The Bears added veteran QB Todd Collins to back up Jay Cutler.

After Saturday night’s disappointing loss to the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, the Bears saw enough to go out and sign veteran quarterback Todd Collins to be Cutler’s backup.

Not sure if the 5 first-half sacks of Jay Cutler or the second-half performance of Dan LeFevour that served as the tipping point to have the Bears commit some guaranteed money, but Collins should be thankful that he waited to sign.  Maybe if he waited until after the Cardinals game this Saturday, he could get even more up-front cash?

Collins is set to report to Halas Hall for at least six figures and if he cracks the opening day roster, he could be getting something in the $1 million range.  It’s a good thing considering what life insurance costs these days.  Collins has some experience running the Martz offense, but you have to question his intelligence.  Did he watch the game on Saturday?  The dude is gonna get himself killed!

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Caleb Hanie's shoulder injury has Bears on prowl for vet QB.

With Caleb Hanie injuring his shoulder in the preseason opener against the Chargers on Saturday night, the Bears are suddenly very shorthanded at the quarterback position.

Hanie saw extensive time Saturday after starter Jay Cutler was pulled after a successful 8 snap series that led to a field goal and staked the Bears to a short-lived 3-0 lead.  Hanie left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and was seen in a sling around the campus of Olivet Nazarene on Monday.  He is confident that the injury is not too serious:

“I’ve never missed any games, so if I have to miss a game this is new territory,” Hanie said. “I’m not worried about losing my (No. 2) job. That’s not even a worry for me. What I have is not a season-ending injury, not half-season, not even beginning of the season. I am definitely not worried about losing my position.

“The MRI was just precautionary. I don’t show any signs of structural damage. I expect (the MRI) to come back positively negative.”

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So, how do the Bears rate???  In a word…SHITTY!!!  I guess the Bears will have some work to do to improve their ratings when updated rosters and ratings are released during the season.  Here are some highlights after the jump:

Jay Cutler contols the huddle in this screenshot from Madden '11.

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Don't expect Mike Teel to do more than what you see here, hand off in practice. (Photo courtest of AP via Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Don’t get too excited Bears fans.  There is no veteran QB help coming to Halas Hall.  Instead, they signed Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots castoff Mike Teel.  Here’s the scoop from the best in the business, the Trib’s own Brad Biggs:

The Bears have agreed to terms with free agent Mike Teel on a contract, and he is expected to sign his contract on Wednesday, a league source confirmed. The Bergen Record first reported the news.

They become his third team in two months as Teel was released by the Seattle Seahawks on May 21 and then claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots. They cut the Rutgers product three weeks ago.

The move has the fingerprints of new personnel director Tim Ruskell on it. Ruskell was the general manager in Seattle when the Seahawks drafted Teel in the sixth round in 2009. Teel spent last season on the Seahawks’ roster as the third quarterback but did not play. In the preseason, he completed 20-of-41 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns. As a senior at Rutgers in 2008, Teel passed for 3,418 yards with 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The 6-3, 230-pounder joins a crowded group behind starting QB Jay Cutler. Caleb Hanie served as the backup last season and is entering his third year. The Bears drafted Central Michigan record setter Dan LeFevour in the sixth round.

So when you go to bed tonight, say a prayer for Jay Cutler because if he goes down, there’s nothing proven backing him up.

BEAR DOWN!!!

It started late last week when they inked 7th round pick J’Marcus Webb to a 4-year deal worth about $1.85 million with a modest $60k bonus. Webb will be Mike Tice’s pet project and at 6-8 328 lbs this mammoth could be a project for right tackle.

Next up, 5th round pick Josh Moore signed on the dotted line to try to compete in the secondary.   The K-State corner should figure into the mix on special teams and might add some depth to the cornerback position.

The next money move was long overdue as Danieal Manning finally signed his one year tender to collect a $1.76 million dollar payday in 2010.  Have you ever seen someone so slow to cash a million dollar lottery ticket?  Here’s the puzzling thing about Manning from Vaughn McClure’s post on Chicago Breaking Sports:

Manning is working with the first team at strong safety while Chris Harris is working with the first team at free. Harris, who was traded back to the Bears from Carolina, prefers to play strong safety. Manning has played a lot of free safety, but the Bears might turn to rookie Major Wright at the position if Wright picks up the defense quickly.

Why exactly are Manning and Harris working out at the wrong positions?  Put Harris at strong safety, Major Wright at the free safety spot and work Manning in as the nickel back.  I think that makes the most sense.  Giving guys reps in the wrong spots doesn’t do any good.  But I digress.

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