Do You Trust Phil Emery?
March 16, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery (center) poses for a photo after a press conference introducing wide receiver Brandon Marshall (left) and quarterback Jason Campbell at Halas Hall . Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
There have been bad moves, good moves and downright questionable moves. No one is debating the Brandon Marshall trade for a pair of third round picks. That move make Phil look like a genius. But for every Brandon Marshall acquisition, there’s Shea McClellin or Evan Rodriguez or Brandon Hardin. There was signing Kellen Davis to a new contract. I went through the Bears’ transactions since Phil Emery took over and summed up the major moves in the table below:
| 3/13/2012 | Acquire WR Brandon Marshall in a trade with the Miami Dolphins for two undisclosed draft picks |
| 3/13/2012 | Agree to terms with LB Blake Costanzo on a two-year contract |
| 3/13/2012 | Agree to terms with QB Jason Campbell on a one-year contract |
| 3/14/2012 | Agree to terms with TE Kellen Davis on a two-year contract |
| 3/14/2012 | Agree to terms with QB Josh McCown on a one-year contract |
| 3/14/2012 | Agree to terms with KR/WR Eric Weems on a three-year contract |
| 3/15/2012 | Agree to terms with DL Israel Idonije on a one-year contract |
| 3/16/2012 | Agree to terms with S Craig Steltz on a two-year contract |
| 3/22/2012 | Agree to terms with RB Michael Bush on a four-year contract |
| 3/28/2012 | Agree to terms with WR Devin Thomas on a one-year contract |
| 4/5/2012 | Agree to terms with CB Jonathan Wilhite on a one-year contract |
| 4/5/2012 | Agree to terms with CB Kelvin Hayden on a one-year contract |
| 4/11/2012 | Agree to terms with LB Lance Briggs on a one-year contract extension |
| 4/19/2012 | Agree to terms with LB Geno Hayes on a one-year contract |
| 4/23/2012 | Sign G Chilo Rachal to a one-year contract |
| 4/25/2012 | Sign RB Kahlil Bell to a one-year tender |
| 4/26/2012 | Draft DE Shea McClellin |
| 4/27/2012 | Draft WR Alshon Jeffery and S Brandon Hardin |
| 4/28/2012 | Draft TE Evan Rodriguez, CB Isaiah Frey and CB Greg McCoy |
| 7/16/2012 | Sign RB Matt Forte to a four-year contract |
| 8/31/2012 | Acquire CB Sherrick McManis from the Houston Texans in exchange for FB Tyler Clutts |
| 9/10/2012 | Sign T Jonathan Scott |
| 10/16/2012 | Sign CB Zack Bowman to a one-year contract |
| 3/12/2013 | DT Henry Melton signs franchise tender |
| 3/12/2013 | Agree to terms with T Jermon Bushrod on a five-year contract |
| 3/12/2013 | Agree to terms with TE Martellus Bennett on a four-year contract |
| 3/13/2013 | Terminate the contract of vested veteran TE Matt Spaeth |
| 3/13/2013 | Terminate the contract of vested veteran TE Kellen Davis |
| 3/14/2013 | Sign DT Nate Collins to a one-year contract |
| 3/15/2013 | Sign CB Zack Bowman to a one-year contract |
| 3/20/2013 | Sign DE Turk McBride to a one-year contract |
| 3/21/2013 | Agree to terms with TE Steve Maneri on a two-year contract |
| 3/22/2013 | Agree to terms with LB D.J. Williams on a one-year contract |
| 3/23/2013 | Agree to terms with S Tom Zbikowski on a one-year contract |
| 3/24/2013 | Agree to terms with LB James Anderson on a one-year contract |
| 3/25/2013 | Agree to terms with T Jonathan Scott on a one-year contract |
| 3/26/2013 | Agree to terms with CB Kelvin Hayden on a one-year contract |
| 3/29/2013 | Agree to terms with QB Josh McCwon on a one-year contract |
| 3/29/2013 | Agree to terms with G Matt Slauson on a one-year contract |
| 4/16/2013 | Sign G/T Eben Britton to a one-year contract |
| 4/25/2013 | Draft G Kyle Long |
| 4/26/2013 | Draft LB Jon Bostic |
| 4/27/2013 | Draft LB Khaseem Greene, T Jordan Mills, DE Cornelius Washington and WR Marquess Wilson |
| 6/10/2013 | Sign WR Devin Aromashodu, WR Jarrell Jackson and FB Tony Fiammetta |
| 6/11/2013 | Agree to terms with DT Sedrick Ellis on a one-year contract |
| 9/1/2013 | Claim DE David Bass off waivers |
| 9/9/2013 | Sign T Jonathan Scott to a one-year contract |
| 11/6/2013 | Sign DT Jeremiah Ratliff |
| 12/27/2013 | Sign FB Tony Fiammetta to a two-year contract extension |
| 12/27/2013 | Sign K Robbie Gould to a four-year contract extension |
| 1/2/2014 | Sign QB Jay Cutler to a seven-year contract |
| 1/2/2014 | Sign CB Tim Jennings to a four-year contract |
| 1/2/2014 | Sign G Matt Slauson to a four-year contract |
There were certainly some good moves and some questionable decisions in that list. Emery doesn’t mind taking some risk and seems to look at the numbers and measurables more than the production.
Now the Bears appear to have their offense in place. Head coach? Check. Quarterback? For better or worse – check. Weapons at wide receiver, tight end and running back? Quadruple check.
The Bears now face a similar transformation on the defensive side of the ball. Emery appears to have hit pretty well with the offensive guys, but a lot of his defensive choices have been misses, especially in the draft. Do you trust him to rebuild the Bears defense? Has he shown you enough to count on him to get the job done? Vote in our poll and post your comments below.