering from primary sclerosing chonlangitis, a rare (and deadly) liver disease. I was assigned the piece by Sports Illustrated, whic…

For those potentially interested in him as a FA... Furrey is out there. They released a few other guys, but no other name seemed of interest or was recognizable to me. There was mention of a safety, but I couldn't remember the name.

We are 10 days until the Combine kicks off. Players will start moving up and down the draft boards shortly, so I'll take another stab at who I think the Bears will take come April. 1-18 Chicago Bears Big names available: Jeremy Maclin WR, Percy Harvin WR, Hakeem Nicks WR, Duke Robinson G, James Laurinitis LB, Michael Johnson DE, Larry English DE. The Bears select Jeremy Maclin WR as they follow the copy cat league in trying to find the next Larry Fitzgerald or Santonio Holmes. 2-49 Chicago Bears Big names available: Phil Loadholdt OT, Fenuki Topou OT, Herman Johnson G, Brian Robiske WR, Patrick Chung SS. The Bears select Phil Loadholdt OT t…

Would we have any interest in Holt or Pace? http://www.rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines...L&hl=138939 Holt: Good hands and with his age isn't as much of a deep threat as he once was. For other teams that would be a problem. But with a dink and dunk offense that focuses on accuracy and has limited creativity. Holt would allow Lloyd expendable. Pace Going into his 13th year age is an issue. Injury is another issue. However, two things: A third round pick is cheep for a tackle like Pace. We have shown in the past not to have too many problems bringing aged lineman. Second, imagine being Pace, locked into a long term deal and knowing your team …

It seems Carolina's quandry will come to a head on Feb 19th, when they will have to decide what to do about the Gross/Peppers problem if Peppers continues to demand to be traded and Gross does not sign a long term deal. I would love to have Gross added to our roster. Peppers is wanting to go to a 3-4 defense so that would be out of our area. Article about Carolina's FA decisions with Peppers & Gross

It's his show now Take it from Madden: Smith calling defensive plays makes a lot of sense February 7, 2009 BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com When Bears coach Lovie Smith announced the day after the season ended that everything was going to be reviewed, he left little doubt change was coming. Whether it's change you can believe in is too early to tell, but change has arrived. Smith has moved veteran minicamp up almost three months. The mandatory three-day session begins March 17 and will allow the new assistants to acquaint themselves with the players and enable free-agent pickups to get into the system before the voluntary offseason program begins. Lo…

I guess he's interviewing today, but odds are extremely unlikely that he'd accept the job. According to his agent, there's no way: http://www.collegefootballtalk.com/2009/02...r-to-pitt-talk/ While it would be utterly awesome if he excepted this job, it seems like the only way is if Wanny offers some sexual favors and he gets a nice big 3-4 year contract, which would make no sense for Pitt. However, it would be awesome if he did get the job, we bring in a new OC from the outside, and bring in a whole new offensive staff.

Several articles out about how the team is not raising ticket prices this year. Frankly, at first I didn't think much of it. Team not raising ticket prices? Big deal. Then I began to read the articles. - The team, as most, have raised prices each year. Standard cost of living raises basically. This year no such thing though. - City of Chicago's amusement tax will increase from 8 percent to 9 percent. The bears plan to simply eat this increase, rather than pass it along to the fans. - Bears will now accept credit cards for the first time in its history. The team will pay a fee of 2 1/2 percent to credit card companies for every ticket purchased with…

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/0...-diner-news-93/ CHICAGO BEARS — At some point, the Bears will have to address their quarterback situation. There were times last season when Kyle Orton appeared to have a good handle on things, but after sustaining an ankle injury, he was not the same productive player he was earlier in the year. The Bears need a marquee player on offense, someone they can build around and make all the other pieces fit. They need someone they do not have to manage but who can run a complete offense. The need is there, but I doubt the Bears will be serious players. They have the 18th pick in the first round, but they hate to part with p…

One piece of good news - ticket prices will not be raised this yr. http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/02/be...talks.html#more Peace

Saw on the Bears site some Q & A w/ Turner. As would be expected, not a whole lot of earth shattering news, but hey, its slow as hell, and I think others are getting tired of Lucky and my's back and forth Check out the bears site for full Q & A, but some of the basics. Hester - Felt the light turned on for Hester in the final 6 weeks, and said it was then Hester simply began to play, rather than think. Very high on his future. Bennett - Asked by Bennett couldn't get playing time, Turner essentially said the game was just too fast for him. Over and over again, continued to say Bennett wasn't playing as fast, or at NFL speed. Did say it often takes p…

Bears assistant's son is top Cover-2 corner prospect By Vaughn McClure The National Football Post did an interesting breakdown of this year's draft prospects. The player atop the list of Cover-2 corners stands out: Jarius Byrd of Oregon. He is the son of Gill Byrd, the Bears assistant defensive backs coach. The Bears are in the market for a cornerback, and Byrd -- who declared early -- seems to be an ideal fit. Byrd, a three-year starter, had 17 career interceptions, one off the school record. Nathan Vasher might not be in the mix next season and the Bears need another corner alongside Charles Tillman, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. Corey Graha…

As per profootballtalk.com, in summary, Warner said he's staying in Arizona or retiring, and 1/3 of the teams in the NFL have interest in Leftwhich. This is news to Bears fans since after JA's state of the Union address, many of us have taken his comments to mean that Angelo will pursue a QB in free agency. Now Warner, the top QB in free agency, is off the market. That will drive Leftwhich's price up, since as PFT pointed out, there are a ton of teams in the NFL desperate for a QB. Early indications suggest there won't be a QB really worthy of the #18 pick. Anybody we draft won't likely provide immediate competition for Orton. I mentioned in a previ…

He wasn't good at all. He said he liked Rex, but that was about it. He was a total jerk and asked Waddle if he played in the NFL and pretty much said he wasn't any good. I don't want this ass on our team, sorry.

Titans | Talks with Collins have not progressed Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:18:49 -0800 Jim Wyatt, of The Tennessean, reports contract talks between the Tennessee Titans and QB Kerry Collins, an impending free agent, have been going slow thus far. "There's been nothing substantial,'' Collins said. "There might have been some conversations between my agent and Mike, but nothing to think they are working on anything big." Collins reiterated his feelings from the end of the season. He's not interested in returning to be the No. 2 quarterback behind QB Vince Young after guiding the team to a 13-3 mark this season. ------------------------------------------------------…

Anyone that watches or follows college football no anything about this guy. I do not watch at all. But I happened to catch Barden on the college football all-star challenge. Looks like a small school guy the Bears could take a chance on. Some info http://www.nfldraftdog.com/Small%20School%...mses_barden.htm

Panthers | Contract offered to Basanez Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:40:25 -0800 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Carolina Panthers had offered QB Brett Basanez a contract but Basanez decided to sign with the Chicago Bears. Giants | Basanez cancels workout Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:33:00 -0800 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears QB Brett Basanez cancelled a workout with the New York Giants after deciding to sign a two-year contract with the Bears.

BEARS SIGN BASANEZ Posted by Mike Florio on February 3, 2009, 3:15 p.m. Though there could be plenty of free-agent options on the market once the annual signing period opens later this month, the Bears have gotten a head start by adding to the offseason roster quarterback Brett Basanez. The team announced on Tuesday the signing of the former Northwestern quarterback. Basanez previously played for the Panthers. He spent most of the 2006 season on the practice squad, all of the 2007 season on injured reserve, and all of the 2008 season on the practice squad. Basanez was the Big Ten offensive player of the year in 2005. It’s unknown whether Kyle Orto…

Bears | To have easiest 2009 schedule? Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:10:31 -0800 Kevin Seifert, of ESPN.com, reports the Chicago Bears' 2009 opponents had a combined .414 winning percentage in 2008, lowest in the National Football League.