Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears GM Phil Emery addressed the assembled media to conduct his annual pre-draft press conference. He touched on many of the items we’re dying to know more about as the Bears prepare for next week’s draft. Let’s head out to the Twitterverse for some of the highlights from the best beat writers:
On players they like at #20:
Emery: There are 5-6 players the Bears feel comfortable with at 20
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) April 16, 2013
On the possibility of a first round trade:
Emery: “We’ve already had a couple teams that have approached us” about trading back.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 16, 2013
and…
Emery doesn’t rule out possibility of trading out of 1st round and down into 2nd round. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 16, 2013
and…
And very unlikely trade down happens for #Bears until they are on the clock. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 16, 2013
On how the Brian Urlacher situation played out, Phil Emery kept meatball hopes alive:
Emery on Urlacher, says he won’t say never but focus is on moving forward. — David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) April 16, 2013
and he would handle it the same way again…
#Bears GM asked if regret how #Urlacher handled?”Abolsultely not” … explaining it was handled with clarity — peggy kusinski (@peggykusinski) April 16, 2013
It makes it seem like he’s trying to pin the split on Urlacher:
Emery on 54: “In the end we just could not agree on what that amount (of his value) was. It’s not more than that.” — David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) April 16, 2013
On the strengths of the draft
Emery lists CB, S, DL and OL as strongest areas of draft. Calls TE and WR above average. RB and QB average. #Bears — Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) April 16, 2013
On the types of players the Bears are looking for
Emery says he’s looking for high-end dynamic athletes that are versatile, like Shea McClellin.
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) April 16, 2013
When it comes to the draft, keep in mind that this is the season of misdirection and misinformation. Emery could be putting info out there just to get other teams looking in the wrong direction.
With all that Phil Emery told us about trading down and drawing interest from other teams, it almost makes me think the Bears are angling to trade up. Try to cut through the smokescreen and tell me what you took from Emery’s comments.
