Da' Bears Blog

Audibles From the Long Snapper

2010-03-10T18:14:15Z

Sharper Has Knee Surgery

The reason Darren Sharper has yet to sign a contract for 2010 is rapidly becoming clear as the New Orleans Times-Picayune is reporting that Sharper was on crutches following knee surgery. I've been an advocate of signing Sharper for over a year but a player at that age with injury concerns scares me. The Bears need to solidify the safety position, not add more questions marks to their most vulnerable position.

Making Sense of the Running Back Position

With the Bears releasing Kevin Jones, they now have five viable options at the tailback position heading into the 2010 season. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor will split a great deal of the carries and become the primary receiving options on third down. This leaves two roster spots to be fought for by Adrian Peterson, Kahlil Bell and Garrett Wolfe. Bell showed more than enough in 2009 to earn a spot on the roster, meaning the Bears will be forced to release either AP2 or Hungry Like the Wolfe. If I'm making the decision, it is coming down to whomever is the better contributor on special teams and that could mean bad news for Wolfe.

Dear Milton Bradley...

I am from New Jersey. I am not black. I say these two things so that's it clear I have no stake in your claims that Chicago is a racist city that somehow kept you prisoner in your home. Chicago is my adopted city, my adopted home. In my many trips there, most spent around fans of the respective sports teams, I have never felt hostility towards myself or anyone around me. I have never seen a racial incident at Wrigley or Soldier Field (I have seen them at Yankee Stadium, Shea, Giants Stadium, the Garden...etc.) Playing the race card to excuse your underperformance and shit attitude is the lowest thing any minority can do in a country that still struggles with immense racial tension. What you've done is despicable. It's pathetic. In other words, it's par for the course.

Safety Next

2010-03-07T16:41:33Z

I'm not getting greedy, believe me. I'm still basking in the glow of the greatest day in the history of Chicago Bears free agency. But the club still has two distinct needs that must be addressed by the start of the 2010 season: interior offensive line and safety. Guards can be found in the later rounds of the draft. Impact safeties cannot.

O.J. Atogwe, currently under contract with the Rams, is a restricted free agent and the best option available. Dan Pompei breaks down effectively what the Bears would need to do to acquire him:

...if another team signs him, the Rams would not be due compensation because of the low tender they used. But the Rams can match any offer to Atogwe until June 1. After that they have to pay him approximately $7 million for one season or lose their right to match.

The Bears probably need to offer a creative deal with a poison pill and a big paycheck.

The Bears might not have a paycheck big enough to give after Friday. But he could be the player who makes the difference.

The Bears don't need to stack the back line. They can make due with a combination of Al Afalava, Craig Steltz and Kevin Payne at one of the safety spots. They need a center fielder. Someone to stop the ten yard gain from going the distance. Atogwe would be ideal.

Darren Sharper also makes a ton of sense for an organization operating with a "Win Now" attitude. Sharper's contract talks have been slow-developing with the Saints and with the Giants now out of the race, the price tag may be dropping significantly.

Then there's my wildcard: Donte Whitner. I had planned to write a full column dedicated to both Whitner and ex-Jet Kerry Rhodes - two players with maximum potential and inconsistent performance. My Bills fan friends (and I have a few) claim Whitner's benching was more the product of an absent-minded Dick Jauron than poor safety play. Now Whitner's future in Buffalo seems bleak and his acquisition may only cost the Bears a late-round draft pick. The Bears have spent their money on sure-things. This might be the time to take a shot.

Yesterday...

2010-03-06T14:52:16Z

Somehow they did it.

An organization that embarrassed itself for a majority of the 2009 season (and for every minute since that season ended) managed to inspire me for 2010. An ownership group that has suffered the dreaded "cheap" label for two generations set fire to their own frugality right underneath The Bean in Millenium Park. A general manager that looked bewildered when proclaiming the roster "pretty well set" now appears to have a bit more cunning and cleverness than I've given him credit for.

The signings of Julius Peppers, Chester Taylor and Brandon Manumaleuna may appear to be the last gasps of a desperate leadership group that knows it has one year to prove they're capable of leading a franchise. Sure. I get that. But it also shows that our leadership is willing to abandon their trademark stubbornness and leave everything on the table in 2010. As fans, we've gone from an era of complaining about inactivity to consecutive off-seasons of bold, franchise-altering moves. As a fan and a writer this is far more interesting.

And today I'm writing to encourage optimism. For those of you who are incapable of optimism, how about restrained pessimism? If you haven't watched the press conferences, I recommend you give them a shot. I did.

Julius Peppers believes, even if incorrectly, that he's stepped on the main stage. The North Carolina born and raised phenom seemed in awe of Chicago - its history and heritage. He looked wide-eyed when talking about Soldier Field and playing with "Lach". Any thoughts that Peppers would appear me-first or above-the-team exited my mind immediately. Peppers doesn't have Tommie Harris' ocean-sized chip on his shoulders. And that's refreshing.

Chester Taylor looked angry. Angry that after a 1,200 yard season in Minnesota he was replaced as the starting running back. He also looked like he is going to spend the next six months wrestling the starting running back job away from Matt Forte. He had a lot of Thomas Jones in him.

Brandon Manumaleuna is gigantic. (He's a blocking tight end. What do you want from me?)

Bourbonnais just got exciting again. September just got exciting. Somehow they did it. And I don't have any problem admitting this: I'm really, really glad.

Chicago Bears Put 2010 On Notice

2010-03-05T19:31:33Z

Julius Peppers will sign a six-year deal worth more money that any of us can ever dream of making. He immediately makes both the defensive line and secondary better. He's an elite player. And he's on the Bears.

Chester Taylor will provide the Bears with the best combination of running backs in the division and a brilliant pass-catching threat for Mike Martz' system. More than that, his absence in Minnesota will be noticed dramatically. AP has notorious issues in the blocking department and will now be forced to stay on the field in third-down situations should the Vikes not sign another back.

Brandon Manumaleuna's signing should be treated like an upgrade to the offensive line because that's what it is. In an offense that requires deeper drops, Manu will keep the better defensive ends off the back of #6.

Chester Taylor is a Bear

2010-03-05T19:26:14Z

From PFT:

Chester Taylor will stay in the NFC North.

The former Viking agreed to a four-year, $12.5 million contract with Chicago, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. $7 million is guaranteed in the first year.

The Bears are just getting their checkbook warmed up, with a deal for Julius Peppers on the way shortly.

Taylor's contract, like the one for Kyle Vanden Bosch, includes a lot of front-loaded money in the uncapped year.

Look for Taylor and Matt Forte to split up the workload in Chicago next season. Both excel on passing downs; now the Bears just need to find someone that can block for them.

Somewhere, LaDainian Tomlinson is wondering why he can't get any love.

Peppers Deal "Imminent"

2010-03-05T19:02:25Z

Read the full story on PFT.

Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Peppers is taking a physical in Chicago and a signing is imminent.

The only question left is how much money Peppers will earn. Hayes hears that Peppers will earn $12-14 million-per-year over six years, which is actually less than we imagined.

It's all about the structure. We'd be surprised if Peppers doesn't get the most guaranteed money for a defender in league history.

Free Agency Update

2010-03-05T17:58:20Z

Julius Peppers

Lovie flew to Carolina yesterday and has brought Peppers back with him today. From all reports, Peppers should be a Bear. The Pats and Eagles are also still in play, if only cosmetically. But Adam Schefter just said on Sportscenter, "Barring a complete breakdown, Peppers will sign this afternoon."

Chester Taylor

Reports are surfacing that the Bears are willing to guarantee Chester Taylor $8 million (I know, I'm shocked too.) The reports must be serious because PFT is reporting that the Vikings are now fighting to keep the back in purple.

One thing must be stated. If these two deals happen, we all need to back off the "cheap McCaskey" label. These would be two terrific, expensive signings and our organization is finally showing a desire to do what is necessary to build a champion.

Bears Poised to Sign Peppers

2010-03-05T06:24:56Z

From the "Too Good to Be True" department comes news that Julius Peppers' agent has proclaimed a Bears' deal with his Pepper something of a foregone conclusion.

Jerry Angelo has a history of getting the guy he wants right at the start of free agency and it seems Peppers will be no exception. We may have an announcement as early as the morning.

Free Agency: Day One Thread

2010-03-05T01:58:55Z

Players are free to sign with teams as of 12:01 AM ET. I'll stay out of the way and let you guys discuss the goings on, joining in up here should the Bears make a big splash.

3/4 9:00 pm
The Bears are rumored to be negotiating with Antrel Rolle's agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

3/5 12:15 am
The Bears are reportedly coming out swinging for Julius Peppers. The Seahawks and Eagles have withdrawn from the derby.

3/5 12:25 am
Bears out of Antrel Rolle race.

3/5 12:47 am
The Bears are now the leader in the clubhouse for Julius Peppers. I'm a bit surprised.

Tilting at the Rumor Mill

2010-03-03T18:05:47Z

It's a journalistic trick, you see? Something New York baseball writers have been doing to the Mets for a decade.

The Chicago Tribune comes out with a report that Bears management has met with the agent of Julius Peppers and the city of Chicago begins bursting with the hope that a notoriously frugal franchise is moving into the modern financial era. (Though that phrase feels a bit wrong in the current economic climate.)

The Sun-Times, not to be outdone, allows Neil Hayes to report that an anonymous NFL source is wagering steak dinners that Brandon Marshall will end up in a Bears uniform. The loser now will be later to win. For the times they are a-changin'.

Ignore it. All of it. Might the Bears make a big splash in the coming month? God willing. But if fans start believing every third-rate rumor that channels out of Indianapolis and Adam Schefter and (gulp) Neil Hayes, they'll wind up with Peyton Manning and the Lions first-round draft pick. Remember the following: (1) Julius Peppers is going to cost the McCaskey family between 12-15 million dollars a year. They would be initiating the most lucrative contract in the history of the organization. (2) Brandon Marshall is one of the top three receivers in the sport. He's a pain in the ass but he's remarkable. There are going to be fifteen teams that want his services and all fifteen teams will have better draft-pick compensation to offer.

We all want these players and there's nothing wrong with crossing your fingers and hitting refresh on ProFootballTalk every couple hours. The Bears should be creative and should find ways to get these deals done. But to expect them to make these moves is to be naive and plays directly into the hands of a media waiting to pounce the organization for standing pat.

And keep in mind the worst fact of all. Any move that does not work out in 2010 will become the problem of entirely new leadership in 2011.

Admit Mistake, Bring Back TJ

2010-03-02T15:16:37Z

The New York Jets are cutting Thomas Jones - the finest Bears offensive player since Neal Anderson - and the move is not sitting well in their locker room. Jones is coming off the best year of his terrific career and will certainly earn one more lucrative contract in the 2-3 year range. (He's 32 and organizations take that over 30 running back thing very seriously.)

The Bears have missed him desperately. Jones was the leadership on the offensive side of the ball, vocal in the huddle and passionate on every play. He carried a team with a stable-at-best quarterback to an unlikely Super Bowl appearance. It is no coincidence that Jones' arrival in New Jersey marked a much-needed turnaround in the organization's offensive philosophy and physicality. Overnight they went from a struggling unit to the best running team in the league.

Will the Bears want him back? If they are as committed to the run as they claim to be the answer is a shouted-from-the-rooftops "Yes!" TJ, in tandem with Matt Forte the way he was with Shonn Greene, would give the Bears a toughness and versatility they sorely lacked in 2009. It would also allow Mike Martz to line Forte up out wide, creating yet another mismatch with his excellent pass-catching skills, and still force defenses to respect the run.

But more than that, Jones would provide another voice in the huddle. A leader's voice. Someone to give Jay Cutler the business should he throw a couple untimely interceptions. If there is an intangible knock on #6 that I agree with it's that his laid-back demeanor can often give the fans an impression of lethargy from the entire unit. With TJ back in the huddle, that becomes an impossibility. Jones won't let Cutler shrug his shoulders and lower his head. He won't let players leave anything on the field.

Dueling personalities and the Chicago Bears have worked in the past, most notably on the sideline of a certain mid-80s group. Jerry and Lovie might want to give it another shot.

Martz & Jersey Greg

2010-03-01T17:09:47Z

Brad Biggs reports that the league sources believe the Bears have interest in Brandon Manumaleuna, a tight end who specializes in putting a hand on the ground and keeping defensive ends away from quarterbacks. While any decision that makes the Bears stronger in the trenches is a wise move, the acquisition of Manu would raise the following question:

How will Mike Martz use Greg Olsen?

Some fans (many on this site) have posited trading Olsen for a bag of balls and late-round draft picks. These fans, most commonly referred to as "unintelligent", ignore not only the player's brilliant potential but also his rapport with our star quarterback. Olsen is not a tight end without flaws. His blocking is subpar and he's shown a propensity to drop too many balls. But in a pass-heavy Mike Martz offense, Olsen will finally be able to extricate himself from the ill-fitting confines of the blocking world. Martz will line him up in the slot and out wide, force opposing defenses to put linebackers and safeties in uncomfortable situations and allow him to become more than merely a safety valve. (I also hope Martz will retire the red zone fade route in the corner of the end zone.)

There are many tests for Martz this season. Developing a consistent run game, decreasing turnovers from Mr. Cutler and scoring in the red zone are the big three. But Martz' ability to drain everything possible out of Greg Olsen may be one of the defining effects of his possibly-short tenure. I've long maintained that Olsen is the key to this offense. Here's hoping Martz is the man to use him wisely.

The Intriguing Guys

2010-02-27T04:47:18Z

Some names are beginning to surface. I shall discuss them now.

Julius Peppers
Peppers is the rare 4-3 defensive end that demands double teams on almost every passing down. Peppers might not come into Chicago and register 12 1/2 sacks but I guarantee you'd see the sack totals of every other defensive lineman increase. He's an elite talent and will demand to be paid like one. Will Halas Hall meet his demands?

Darren Sproles
Sproles has the kind of versatility that makes a football coach salivate. He can carry the rock 15-20 times a game. He's probably the finest catcher of the screen pass in the game. He's a game-breaking return man. There's not many teams in the league that won't make a play for him so expecting interest from the Bears - who don't have sincere need in any of those three area - is fool's gold. The money would be better spent on...

Brian Westbrook
Westbrook is a dated version of Sproles but the Bears could show tremendous savvy by locking down his leadership and third-down ability while the rest of the league is lining up for the little San Diego man. Westbrook is not a must sign. But it is the kind of a sign a team makes when they believe they're a few pieces from the promised land. Whether it's true or not, the Bears believe that's the case.

Kevin Walter
Walter is an ideal Mike Martz receiver. Quick feet and reliable hands from the slot, he might be able to provide a solid slant option to a quarterback that looks damn near afraid to throw the pattern. (Based on the interception totals in that regard, he should be.) I really don't think the Bears are looking at the wide receiver position but if they are, they should look this way and ignore the higher priced trade options out there.

Antrel Rolle & Darren Sharper
Why am I listing them together? Because I want them both. And more than any free agent signings possible, the acquisition of these two men could change my expectations for the 2010 season. Just imagine the thought of going into September with two solid, professional players at safety. Just imagine knowing that the heaved ball over the top will have to get through the best center fielder in the game. Neither of these guys is great players but both are significant upgrades over Al Afalava and Kevin Payne in 2010. And as I've said many times recently, 2010 is all Jerry and Lovie may have left.

Use Your Delusion

2010-02-25T21:41:24Z

So the Chicago Bears send their fans an invoice for season tickets and Ted Phillips uses it as an opportunity to once again display the fact that the organization has a president who knows very little about the sport.

"The need to bring in new ideas, energy and passion has never been more apparent, and in that regard, the addition of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator and the promotion of Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator bring a renewed focus on winning from two of the most well respected and intelligent coaches in the NFL."

Look, I think Mike Martz is going to make the Bears offense far more interesting. But Teddy Ballgame and the rest of the folks working at Halas Hall need to refrain from using Rod Marinelli's promotion as a sign of good things to come. The 2010 defensive unit was the worst in my lifetime and the response to that must be upgrades in personnel. If you want fans to share in your moronic optimism, show us Julius Peppers. Not Rod Marinelli.

In the meanwhile, say nothing. Write nothing.

Bears Targeting Defensive Ends

2010-02-24T02:29:17Z

According to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, the Bears are targeting both Julius Peppers and Aaron Kampman. It is very exciting to know that, if these rumors are true, the Chicago Bears' brain trust has finally recognized that the defensive lineup lacks the requisite talent to compete for a championship. According to La Canfora:

Peppers, who will not receive the Carolina Panthers' franchise tag, is the Bears' prime target. However, Peppers will not come cheap -- he was seeking around $40 million guaranteed from the Panthers. The Bears traditionally are a frugal team, but in this limited free-agent market, they are prepared to jump into the sweepstakes for Peppers, who had 81 sacks in eight seasons with the Panthers.

Adds Mike Florio at PFT in a rare moment of true comic splendor:

Then again, if Peppers ends up in the NFC North, Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie will have two games per year in which he'll need to be ready to claim after the fact that he was injured.

Defensive end, safety, right tackle. Those are the big three positions for the club. Signing Peppers or Kampman would knock one off the board in March.