AZ54

With FA's like Hayden and Tatupu the Bears have often let them visit other teams and basically let them set the market with their offers. They tell the players when they have an offer they like to give them a call and the Bears will see if they want to offer more. Since we have so much cap space agents know we definitely have the ability to improve upon any offer they get so the Bears will get that chance.

Knox should be upset he's losing his starting role. If he wasn't upset there'd be plenty to worry about. It seems clear he's already gotten the message...get better in route running. He is still going to be one of our top 4 and he'll get plenty of opportunities to prove he's better.

Having a baby and all, Unga should know that the NFL opportunity before him is the best way to take care of his family. Missing so much practice when the entire offseason was cut short likely means he's done unless he shows something spectacular in the preseason games.

In the end we have a similar quality player at C but we saved $2mil to sign other quality players. That's a win in my book plus we get to add in that Spencer is younger and perhaps there is a chance Tice can get better play out of him. We've already seen the best Tice can get out of Kreutz. If Roy wants to be fair take the same game and show Kreutz' good, bad, and ugly plays.

Unga

Olin knows all the tendencies and body language? Perhaps, but knowing how much film all NFL teams put together for their players it hardly matters. We're not the Jets, overall our defense is pretty plain, we just do what we do and we do it well. At the end of the day you still have be able to block the guy in front of you. I'll wait to see all the details but Kreutz taking what appears to be a heavily incentive laden contract for $4.5mil vs. a guaranteed $4mil doesn't make sense. Veterans know how easily it is to get injured and recoveries take longer. I get the idea the "incentives" were structured solely for him to save face on the deal but I bet some are not likely to be earned. What's in there...Pro Bowl appearance? Even if the incentives are likely to be earned he just walked out on his NFC-contending teammates for a mere $500k. Makes no sense.

Fitz is already talking about staying with the Cardinals and they have already set aside a chunk of cap space for his new contract.

Mays was never known as a smart player who could diagnose plays. If he could even handle it, I can't see him handling a position change like that in such a shortened offseason. Pass.

This ends all talk of the Bears being cheap with Olin. As I said before, their offer was above market value and he rejected it. He "didn't have a good feeling" about being wanted. Ok, whatever. He's still one of the Bears greats like many elite players he'll finish up for a year, perhaps two on another team.

FAs are practicing now so the pressure ratchets up on the FAs who haven't signed anywhere. The more the new guys practice the more time they get to make a lasting impression. If we get a good deal on Lofa and he's our starting LB then I really like our run defense on 1st and 2nd down this year.

Terrskiptor! It's always good to have someone playing devil's advocate on the Bears moves, I don't want to read a board filled with a bunch of cheerleader type comments. I'm just hoping for the day we can all tell Terra he was wrong because that will mean we won the Superbowl.

Where did you hear that about Louis?

There's a reason his nickname was Mount McKinnie. They grabbed a former LT from the Colts, who was replaced himself, to take the spot of McKinnie. He can't be in any kind of shape at all.

Not good, especially for a guy not known for his work ethic.

Given how some were performing they deserved to be paid little. We still have room to add another Oline, CB, and even a vet LB if they are so inclined, plus take care of Forte.

Of course we have to extend Forte's contract. We also have a bunch of retreads, i.e. Roy Williams, who if they play well we will want to sign long term.

One thing about these first few days, the coaches will get good looks at the UDFAs and other young guys before all the FAs join in.

Absolutely true and rarely do they get credit for it.

Last season every time I watched a play in slo-mo Kreutz is getting blown up in 1on1 situations. I can't recall seeing him block anyone 1on1. He was always an undersized C and relied on his quickness to keep position on bigger DTs, or get to one side to assist an OG who was beat. At his age he's still undersized but doesn't have the quickness he used to have. I really respect his career with the Bears, he's one of the great ones. However, it seems clear nobody else is willing to pay him what the Bears were offering so the comments about the Bears being cheap, or trying to short-change him is totally wrong. They offered him more than market value because he had more value to our team than any other team and he refused it. As a team we had to move on because we have areas to address and you can't leave that money sitting there committed to a guy who wants to keep negotiating. Everyone knew this FA period was going to be fast and furious including the players. The team needed an answer and got it, now we move on. As always Bears fans, and in this case the media, seem to over-value our own players more than anyone else. In this case our Oline was horrible last year and like it or not Kreutz was part of the reason it was so bad. Will his leadership be missed, likely, but right now we need players on the field who can perform not locker room leaders.

$4mil for Kreutz' performance was a complete gift. If he wanted to stick it out one more year and help out the team he had his chance. He was so valuable around the league that apparently he's just going to retire. I know other teams will be interested in him but I doubt it will be at $4mil price tag.

Sounds like Cutler will be able to run faster this year. That's a good thing.

In any case there is no reason for JA to give away his negotiating position while talking to a reporter. Was he supposed to tell the reporter that of course Forte is more valuable to our team than Deangelo Williams is to theirs? He has to build a team and if too much money goes one direction then there isn't enough to get depth in the other. IMO it's fair to evaluate results and last year we among the top 4 teams in the league. Was our team perfect, not even close. Had JA not failed so miserably in the 2007 draft we might have won the Superbowl.

Josh Moore was a good cover corner coming out of college. He was also in desperate need of finding a weight room. I'm curious to see how he does in training camp. Corey Graham was re-signed but nobody is on his band wagon anymore other than as a special teams player. So yes we need to bring in some more depth at CB. Is this the first FA signing period in a decade where folks haven't been screaming for a safety?

Good deal.

Lots of speed and quickness on our Dline now, and Paea brings some power too. It will be interesting to see how this all works out. Stunts should be happening much quicker and become more effective.