DABEARSDABOMB

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

I would be shocked if Flacco was available when the Bears picked in the 2nd round, which probably means he won't be a Bear. The only QB the Bears would take at 14 is Matt Ryan and I'd be stunned to see him fall that far. With Andre Woodson and Brennan's stock falling, you could maybe see the Bears hold out and wait till day 2 and get a steal with Woodson or Colt (for all of there flaws, they have some pretty good ability).

I would give up something for Huff because I think it would be a nice pickup, but it definitely wouldn't be a super high pick (ie, not a 1st or 2nd round pick). I don't know how he's played but I know Huff is a tremendous athlete and I think his speed and athletism would fit great on the Bears.

I think the Bears plan on targeting a FA WR (or via trade), plus drafting a WR on day one with Hester and Bradley getting significant time. In terms of the oline, I'm thinking we will see a day one pick on the line (1st round or 2nd) plus a signing (and I don't think it will be a Faneca type, rather just a solid, younger guard that will be above average, maybe not a pro-bowler but with solid guys around it will be good enough to have a pretty damn solid line).

Marion Barber will not be let go. The only way Barber isn't in Dallas is if Dallas moves up and grabs McFadden and I think that is a pure rumor at its finest (ie, Jerry Jones went to Arkansas therefor he'll do anything to get this stud that played there). I am getting more and more excited about Rashard Mendenhall. He had some solid 40 times today, is strong and a great receiver out of the backfield. I think he would be a tremendous asset on the offensive side of the ball. I know it is a deep RB draft though so they could always wait and hope one of Felix Jones/Stewart and whomever else is there in the 2nd (I would be stunned if that happened though) but I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the top 4 backs in this draft. And good god, did anyone see McFadden's 40 time. Between his legit running skills and now the measurables I think he has probably guaranteed himself of going top 10 and is the #1 back in the draft with Rashard/Stewart/Jones all a bit behind.

I wonder if the Bears will get a 4th round pick or something along those lines for Griese or if they will have to release him straight up.

I like this because come December and January (hopefully we will be playing in January) it becomes more and more important to be able to run bigger two te sets in cold weather places and knowing you can have Olsen, whose a great blocker and a receiver as well as Clark (who you can end up splitting out wide as a receiver) could really create matchup problems. I also like this because it is the second time this week that the Bears have rewarded one of there guys for working hard and having the right attitude (Alex Brown's extension was the first, now Clark, Orton will be next and than Urlacher). They are sending out the right message and I hope other players in the organization (including Tommie Harris and maybe even guys like Briggs/Berrian) see this and realize that it may be better to stick around with an organization that actually takes care of its guys.

Considering there is some depth at WR this year, but little top notch WR talent (ie a top 10 pick at the position) I find it unlikely that Hardy would be there in the 2nd round and I doubt the Bears would go WR in RD 1 (unless they trade down). Hardy would be a stellar value pick in the 2nd, but right now I'm thinking the Bears are going to go oline, QB, WR/RB.

This is a very deep RB draft. My only real issue is that the Bears have 3 players on the roster. We know Peterson is not a starter, Wolfe was just selected and therefor is going to be on the roster (but he doesn't have the skill-set of a starter) and Benson is injury prone. So the question is will they carry 4 backs and if they do why not take one in the draft (afterall, this year if you take a back in the early third, your getting a guy that would grade out in a typical draft as a 2nd round back). The tackles and backs in this draft are a very very strong class.

This trade has me excited, real excited.