dawhizz

He signed his tender today. This article seems to suggest he'll be available for less than a 4th round pick. If that's true, you HAVE to pull the trigger. I can only assume this was the plan all along: Redistribute the money that would have gone to Brown to Sims. Let's see if it ends up happening. http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/...ttle-guard.html

I'm also wondering where the money we save goes. If it ends up going towards Sims or Otogwe or addresses another need, then I'm fine with the move. If we never see that money being put towards something that improves this team, and we don't see adequate production from the DE who ends up replacing Brown, it's just going to be one more strike against this regime.

He gone . . . Would have liked to see a draft pick, but no one else wanted the price tag. I say good luck to him and hope he doesn't go to a team in our division. http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5047383

Sounds like maybe Seattle's not so interested in the trade: http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2010/03/be...sims_but_s.html Still, if you trade a 4th for Sims and trade Brown for a 4th or a 5th, I guess it works out about the same way. This O-line needs help ASAP, and I doubt you're going to find a guard in the 4th who can step right in. This article from the Bleacher Report says that Sims graded out as the 8th best guard in football last year (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/369821-chicago-should-jump-on-brown-sims-swap).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,5519790.story I don't know much about Sims, but the thought of getting a starter at guard for Brown seems like a good idea, particularly if the alternative is to release him or trade him for a late pick.

Here are some other guys I've generally thought would be good fits with the Bears: 3rd Vladimir Ducasse, G/T, UMass LaMarr Houston, DT, Texas Amari Spievey, CB/FS, Iowa - I already wrote about him in my other post Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama - Not that we need another guy with return skills, but he's a legit CB too. Reshad Jones, S, Georgia 4th John Jerry, G, Ole Miss Ciron Black, G/T, LSU Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia Myron Lewis, CB, Vanderbilt - Go back to the well? Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA Kendrick Lewis, S, Ole Miss Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas Robert Johnson, S, Utah - The Bears have already brought him in for a workout. 5th Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech - He's the one with the crazy face paint during games Shawn Lauvao, G, Arizona State Kyle Calloway, RT, Iowa Adam Ulatoski, RT, Texas Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona - Has been moving up a lot of board recently Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson Devin Ross, CB, Arizona Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas - He's been disappointing in workouts, so he might fall this low. Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss 6th Chris Marinelli, RT, Stanford - Really underrated. Chris Scott, RT, Tennessee Nate Collins, DT, Virginia - The Bears have already brought him in for a workout. Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech - A guy I really like. Patrick Stoudamire, CB, Western Illinois - Has been very impressive against lower competition. Stephan Virgil, CB, Virginia Tech Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green Arthur Moats, LB, James Madison 7th Dace Richardson, G, Iowa - He's having a horrible offseason, but if he's healthy, he can play. Mick Williams, DT, Pitt - Very undersized, but a carbon-copy of Eric Foster, who has been very productive in the Colts defense, which is similar to ours. Stevenson Sylvester, LB, Utah - Speedy LB like we like. Mike McLaughlin, LB/FB/LS, Boston College - Hard-worker who can do a bit of everything

The more I look at this draft, and working under the assumption at the moment that the Bears don't move Olsen for a 2nd, I feel like the best value pick when the Bears pick might very well be at CB. Guard is a need, but they tend to fall anyway, so unless you fall in love with someone like Jon Asomoah (and he's available there), you might be able to wait a round or two and get Mike Johnson or Brandon Carter or someone like that. The best pure free safeties (Morgan Burnett, Nate Allen) will probably be gone, so I'd rather not reach for Major Wright when you can probably wait and get Robert Johnson or Kendrick Lewis or Darrell Stuckey. But the CB crop is loaded this year, and not only that, it seems to fluctuate the most as far as where guys are projected to go, to the point where one projection's late first round pick is another's early third. Now, I actually like Bowman and Graham, but Tillman's really regressing in my opinion and Moore hasn't shown anything. With that in mind, the guy I'd have my eye on is Amari Spievey from Iowa. Great tackler, good fit in the cover-2, good CB height. Kind of a Tillman clone from a couple years ago. Plus, several projections say he might be even better as a free safety. Even if he's not the pick, there's plenty of other good cover-2 corners that might still be around in the 3rd (Kareem Jackson, Donovan Warren, Syd'Quan Thompson, Javier Arenas). Something to think about, I think.

Am I the only one shocked to see Peanut this highly rated? I feel like in the last two years (and last year especially) he has started to let his talent for forcing fumbles go to his head to the point that he misses a lot of tackles because he's too busy trying to get the ball out, or at least the player gains an extra ten yards by the time he gives up and tackles him.

My hopes, not using draftek, but rather, how I'm thinking things will shake out. Same needs, same Olsen trade, different strategy: 2. Morgan Burnett, FS, Georgia Tech (in a deep safety, I'm thinking he or Nate Allen falls here) 3. John Jerry, OG, Miss (as you said, need a big, mauling guard) 4. Alterran Verner, CB, UCLA (productive, playmaking corner who is ready to compete right away) 5. Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona (penatrating DT) 6. Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green (won't wow in shorts, but catches everything in games) 7. Chris Marinelli, OT, Stanford (legit potential RT or G who helped pave the way for Toby Gerhart)

To discuss all the moves. You can catch it at chicagobears.com or 670thescore.com (if you like to hear people interrupt with inane comments throughout).

I think it's interesting to note that last year's #3 overall pick, DE Tyson Jackson, got a deal worth $57 million over five years with $31 million guaranteed. Free agency might generate a lot of crazy contracts, but it's still much more fiscally reasonable than drafting at the top of the draft.

One of the Score reporters has reminded everyone that Clark got the roster bonus that was due today, even after they signed Manu. That suggests Clark will stay. Davis showed enough to make you think he can contribute at a blocker and a receiver. If someone will give you a 2nd for Olsen, do it.

From KFFL: According to SIRIUS NFL Radio, it appears a deal between the Chicago Bears and free-agent DE Julius Peppers (Panthers) is close to being completed.

The real question, IMO, is whether you are willing to give up on Olsen because of a Martz offense that might not be in effect after this year.

I say it's Olsen to the Pats for their later 2nd round pick.

Surely, they can't sign Peppers, Rolle, AND Taylor. I don't care how much you saved not having a 1st and 2nd.

Honestly, despite what we heard in recent days, I think it's Olsen. You saw some flashes from Kellen Davis last year, I think. If they can get a 2nd round pick for Olsen from the Patriots or someone else, you keep Clark, Manumaleuna, and Davis. In Martz's offense, I'm not convinced that Olsen would give you significantly different production than Clark would with the same role. You end up with a TE roster with pass-catcher (Clark), a blocker (Manumaleuna), and a young guy who can do a bit of both (Davis). Then, in another year, you can reassess whether you want to keep Clark around, if Davis can be a legit pass-catching threat, how Martz's offense is working. Plus, the glaring need that you don't seem lined up to address at the moment (free safety) is so deep in this draft that you can get a guy like Morgan Burnett or Nate Allen for the pick you'd get for Olsen.

Bad news. According to his blog, one of the things Rolle is looking for in his next team is "teams that have a good reputation as far as how the organization is run." That probably takes us out of the running . . . http://www.rolle21.com/blog.html

For the people saying Rolle is a bad fit for the Cover 2 or that Otogwe is a better fit in the cover 2, can you explain why? I really just want to know. Of course, at this rate, by the time you reply, it might be moot...

Get. Rolle. Now.

My picks (at this point): 3) Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama - A guy who can anchor against the pass and create a big push for the run, with a lot of experience in big games against big-time opponents. I think he can start as a rookie, especially given our recent O-line struggles. 4) Robert Johnson, S, Utah - Pure free safety with good hands and a knack for making big plays. Plus, gives the secondary a safety with legit NFL safety size at 6'2", 200 lbs. 5) Patrick Stoudamire, CB, Western Illinois - I'm scared to death of our CBs at this point. Tillman has gone way downhill and doesn't tackle any more. I like Bowman and Graham, but neither are sure things at this point. We haven't seen anything from DJ Moore. So I'll take this kid from down the road who apparently did not allow a TD pass during his career at Western and has shown pretty good ability in the Shrine Game. 6) Jammie Kirlew, DE, Indiana - A disruptive force in the backfield against the run and the pass that can rotate in and maybe make some plays once Ogun and (probably) Anderson move on. 7) Chris Marinelli, OT, Stanford - Underrated pure right tackle that was a central part of a very good Stanford offensive line. Has had some shoulder problems, but is worth the gamble, IMO.

I've generally found myself impressed with Reesing when I've watched him. He has major size issues (I don't even know that he's 6'0"), but he's got a stronger arm than you think and he put up consistently big numbers until this year when things kind of fell apart. As a later round guy, I can see him making a team.

Let's hope he can be the same difference maker on the O-line that Marinelli was on the D-line.

Here's the list I found of who is under contract for how long. You're pretty much right, unfortunately. http://walterfootball.com/freeagentscontractschi.php

God help me for saying this, but I think Jim Zorn would be next on my list (of those I've heard linked to the job). Unless Kevin Gilbride would come here.