ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter first reported that the Bears and Forte agreed on a 4-year, $31.5 deal Monday morning, ending any chances of a potential holdout for the star running back.

Forte was originally due to make $7.74 million this season after the Bears placed the franchise tag on him. Despite an injury-shortened 2011 season, Forte still racked up 997 yards on the ground in 12 games. The multi-purpose running back should be pushed even harder this year with the team’s acquisition of Michael Bush in the offseason and the added offensive threat of Brandon Marshall.

Many have questioned for months whether or not the Bears should sign Forte to a long-term deal given his position and recent injury as well. The potential threat of a training camp holdout may have contributed to the team’s decision.

What do you think?  Was Forte’s contract justified? Did the Bears overpay simply to keep him happy?

1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
No doubt Luck goes #1 but you never know if someone desperate enough for a QB makes the Colts an offer they can’t refuse.

2. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
I’ve had dreams of Blackmon in the Orange of Blue of the Bears, but he doesn’t make it out of the Top 7 picks.  The Rams grab a top target for Sam Bradford.

3. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Kalil is the top rated offensive tackle in the draft and the Vikings desperately need some help along their O-line.  Just wait til he gets a shot from Julius Peppers.

4. Cleveland Browns
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The Browns seem to be ready to part ways with  Peyton Hillis and couldn’t ask for a better player than Richardson to step right in and take over at running back.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
The Bucs need help in plenty of areas, but in the NFC South, they need to bolster their secondary to compete with the likes of Brees, Ryan and and Cam Newton.

More after the jump. (more…)

Boomer’s overall assessment (8-8)

I really hate that I’m such a glass half empty guy when it comes to the 2011 season.  I think there are plenty of positives with the offense taking a step forward but with new rules hurting the Bears special teams, some contract dissension in the ranks and an aging defense that can’t possibly stay as healthy as they were last year, I just can’t see the Bears back to the playoffs.    The season will be up and down and there will times when the Bears look invincible and times when they look like they won’t win another game. It’s never as good as it seems and it’s never as bad as it seems, but it will be interesting and fun and we’ll be there every step of the way.

DeCon’s overall assessment (12-4)

So, I have the Bears at 12-4…one game better than last year. I have been known to drink the Blue and Orange Kool-Aid, but I believe Cutler will take a big step this year in his second year in Martz’s offense. The O-line has looked much better this preseason and I never thought I would be more worried about the WRs than then O-line at this point. That said, I think Martz will find the right combo of WRs to get the job done (i.e. send Roy Williams back to Dallas) and the Bears will impress this season. That said, I think the Packers could still win the division at 13-3, but at 12-4, the Bears will make the post-season for a run at the SuperBowl. What more can we ask for?

Bart’s overall assessment (10-6)

The Bears have another successful season finishing up a respectable 10-6. The beginning of the year is a rough stretch for them, but the Bears again ignore their overly critical fan base and plow through the season to earn a Wild Card spot. Their walk through the AFC West helps propel them to a Wildcard Weekend match-up against the Division-Winning Rams. Throughout the course of the season, Forte earns himself a big payday and Cutler starts to win over some of his critics with his improved QB play. The team discovers that 1/2 of their dumpster acquistions turn out well, particularly Marion Barber. Rookie Sanzenbacher turns quite a few heads throughout the season as Bears start to bolster their receiving corps of the future. Another fun and exciting season, but doesn’t end with Championship Rings.

Deez’s overall assessment (11-5)

The O-line will actually protect Cutler, giving up only 32 sacks during the season, leading the Bears to an 11-5 record.  Meanwhile, Henry Melton will become the star of the defensive line, while the secondary will struggle at times.  Roy Williams will be a distraction all season, but the other receivers will step up, helping Cutler to his first 30 TD season.  Briggs will be traded, at some point, making the D-line the strength of Marinelli’s defense.

Shea’s overall assessment (9-7)

Steiny’s overall assessment (11-5)

I actually surprised myself with the 11-5 pick. I went through the schedule over and over again and this was the outcome that I felt the most comfortable about. Yes, the division could potentially be tough with the defending Champs and the up-and-coming Detroit Lions, but other than that, most of the tough games are going to be played at Soldier Field. None of the non division road games, outside of the Saints actually scare me in the slightest bit. Denver and Oakland typically are a tough place to play for a rival, but that does not apply to us. A neutrally game in London vs Tampa Bay actually favors the Bears. Enough about the schedule, I think that Jay Cutler will be a stud, top 12 fantasy QB in year two of Mike Martz’s system. I also think that the motivation for Matt Forte to secure the big contract that Jerry Angelo wants to give him, will make the Bears a special offensive team. Defensively, barring injury, the Bears will be top five and very exciting to watch.

On to the game by game picks, with the help of each team’s NFL cheerleaders.  Warning, the Packers cheerleaders appear on Page 3.

Week 1 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Boomer – Rookie Julio Jones only gets one foot down in the back of the endzone and the Bears win a season opener they had no business winning.  Deja vu all over again. Bears 24-20

Decon – Bears are tough when they open the season at home and the D looks primed to give Matty Ice fits all day – Bears 17-10

Bart - Bears lose to the Falcons at home as Matt Ryan and his offense do a Air and Run (by the water) show.  LOSS (0-1)

Deez – The Bear O-line gives the Falcons’ D the Dirty Bird while Matty Ice and Julio Jones are still getting acquainted.  Bears 29-27

Shea - Optimism! This is the year! And…somebody forgot to tell Matt Ryan to be kind to our delicate bubble. ATL

Steiny – Bears 21-17 over Atl, the offense for the Falcons will not gel quick enough, Julio Jones will turn the ball over once and Matt Forte will score a late TD to lead the Bears to victory, and he will be rewarded with a brand new contract Monday morning at Halas Hall.

Bold indicates Bears wins.

(more…)

Last season, all our writers picked the Packers to win the NFC North and only two had the Bears qualifying for the postseason.   A couple actually had the Packers winning the Super Bowl.  Notice that they’re no longer here, even if they were right!  We can’t have any closet Packer backers on this site!

Enough setup, here are the predictions for your long-awaited and much anticipated 2011 NFL Season.

Boomer

NFC Division Winners: Packers, Falcons, Cowboys, Cardinals

NFC Wild Cards: Lions, Eagles

NFC Championship: Eagles vs Packers

AFC Division Winners: Ravens, Texans, Patriots, Chargers

AFC Wild Cards: Steelers, Jets

AFC Championship: Steelers vs Ravens

Super Bowl: Ravens over Eagles

(more…)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 12 vs. Detroit Lions, 12pm

(Bears WINS in BOLD)

Boomer: Lions are the Lions until proven otherwise. Bears 34-27

DeCon: Martz takes the training bra off the offense, but our D keeps it close.  Bears 41-34

Bart: Bears quell fans’ pre-season anxieties at least for a week with an impressive 31-16 win.

Gavin: Don’t let any of these guys fool you: I’m the cynic of the group. That said, the Lions are getting better, but not quite there yet. Bears win an ugly game.

City: First Game awkwardness from both “high powered” offenses. Bears win 17-13.

Sam: Cutler struggles in the Red Zone but Bears hold on to win

(more…)

August 12-15 @ Chargers

The Bears will head to San Diego to face former teammate Nathan Vasher, who just signed a deal to rejoin former DC Bears Ron Rivera and the Chargers.  Jay Cutler should get a warm welcome from his former AFC West rivals and his buddy Phillip Rivers.  It will be weird to be in San Diego and not see LT donning the lightening bolts.

August 19-22 Raiders

Julius Peppers will make his Soldier Field debut against the Silver and Black as the Raiders roll into town.  The big question for me is whether he’ll be chasing down Donovan McNabb Jamarcus Russell or someone else for the enigmatic Raiders.  This is another team that Cutler knows well from his Broncos days, so it should be interesting.

August 26 – 29 Cardinals

The Cardinals roll into Soldier Field for the all-important 3rd preseason game.   Without Kurt Warner or Anquan Boldin, the Arizona offense will definitely take on a new look and all of this while the defense suffered losses of their own.  I think it will be a down year for the Cards and no better place to start it than right here at Soldier Field.  The starters play into the third quarter, so this is a great one to go to Soldier Field to check out.

September 2 – 5 @ Browns

For some unknown reason, the Bears have some longstanding tradition of playing the Browns in the preseason. Why?  Beats me, but they’ll face off with the new-look Browns to close out the practice schedule.  This is a throwaway game that will feature Jerry Angelo’s busts, I mean draft picks, battling for the last few spots on the roster.

There are rumors circulating that the NFL will release the full schedule on April 13th, so stay tuned.

The revolving door in the Chicago Bears secondary continues as the Bears ushered in Tim Jennings and cut loose Nathan Vasher.  When I heard the Bears signed the 5’8″ 185 pound cornerback from Indianapolis, my first thought was, “that shows you what they think of Nathan Vasher.”

So it came as no surprise to me today when word came that the Bears released Vasher.  Although Vasher started his Bears career strong, recording 16 interceptions in his first three seasons, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2005, he faded quickly.

Vash struggled in the last few seasons.  He battled injuries in ’07-’08 and basically forgot how to cover and/or tackle, leading to a nice, cozy seat on the bench in ’09.  The Bears got so desperate, they even tried Vasher at safety.

The worst part is that Vasher got a big, fat contract and failed to do anything since.  Sound familiar?  Maybe this will be the wake up cal he needs to get back his old form.

Here’s my favorite Vasher Chicago Bears moment, his 108-yard missed FG return against the 49ers on a ridiculously windy game at Soldier Field back in 2006.  Take special note of the escort that Brian Urlacher provides.  How many guys does he block on this return?  Awesome play!

(more…)

During the Friday presser, GM Jerry Angelo repeatedly thanked Cliff Stein for his hard work in hammering out the blockbuster deal.  After reading Mike Florio’s Pro Football Talk post I’m starting to understand why Jerry was so appreciative of Stein’s efforts:

Peppers gets $20 million in 2010 (all but a $100,000 workout bonus is guaranteed).  But the $22 million in guaranteed money that he’s due to receive in 2011 and 2012 is guaranteed for injury only.

This means that the Bears can decide after the 2010 season to cut Peppers for skill reasons — and they’ll owe him nothing.

Specifically, Peppers’ 2011 base salary of $900,000 is guaranteed for injury at the time it’s signed; on February 10, 2011, it becomes guaranteed for skill. Also, a $10.5 million roster bonus due in 2011 is guaranteed for injury at signing. On February 10, 2011, it becomes guaranteed for skill.

An $8.9 million base salary in 2012 is guaranteed for injury at signing and then for skill as of February 10, 2012

Finally, $1.8 million of Peppers’ 2013 base salary is guaranteed for injury only.

So, basically, if the Bears decide before February 10, 2011 that Peppers isn’t what they thought he’d be, they can treat it as a one-year, $20 million deal, and walk away.

So if you push all the rhetoric aside, the Bears are really on the hook for $20 million.  If Peppers doesn’t perform, the Bears have themselves a Get out of Jail Free card.

Of course, we’re all hoping that Peppers racks up about 15 sacks and leads the Bears back to the playoffs and there is no consideration of using any out clause.