DABEARSDABOMB

Ya, Riddeau. He's on the active roster but won't be when the season starts next year (barring injuries or him having a ridiculous pre-season). I have been assuming Davis will be let go, but I saw where the Bears will match any offer assuming it isn't excessive due to his special teams play. Personally I could care less in regards to Davis because I think Lloyd/McCarens are both upgrades to Davis. I believe Booker is a slight upgrade to Moose (but I could see someone saying the opposite as well). The key is finding someone to do what Berrian did, which I think there are guys on the roster with the talent to do such (Bradley/Hester, but neither are guarantees) plus a day one draft pick. However, the Bears do have Olsen with one full season and Clark to help make up for the loss of Berrian. Bottom line, I think the Bears WR position is in a better place than people say it is. That doesn't mean it is great, by all means it isn't, but I think it is still solid.

The Bears are very well set at the CB position, so going after Asante Samuel would have been fiscally irrisponsible. I'm not doubting that he isn't better than the CB's we have, but Vasher and Tillman are both above average corners who are signed to long term deals (I think Tillman is vastly under-rated around the NFL and thought he was stellar for the most part last season, while fighting through injuries). In addition to that you have Ricky Manning Jr., who was dissapointing last year and proved he is nothing more than a nickel back (he'll also be gone after this season) and Trumaine McBride (who I think is going to be a great nickel back and has the ability to be a solid to above average starting CB in time). That gives me 4 corners that I am comfortable with. At the safety position you obviously don't know what to expect from Brown and I'm expecting nothing and than you have Payne (who got hurt early last year), Manning (I think he's going to have a great season, I just hope the Bears give him a god damn position and let him stick there), and not much else, imo. I'm guessing we will see a veteran safety released sometime in the next few months and the Bears will pick one up.

John Clayton reported yesterday that Alexander will be cut, probably note till after June 1st but he believes the Seahawks will inform of the decision very soon.

I think our WR core goes back to what the core was the superbowl season. Ie, we had Moose who was considered a #1 by us, but wouldnt' be a number one on many teams and than a core of young players, a couple of which had some ability but none being high picks or anything along those lines (Bradley being the highest pick). This season, we again will have a guy as our #1 who truly isn't a #1 (Booker). There is a veteran backup (Lloyd) and two young guys with talent (currently) and probably 3 when it is all said and done (draft) in Hester/Bradley/Draft Pick. At that point you'll hope one sticks and if two do than you can eventually slide Booker into a #3 role where he excels. If they don't, you figure one of Hester/Bradley/draft pick pan out and in 09 you have at least one spot filled and only need to find either a 1 or 2 to join the other young guys that didn't develop as pleased and Booker. The only difference is, the TE position is much stronger now than it was and that could really help the Bears buy time in terms of figuring out the WR core. I really think this is one of those positions that scares the hell out of all of us early on and eventually we grow calm and find out we have something (or it turns into a complete disaster, LOL). Either way, for that to even happen the team will need oline play like the super bowl season and a rushing game similar to that as well.

He'll probably get another opportunity during training camp/preseason and than catch onto the practice squad or sign elsewhere. Given the fact that Lloyd/Booker/Bradley/Hester all appear to have spots (Lloyd obviously could stink and get cut and anyone can get hurt) plus a draft pick and maybe even McCarens the odds are stacked against Hass/Riddeau and anyone else).

Unless BOoker is injured he is one of the starters. He has shown enough over the years that he is good enough to be a #2. He has very good hands, knows how to run routes, and has put up Moose like numbers his past couple seasons while being a 2nd/3rd option as opposed to a top option (all while dealing with quite possibly the worse QB play in the NFL). I am completely confident in Booker having a 50-60 catch, 500-700 yd season assuming the Bears have decent QB play, a quality oline, and a decent running game. I also expect him to make tons of 3rd down catches. I think you'll see Lloyd/McCarens compete for a job as either the #3 or #1 type WR with Bradley/Berrian grabbing the other spot (and obviously the other player still getting substantial time). You really can use 4 WR's in this sort of system with one internchanging with another given the various skill-sets. Bottom line I think you'll see Bradley/Hester get a lot of time (Bradley if he's healthy) and Booker be on the field almost always. You will than see Lloyd/McCarens battle for a spot with the other being a #5 type of guy who may end up getting cut in training camp (especially if the Bears draft a WR early).

I like this. Think of how many teams have had WR's like this who excel or look solid in one place and than struggle in a certain system and than head somewhere else and find things. You have to remember, once you struggle for a new team you can get burried pretty quickly and have trouble coming out. That could be what happened to Justin and Lloyd, who both got burried on the depth charts and at that point had little chance to dig themselves out. In a new system with a new staff they will have a new opportunity to prove themselves and both of these guys are still on the right side of 30 and have the ability to be good NFL WR's and I'd like the Bears to get as many of those type of guys as possible and hope that a couple stick (as well as Hester/Bradley who are the only in house guys we have with any ability, imo; Haas has great hands, but don't consider me in the Haas camp). Plus financially speaking this is smart and should allow the Bears to be in position to trade for a superstar WR if one became available (and give them a contract) as well as work with Urlacher/Harris on extensions (and have room to sign one of Orton/Rex to a big deal if either of them prove themselves this year).

You have to remember that all reports from people close to the Bears indicate that if anyone was the favorite it was Kyle Orton. That said, I'm guessing the outside people still consider Rex the guy given that he has won/earned the job (well if people consider it that, cause his draft status obviously helped him with that) whenever he's been healthy in the past.

If I was Lloyd I would be hoping Rex was my guy. Lloyd is a sideline WR. He isn't known as a guy who takes the beating over the middle making catches. Rex is the guy with the ARM capable of making the throws which will allow Lloyd to flourish (ie sideline outs/deep balls, etc). Orton on the other hand is the type of QB who needs to use the middle of the field a lot to succeed. Either way I'm perfectly comfortable with the QB position. I'd like the Bears to make an all out push at Larry FItzgerald if he hits the market (because I think a true #1 like that can help any QB and make every other WR on the field better). Aside from that, strengthen the oline/WR core/RB (my 2 biggest desires are a FA guard and a 1st or 2nd rd tackle that suceeds and one of Stewart/Jones/Mendenhall).

The Bears have indicated they will bring him back. He isn't due to make much money and they believe he can be a very quality special teams player. I didn't see any indication where they plan on starting him at the safety position though. Thats not to say he won't get an opportunity during training camp to show the Bears that he can do it, but right now I think they are looking at him solely as a backup/special teams guy and I think he can be pretty valuable in that roll (especially given that his contract isn't hurting anyone).

That was a good value signing. I think the writing is one the wall for the Bears drafting a RB in the first couple rounds. This is a draft that in the 3rd rd, it is probable that you draft a mid to early 2nd round grade type of guy and in the 2nd round you could be drafting a top 20 grade guy (given the extreme depth at the RB position this year). They have indicated all off-season, including poor play and injury/attitude issues with Benson that they are not happy with the RB spot. Obviously the RB game will get better if you address the oline, but you also have to consider addressing the RB position (you gave a player a chance and he failed, now you need to bring in another possible option). If Felix Jones/Jonathan Stewart are around close to where the Bears pick in Rd 2, than they need to do what they can to make a play for them. The other option of course would be to bring in a veteran to push Benson, with the idea that you put your faith in the veteran and Benson being good enough in a worse case scenario and in a best case scenario the vet pushes Benson into being the player everyone thought he could be. If Benson doesn't succeed, you move on at the end of the season and either use your cap room on a starter or use your 1st rd pick. That vet would be Shaun Alexander, who will be released by the Seahawks. He isn't as effective, but if you gave him limited carries (10-15 a game) with Benson getting carries it could be effective enough to work and allow the Bears to focus on WR/Oline/QB with the first 4 picks in the draft.

I think any player that was of interest or discussed in relation to the Bears that signs elsewhere is worthy for the Bears forum. Just my 2 cents though.

I didn't expect the Bears to match the contract offer. Kennedy was far behind a lot of guys on the depth chart and Oaeniana impressed me a lot more.

Interesting, all the papers had been reporting that if Johnson didn't sign with Buffalo his next visit was Chicago. I'm dissapointed to hear he isn't coming because I would like to see the Bears upgrade the wide receiver position via FA (that way they can address the RB/Oline in a draft which is rich in both positions, as well as take a QB during day 1). I would really like McCarens, but I'm puzzled as to why he completely fell apart the past two seasons after having a few productive seasons in a row (where he was thought of as one of the better young WR's). I do realize the Jets QB situation has again (like the Dolphins) been one of the few situations which has been worse than the Bears, but I still question what caused that sort of drop-off. Financially you should be able to pick him up cheap and than focus your money towards giving your home grown guys extensions (Url/Tommie), sign a solid starting oline man, sign a RB like Julius Jones, and than focus on getting a young WR in the draft, QB, Oline, etc.

Mattison has a good motor and plays hard. I'd have no problem going with an Iowa boy for me to root for (my favorite college team along with ND).

Financially that is a solid pickup. I would be a big fan of McCariens if you could get him. The Bears were connected to him in rumors a couple years back and I think he has the ability to fill out a solid WR cast (with Bradley/Hester being groomed as the big play guys) and McCarens/Booker as the hands specialist (plus Clark/Olsen). It isn't a great core, but it is more than solid with room to grow (ie Olsen/Hester/Bradley all have upside).

Walker when healthy is worth every penny of that money. However, he has yet to show that he can stick around for a full season and has had attitude issues and that does not make him worth that type of money. I am glad the Bears didn't overpay for Berrian or Walker. Booker will be a solid veteran who can catch the ball and help out on 3rd down. HE should also be able to help out with our younger WR's (like Mush did). The other thing I really like is the fact that Booker is coming from a team with even worse QB play than Chicago had and he wasn't all that bad there (he wasn't a star either, but he's a perfectably acceptable #2/#3 guy). The key for Chicago will be finding another WR to go with him (Hester/Bradley are great, but the Bears are going to have to draft someone else pretty early as well to make sure they got a lot of talent at the position with the hope that a couple of those guys end up sticking).

It is looking more and more likely that the Bears will have to pull a rabit out of the hat on the draft and pick up good players with practically everyone of there picks (and not just good players a couple years from now, guys that will be able to step in and help early).

20M is what the Dolphins were offering in guaranteed money so my guess is that the Jets offered that and maybe more, which would be a decent chunk more than Briggs got. Oh well, I'm extremely happy to have Briggsy back.

In hindsight Berrian probably should have been franchised just to give the Bears a little more time to find legitimate replacements at the wide receiver position. However, there is absolutely no way I would have given Bernard that type of money. The Bears are now probably going to sign a FA WR such as Bryant Johnson and than take a WR in the 1st or 2nd round. The only issue is the Bears clearly have multiple needs in the draft, with the offensive line and running game being issues. You can't address all of them early in the draft and I wouldn't be shocked if the Bears sign a RB like Julius Jones and than focus on WR/Oline early and often in the draft. They could also opt to sign a couple FA olinman (not big name guys, but solid vets) and than focus on RB/WR in the first two rounds.

This is fantastic news. I love Briggsy!!!

I'm thinking we are probably just a tad under 30M after the Orton extension.

Ya, and some back from ECU (who I think also had an assload of reps on the bench) ran a 4.25 or something. McFadden was hauling ass. Mendenhall was in the 4.4 range.

I haven't seen Ike in a while. I'd be happy to help set it up (we can definitely have the same sort of prize). I just don't remember the exact rules. If one of you remembers them, let me know and we'll get it set up.

I know this won't be popular, but could you imagine getting Rashard Mendenhall in this set-up. Mendenhall is a great athlete and I think he could be as effective as Reggie Bush as a receiver out of the backfield, yet more effective as a rusher (because Rashard is actually built to be a full time RB). You put him with Olsen and Clark and those are some solid pieces (upgrade the oline, hopefully bring back BB and than draft a WR somewhere in the 1st 4 rounds). If you can't resign BB, sign someone else. It wouldn't necessarily be the typical offense but you'd definitely have a lot of potential mis-matches and having Clark/Mendenhall who would be great check-down targets while Olsen (both big play with his speed as a TE as well as a check-down), Hester (big play all day), Bradley/Berrian (big play guys) and maybe a guy like Booker and you are talking about a pretty well diversified crop. Yep, I'm having some coolaid