DABEARSDABOMB

I don't get it, especially if he only got 13M-14M or so per year (just a guess based on what I've read since the signing has went down). I just think this really makes the off-season a disaster. The Sox made some moves acting as a contender but the reality is they started something going one way and now it looks like they are going to end up in no man's land (with a team not good enough to compete and when that happens you are just putting yourself in a situation to always stay mediocre considering this team has a lot of veterans that are going to, if are not already, be on the decline). Rowand and Roberts would have given the club a pretty damn good lineup. Now they have a meh lineup, a horrid rotation (until Count/Danks/Floyd prove themselves the rotation is bad; I think they are capable of being solid, but they haven't proved squat yet) and an improved bullpen. Kenny can still make things happen, but I wonder how, because the farm system (under his watch) has turned into the laughing stock of baseball as well. Things are starting to look real real bad.

The Sox have missed out on practically every one of their targets this off-season. I don't think they would have won anything with Aaron, but at least I'd have someone to cheer for that busts his butt. Oh well I guess.

Good to have ya back aboard!!!

I don't know if you are being sarcastic or not, but Walker has been very poor this season. You can make a case that it is because of injuries but bottom line the production hasn't been there. I know he's been more than solid in the past, but as Bears fans we have yet to see him produce in our uni. I think they may bring him back (because of the question-marks on the dline) but he will have to renegotiate because giving a guy who played the way he did this past season 5.5M would be a horrible decision, imo.

Yeah. Aside from kickers (see Mort Anderson), It seems like offensive lineman are the guys that stick around the longest while still playing at a near all pro level. It is truly amazing how long some of the great olineman stick it out. You know athletically they aren't as good, but the oline must be a position where if you are a truly superior technique wise (plus savy from the years of experience) that you can still throw around a much quicker, stronger dlineman.

I reprise...4yrs 48M. That isn't bad in terms of money. The question is will he be able to handle CF and will his stats carry over from Japan.

Seriously. You'd have to imagine a chunk of those guys will resign, but there is a good number of quality starting offensive lineman (both guards and tackles). I also noticed the Colts had a couple of there lineman available. It looks to me that with all that talent out there, you end up having a good supply that may keep the costs a bit down (I still expect some of those guards/tackles to be amongst the highest paid lineman in the league, if not the highest paid). I really hope JA plans on getting serious in FA this year and making a splash immediately that bolsters that oline.

It isn't that horrible of an idea. Brown is still solid when healthy and would be cheap. Assuming they were able to get a good tackle and a young guard that could be groomed along with Brown I wouldn't be opposed to it. I'd prefer to pass on Brown but I think he's a good plan B or C.

If the Bears had a young WR who had really come into his own this year, I'd be much more willing to let Berrian walk. The reality is that it isn't the case. If Hester was ready we probably would have seen him running more routes but the reality is Hester isn't even close to understanding what it takes to be an NFL receiver. I think he has the potential to be a lethal slot receiver on crossing patterns as well as a guy who would be awesome on double moves (since CB's would have to play the short passes in fear that he would end up making a huge play out of a short pass). I'm guessing we'll see Hester turn into this guy a season from now. Let him get another training camp at WR, as well as a lot more reps running typical routes (enough of this decoy or reverse shit, just let the man play WR and if you do that when you want to, you will actually be able to run a reverse or so a game). But the Bears do not have anyone and I mean anyone even capable of being a #1. We can argue whether Bernard is or isn't. He had a bad case of the drops but he has come on strong. He's also Rex favorite target (it is no secret that Bernard started kicking ass again when Rex came in) and has both the size, speed and strenght you'd like from a WR. I think the Bears pretty much have to overpay to get him because without him that offense is a joke (they wouldn't have any legit #1 WR, plus it would add to the pressure that they would have to take a skill player with the #1 pick, something I'm not a fan of, because this team needs help on the lines). Basically put this is been a bad year but he's still on pass for over 1000 yards and he makes big plays as well as tough plays. Hell, I think in another year we may see Bernard emerge as a total legit #1 WR (I think he learned over the course of this season that you always have to focus 100% and work your ass off). I'd say aside from the oline, bringing back Berrian has to be the #1 priority (the TE position is solid, I'm fine with QB, line is horrific, WR is acceptable with BB, terrible without him). Briggs is a stud, but again, I think the Bears (despite the horrid play of the defense this year) still have playmakers on the defensive side and could get away without having him (especially since they like Williams and that Stanford guy who didn't play so much). I still want BB/Rex/Briggs/FA Guard or Tackle brought in (don't know how realistic it is and in order of preference it goes FA Lineman/BB/Rex/Briggs (I have Rex higher because I think it would be assinine to give up a 1st and 3rd rounder and than all the money to Derek Anderson or give all the money to McNabb when the line is the bigger issue).

I must admit, Glen Dorsey would be a stud next to Tommie Harris, but unless the Bears lose all 3 games and he slides I still don't think they would get him. Plus, the Bears truly need to shore up that offensive line and it is so damn expensive to sign a top notch free agent tackle that really the only way to get one is via the draft and this is a good class of tackles. Take the tackle in the first round, draft a guard in the 3rd, draft a skilled player in Rd 2 (ie RB or WR), and sign a FA guard (of course if they go after a FA tackle that would mean they could draft a QB/RB/WR/DT/Safety (McFadden won't fall but I don't konw what the projections are for Rice at Rutgers) in round 1 (cause it would be stupid to draft a guard as high as the Bears are picking, imo, and than take the best guard in the 2nd round.

I remember Orton standing up to the test pretty good during his rookie season. He took a beatdown and kept getting up. Than again he also kept posting 79 yard passing games, LOL. Still I'm excited to see what a more prepared and actually NFL ready Kyle Orton can do at the helm. As far as Rex goes, I think he reall improved his pocket presence in the 2nd game and while he still sometimes goes back too damn far I thought there were a good number of times where if Rex did what the announcers stated (ie step up) he would have gotten absolutely blasted. The oline was failing from every freaking direction and he had no chance on quite a few plays. I can say the same for about 30% of Bensons carries (you know, the ones where he was getting hit right about the same time he got the football). I seriously don't think I've seen a line go from being amongst the top 5 in the league to being one of the worse 3 in the league in a one year span (without any serious injuries).

I figure there is a chunk of Cubs/Sox fans on here and since both teams were vying for his services thought I'd throw this out there. As a Sox fan I just hope the club is planning on finding a leadoff hitter and a centerfielder because they don't have one on the current roster.

I personally can't ever endorse the drafting of Colt Brennan. I played little league baseball with Colt (we both played all stars) and the guy has always rubbed everyone the wrong way. He may have changed following his fiasco at Colorado, but I can't get past the serious issues he had (last time I talked to him would have probably been sophmore year of high school or so when I happened to bump into him at a random party). Than again, I'm sure most of the upper echelon athletes (he stood out amongst all of us on the baseball team and we had a couple guys in our league that would eventually get drafted years down the road) have those type of issues. For me he rubbed me the wrong way (he was a total primadonna). I'd compare Matt Ryan to Carson Palmer. I don't know why, but they seem to have similar build and throwing motions. I like Ryan a lot, but I'm also quite happy with Rex and I think the offensive line and finding an offensive coordinator is a far more pressing issue.

New Sig

I would have to think the Bears would wait to negotiate/extend Harris until the middle of next season. I just wouldn't be confident enough about his knees/health status to give him a 5 to 6 year extension with 30+ in guaranteed cash.

Oh, I forgot the #1 most important cut...Ron Turner

I think the two guys that I can pretty much guarantee will be cut are: Darwin Walker (he could always restructure, but no way are the Bears going to have him counting ~5M against the cap next year) Fred Miller (again, they could restructure, but I think and hope the Bears go a different, young direction at the tackle spot. Plus he's due to make around $5M). I'm not sure what Griese's cap hit is, but if he is due to make any substantial amount I would drop him. It is clear he isn't the starter in Chicago and the only question is whether the Bears end up going with Rex/Orton/Draft Pick or if they end up letting Brian & Rex go and go after a starter with KO being the backup and a journeyman brought in as a 3rd stringer. In terms of signing our FA's. Unless Jamar Williams plays ridiculously I think the Bears will make a strong push at resigning both Berrian and Briggs. Berrian will probably get a ridiculous offer and it could price the Bears out. However, we also have to realize Berrian is the only above average WR this team has and it may damn well be necessary to over pay to keep him. Moose isn't a huge cap hit, IIRC, but they could always restructure and I think he's still a valid asset to have (the key is drafting or getting someone else to develop into the 2nd WR with Moose playing the slot position; He's still a great teacher, a great blocker, and he knows how to make the 3rd down grab). Abandeyjo is a must have back (assuming it costs special teams money) as he is just a coverage stud. Arch is a gonner and I figure Mike Brown will restructure or retire (I don't see him playing anywhere but Chicago, but I also don't see the Bears handing him the starting position next year..maybe he proves his way back and earns it, but they will have options at safety). As far as Ruben Brown goes, if nothing goes right in FA, bring him back, but I think the Bears need to draft a guard, sign a FA guard (ie Faneca), draft a tackle (1st rnd pick). Oh and I'd think RMJ will be gone. In fact, the Bears do have the ability to clear up a decent amount of cap space which should put them in a spot to be able to sign a big time lineman.

It wouldn't be Bearstalk without a "grouchy sig".

Awesome News. Congrats Iggy!!!!

I think it is also important to not play a couple guys, specifically Urlacher and Harris (the last thing I want to see is either of those guys get hurt). Urlacher has been playing hurt all year and I'm sure he'll end up finishing the season but in Harris case there is no excuse to have him out there (the guy is pratically playing on one leg and is going to need off-season surgery, why not let him get it now so he has an extra month or so to get ready for camp).

True...but than again is anyone quite like Saban? I think it would be hillarious if Miles ended up going to Michigan and somehow Saban left Bama to come back to LSU (not that it will happen, I just think it would be funny).

By the way, was stumbling on the other board and just wanted to say CONGRATS!!!!!

Awesome news. Congrats!!!!

Wait, Miles is heading out (didn't he agree to an extension a week or so ago)?

Hey Kingston. Its been a long time, good to see ya over here. From what I know Pixote is doing good. I know he's been working hard but hopefully he can chime in on this thread (he registered today and is working on sending out the email to all the members of Bearstalk).