AZ54

No. Not even if we trade down in the 1st Rd. He's too small and doesn't fit the scheme that well. In the 2nd Rd perhaps but I don't have to go far to find other prospects at other positions I like and we need more than Floyd at OLB.

This list of team visits looks more like what an agent would do when there isn't much interest in his client: Have him visit many teams to show he's healthy and so they can get to know him personally. When you think of all the day 1 and day 2 FA signings most of those players never left their home to make the deal, and some went to 1 or perhaps 2 visits with a team. Laurinitis is visiting 8 teams. There is no reason we shouldn't visit with him. I'm sure we have some interest but probably far below early FA prices. It is also unknown if he wants a starting job guaranteed or if he's willing to come in and compete with SMC or a rookie. Trevathan has the guaranteed starting job but I view Laurinitis as player that should compete to earn it. That should be reflected in a much lower salary. I think the Bears prefer SMC if they can agree on a terms but I'd doubt we sign both SMC and Laurinitis. Makes more sense to get one or the other and then add a good rookie. to develop. Let the others (Jones, Timu, etc.) compete for the last spot.

My work schedule doesn't allow me time to watch Cardinals games as much as I used to, mostly because to watch a Bears game means not sleeping after work. I was curious about Massie and what he brings to the table. I remember him from his rookie year and the struggles he had and eventually corrected. I found this video of him working out in Arizona last month with LeCharles Bentley, the same place where Kyle Long works out. This doesn't tell me much other than he takes his offseason training seriously, and perhaps that he's a bit more nimble in his lower body and movement skills than I remember him being. From reading a bit it seems Jeff Allen, Massie, and Boone all worked out at this place. I suspect Pace asked Kyle for some input on the players the Bears went after. It can't hurt to have some input from a player you trust on a how hard a guy trains on his own in the offseason.

Dan Vitale SB = Super Back?

We have a winner!

I expected we'd move on. He wasn't that good on special teams last year and he wasn't any good on defense. The transition to the new scheme didn't fit him well. Maybe he'll improve on that but he's going to see some competition in case he doesn't.

I always felt that, given the heavy guaranteed money, Cutler's deal was $1-2 mil too high. Lower the guaranteed money and it fit better because the club could have had a way out. Emery didn't seem to get that point plus he kept over-selling his QB as a franchise guy when there still remained some questions. There's no reason to negotiate against yourself.

I think Forte falls into the category where it's better to get rid of a player one year too early than one year too late.

So far we know that if Pace gives you a big multi-year contract there is about a 75% probability, or more, that you are 26 years old.

Not quite all of us. Although I wasn't certain he'd make the roster either, I just said he's a tough competitor and we shouldn't count him out.

Given the crazy CB FA market this is decent value. I'm not that enamored with Porter but he's ok as a starter. There will be a good rookie added to the mix soon.

I feel like that contract is good value in this market. I expected we'd pay $8mil/yr.

A few weeks back Pace said he'd go best available (in his price range of course) and pickup Oline help at either RG or RT. He said the decision on who they picked up (FA RG or RT) would likely permanently decide where Kyle Long will be. While they were happy with Kyle's performance at RT, he didn't want to keep moving Long around to different spots every year. If Long goes back to RG that's his home. Doesn't mean he won't be our emergency RT in a game or even get kicked out there if we get serious injury issues across the Oline but his main focus from now on should be at RG. Massie struggled a lot early in his career but I think his play improved quite a bit. Not enough though because the Cardinals drafted a RT DJ Humphries in the 1st Rd last year. A quick look back at draft profiles indicates Humphries is probably the better pass protector and Massie the better run blocker. Guess we know what each team's priorities are.

I think roster bonuses (or something like that) count only in the year they are given. Teams do it because they have huge cap space and prefer to a) get their player and save cap space for a year or two down the road. In the right situation for a rebuilding team I think it's smart because you can get a a few key players and you are leaving room for when you want to re-sign your own players to 2nd contracts a year or two down the road. If the veteran FA doesn't pan out you cut your losses in a couple years and don't have a lot of dead cap space.

and sign who?

Gotta stay away from that.

Ian Williams gone. Goldman can certainly stay at NT but if the team in intent on moving him to DE this could change what we're looking for in the draft at DT. Especially if we sign Hicks. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000064...ing-with-niners

I also think pairing Ragland with Trevathan would give us a very solid ILB group. Ragland would also be the blitz LB, something Trevathan reportedly isn't that good at. I watched more video of Darron Lee tonight and he's just not stout at the point of attack. He might grow into that but I like the idea of having one physical ILB on the field. When Timu was out there late in the season he stood out for that reason. Drafting Ragland is no sure thing and after him options gets a little murkier. I think SMC could be lured back with a 1 year deal, probably for much higher than anyone here would pay him. That would give him time to get more comfortable in the role and then seek his big deal. Gives us two chances (this year and next) to find a rookie in the early rounds to develop. Last year SMC had nobody with 3-4 ILB experience to help him on the field. With Trevathan out there it could help him to steady his performance. If SMC turns into what we want then we have plenty of cap space to sign him to a long term deal next year.

This is more likely posturing on the part of Trevathan to get a little more out of Chicago before he signs. I wouldn't expect anything less from his agent because that's what he's paid to do for Trevathan.

I'm sure Atlanta would be thrilled with that deal. I don't think Pace would be, at least I hope he gets much more than a 6th Rd pick. There are few alternatives in FA and as of right now we haven't signed any of them, nor do we reportedly even have a deal in place.

There is too much going on in FA so I doubt the Bears would complete a deal for Bennett tomorrow afternoon. After things settle down a bit and teams know what they have in FA and what their likely draft needs are then I could see a trade happening. If we don't get good value just keep him around. He still has to play for his next contract so he can't be too much of a malcontent.

I still like Amos and I think he out-produced a guy like Bruton. Adding Bruton, and likely giving him every chance to earn a starting role next to Amos would be a good move. We will still add a rookie to the mix but Bruton should feel confident he can win a job over a rookie. It will be telling if we sign Bruton and then cut Rolle but I don't see that happening until after the draft, unless we need his cap space.

I wanted Osemele but not at $11mil/yr.

Complete agreement.

Wow. I wanted to stay away when the Broncos offered him $10mil/yr.