AZ54

Unless we make a trade for someone like McNabb, my preference is to re-sign Rex and let him and Orton have open competition for the starting job. I see no real reason to keep Greise around. He's capable of keeping a team afloat for a few games but he is on the decline. Rex or Kyle still have potential and enough physical ability (i.e. strong arm) to improve. IMO the arguments center on the likelihood of that happening. The third QB slot should go to a draftee that we can develop for a year or two.

On a defense designed to funnel plays towards Briggs he should get a lot of tackles. He's a very good player but I don't think he's a great player and I don't want to break the bank for him. I suspect that while our offers are serious they are also a courtesy to Rosenhaus. Briggs will test the market, there's no reason not too. I don't expect him back. This could also be JA blowing some smoke about our need at LB so teams aren't so certain what we're looking at in the draft. Berrian could well be tagged and Rosenhaus knows we're wiling to do that since we did it last year and worked out a deal with money upfront for Briggs (child support?) before the season started. I like Nfol's assessment of the contract situation for Berrian and I think there could be some common ground found between the two sides. Especially if incentives are good enough (i.e. Pro Bowl) to increase the contract significantly. Harris. He played hurt all last year winning Troy Aikman's respect along the way. It was refreshing to see a guy go through that for the team. Now Harris has to make a decision because his injury history does raise significant questions about his long term future. Is it worth it to take a huge payday now or does he wait and try to get a record setting deal next year. IMO JA is just being smart in taking the risk of the long term signing now feeling it's going to enable him to save millions. Ayanbendejo...first special teams player to make $2mil/yr, not with the Bears but he could get the best signing bonus ever for a special teams player. Will that make him happy? I have to agree about one thing: how are the Bears coming up with that much money to throw out in bonuses?

We offered Berrian a contract so that gives me an indication that we are leaning towards tagging him. Otherwise BB would have little reason to consider our offer right now. Tagging him opens up a chance to trade him as well if he can work out a deal with the new team. The fact the FA market is so thin means there's a better chance for us to trade him.

I don't think we go to his asking price of $2mil but he'll get an offer well over 1 million, maybe adding in big bonuses for Pro Bowl and special teams ranking. I'm talking about the Bears own rankings of tackles by special teams players.

I thought I read that Segal is Brown's agent, same guy that represents Moose. The 4 you mention are Rosenass clients.

I'm not buying it. Dan Snyder would have extended Archuletta's contract. I agree there's a lot of money to go around and if JA and his capologist continue as they've done in the past they will spread out the hit with a few roster bonuses due in years 2 and 3 for some of the contracts.

Alex lobbied but when it came time to practice he practiced. When it came time to sit on the bench he sat on the bench and for the most part kept his mouth shut during the season. Of course he openly said he wanted to start several times but why have a guy on the team if he doesn't want to play? Then after all that when it came time to play he played well. So while everyone knew his frustration with the demotion he kept working like a professional. There's a lot of value in having a guy like that on the team. As far as Bazuin I'm ok keeping 4 DEs on the roster. We must have a decent 3-man rotation at DE and if anyone of the top 3 get hurt somebody has to step in. Bazuin was hurt the entire offseason so we never saw what he's capable of but I think his high motor will fit right on the D.

All we know is that Walker was willing to play hurt, I would too if I had a $5mil bonus coming my way. As far as busting his ass that should have been done in the offseason during workouts and based on his performance my guess is that Walker didn't work too hard this past offseason. He may have gone back to his old ways when he first came into the league; he was lazy and took things for granted. Those are his words not mine from after the Cards cut him.

At Booker's age I'm giving him a roster bonus instead of a signing bonus. Maybe even roster bonuses in each of the first two years. After that I want a straight up contract that makes him easy to cut if he's not earning his pay.

Another good move by JA. At least we're on the right track so far, now we'll see who we sign to take his place.

I like the move. Just surprised by the timing of it so I agree I won't be surprised if we sign Booker but I'm not sure I would like him back for the simple fact I've hardly seen him play in the last couple years. I'm not against it by any means just unsure what he'll bring to the team. If he's anything close to what he used to be then it's a good deal.

If he were there; Dallas will look at McFadden as being the last piece to getting to the Superbowl. I'd definiitely hold out for more in that trade than their first and second round picks.

We don't have to get under the cap for a long time. I think even during the start of training camp the cap is counted using your projected top 53 players.

I don't think he's in the plans for the Bears but I agree, he stays until we have the new guys in place. Depending on who we add and how many we add he might even stay all the way until cuts are made in camp just in case there are some injuries (Mike Brown). Someone within the Archuletta clan plays goalie for a local high school team(looks similar by the way). There are tackles in soccer but they involve sliding on the ground. Perhaps that's what our Archuletta should try next since he's good at sliding around the feet of other players.

I don't see Thomas fitting in well as our WLB. He doesn't have enough speed for one and two he's played his entire career inside between the tackles. I can see him fitting in the middle for someone else but I'm not even sure about him in a 3-4 Defense like New England. AT 5-11 and 228 how's he going to hold up inside? I can't see him standing up on the outside as a pass rusher either. Who knows, New England does love smart players and he fits that mold well and most importantly he's just a good football player.

I agree too. We must be in hot pursuit of Faneca and we must overpay for him because of what he will bring to the team overall, not just his position. It was a similar concept when we went after Moose and I think to revamp the Oline we'll have to do it again. My guess is we'll offer him a 5 year deal with the 5th year setup in a way we can get out of it with minimal hit.

Not sure if this is from the Bears fan perspective or NFL fan perspective. Bears fan perspective it's draft this year because beyond one or two Oline FA I don't see much exciting opportunity out there for us. Not that adding Julius Jones wouldn't be a good thing but I don't see that as a major acquisition. My NFL football fan perspective, it's far and away the draft. Free Agency might be key for the Bears this year but it takes place over several weeks. It's exciting to see who makes the big acquisitions and talk about the implications. Yet because of the salary cap and other factors not every team makes a big splash in FA so league-wide impact isn't as great as the draft. For the draft there is far more buildup to the big day, the drama of the surprise early picks and the drama of who drops drastically. It happens every year. On top of that the draft typically affects every single team in a significant way. Debate after the draft is fun too. Talking about what a FA can do to help a team is ok but post-draft chat is better. How many posts went back and forth on drafting Hester in the 2nd Rd? What were we going to do with a guy who has no position other than returner? I'll take the emotional highs and lows of the draft over FA any year.

I was in agreement with the whole post until I ran into the "team seems to be happy with Fred Miller". I know given the way Lovie and Co. spread the love around for the Oline I'd say you are right but it still bothers me to see it in writing. I don't see Miller being worth his 4.5mil price tag and I don't think there's a cap hit if we cut him. Lovie's not real big on accountability for performance like he was in his first year so I can see Miller being back at the RT spot on opening day.

Mike Brown our starting safety? You might as well list his backup alongside his name.

If we pick up Flacco with our first pick I'll throw up. If starting LT talent is there in the first round (it should be) you go get one of them.

No to the Devin Hester trade. You don't trade players that are special, you build around them. Only one year in the offense and yes it was a bit rough but give him another offseason to get fully integrated with at least 5-7 plays and I think he'll be fine. Just don't make any of those plays 1) reverse 2) WR screen. We need him off the LOS running a route so he can catch the ball on the run. Once those plays are working then you can come back and run the reverse or screen. On field position: not only does it make the offense more likely to score it also makes our defense better since it makes the other team's offense drive further to score. When he's in at WR he's almost assured of drawing a double team or at least enough other players keeping an eye on what he's doing that it should give the rest of the WRs or RB a better chance to make a play.

He might be a good option for us but if he's cut you have to wonder why. Injury worse than we know? Attitude or practice habits worse than we know? Or is it simply a salary cap move?

If Clark is playing well next year I think he's a good candidate to get a contract extension midseason. I agree there's no reason to do this now but if he's still playing well next season why take a risk he leaves via FA? Or take a risk that his market value ends up higher than what you wanted to pay but end up matching anyway. TE is the most injured position in the NFL and it's worth it to have two guys who can play well. There is no logical reason for Turner not to have used two TE more often last year. He found himself inside a box with 8 or 9 men and had no idea how to get out of it.

Most impressive at a Pro Bowl practice when this afternoon the guys on NFL network were laughing at how lazy everyone was at the practices. Maybe Anderson is trying to show off his talents in order to get out of Cleveland. That's not a good situation for him with Quinn on the bench.

After last season you can bet Moss is expecting to break the bank. I thought he had an agreement with NE that they would not tag him but I could be wrong. If they tag him he's gonna be pissed because he wants that huge signing bonus so he can go back to being lackadaisical on the field.