Former 3rd round pick Juaquin Iglesias will have to try to catch on elsewhere.

The Bears appear ready to give up on another pair of 2009 draft picks.  Numerous reports indicate the 2nd year wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias and defensive end Jarron Gilbert will be waived.  Here’s a tweet from Sean Jensen:

Hearing from a league source that ’09 third-round pick Juaquin Iglesias has been informed that the #Bears are going to release him.

Meanwhile, Vaughn McClure at the Tribune had this to say:

Receiver Juaquin Iglesias and defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, both third-round picks in the ’08 draft, appear to be on the way out. Gilbert told the Tribune he had not heard a word from the Bears Friday. Efforts to reach Iglesias were unsuccessful, but his lack of contributions on special teams does not help his situation as the sixth receiver.

We all know that the 2009 draft was supposed to be all about Jay Cutler, when the Bears traded a pair of first round picks and a third rounder for the former Broncos quarterback, but this looks like another lost draft otherwise. (more…)

Al Afalava

How quickly things change.  The second year safety fell out of favor after playing in 13 games for the Bears last season and now he’s struggling to make the roster.  The bad news? It’s not because they’re so much deeper at safety.

Second Time Around

Even though it’s Week 14, this marks the first opportunity that the Bears will have to play an opponent for the second time this season.   We know that the coaching staff sucks at making adjustments, but I’m really interested to see how Jay Cutler adjusts to a repeat opponent.  Can he find things on film that he can exploit?  Can he correct for past errors?  Heck, can he just stop throwing interceptions?

Measuring Stick

Three of the final four games are against the NFC North and it’s time to see how we really stack up.  We already have an idea about how we stack up to the Packers and Vikings, but the one that really scares me is Week 17 in Detroit.  It could be a painful wake-up call if we lose to the Lions.  At the start of the season, this one seemed like a slam dunk, but I think we’d all agree that this isn’t the case.   (more…)

The Score’s Laurence Holmes is impressed with how Jay Cutler has taken control of the Bears offense.   Leadership on offense from the quarterback position.  What an innovative concept!

Vaughn McClure talked to one of the early standouts in camp, Zack Bowman, who went down with a hammy on Wednesday.   He’s anxious to get back on the field. These injuries in the secondary are making me a little nervous.

The Eastern Seaboard Programming Network rolled in to Bears camp on Thursday.  I think Mort’s bus just ran out of gas while driving around Vikings camp looking for Brett Favre.  Here’s a clip of Uncle Morty chatting it up with Brian Urlacher.

For you hard-core X’s and O’s guys, Windy City Gridiron sink their teeth into the details behind Tommie Harris’ 3-technique defensive tackle position.  I can hear the shoulder pads poppin’! Me likey!

My guy Matt, of Pippen Ain’t Easy and Zoner Sports is tackling another blog; this one dedicated strictly to Jay Cutler.  It’s called Jay Cutler Superstar, so if you need a Jay fix any time, day or night, it’s right there for ya.  I hear he’s got one of those tracking chips like the ones Jack Bauer uses on 24 to keep tabs on Jay at all times.  Check it out!

Hat tip to Amanda Kaschube for this gem of a Chicago Tribune reporter trying to replicate Jarron Gilbert’s pool jumping feat.  Pretty hilarious stuff, especially if you like annoying banjo music.

That should give you a little flavor for what’s going on out there.  Give me your feedback on Bear Essentials.  Thumbs up?  Thumbs down?  More X’s and O’s?  More banjos?  Naked women?

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Urlacher addressed the media and brushed off the latest Cutler controversy.

“[Cutler] called me and I said, ‘What’s up pussy, what are you doing?’ ” a smiling Urlacher said Thursday after reporting to Olivet Nazarene University for training camp. “It’s so dumb to me that this even got to this point.”

That Brian’s got a way with words.  Meanwhile, Cutler tried his best to diffuse the situation from his end.

“Brian, he’s the first one I heard it from,” Cutler explained. “I didn’t put any stock in it, and Brian didn’t. He was just sorry it came out like that.”

So let’s put an end to all the pussy talk.  The next time we hear that term, it should be directed at Bobby Wade when the Vikings come to town!

Other camp notes:

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First came a tweet from agent  Drew Rosenhaus about the contract extension for versatile defensive lineman Israel Idonije.  Izzy has been a valuable, jack-of-all-trades lineman who has been a key contributor for the Bears on Special Teams  and has served as a valuable backup along the defensive line in recent years.  The deal he inked keeps him in Chicago through 2011 with $3 million in guaranteed money on a contract that could total $7 million.

“My first priority was staying in Chicago,” Idonije said Friday afternoon. “This will be my seventh season as a Chicago Bears and my No. 1 priority was to stay here and conduct business as usual, get healthy and be ready. That was my focus from top to bottom.”

I like his attitude and tone of his quote.  He’s a good guy and a solid contributor whenever and wherever the Bears need someone to step up.  Good for you Izzy!

Next came a barrage of draft pick signings, with seven of the Bears nine selections coming to terms on 4-year rookie deals. D.J. Moore, Johnny Knox, Marcus Freeman, Al Afalava, Lance Louis and Derek Kinder and Henry Melton all agreed to terms.  Defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert and wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias still need to come to terms, but considering where they were drafted, it shouldn’t be long until they fall in line.  I think the key will be to get Iglesias inked and running routes to get his timing down with QB Jay Cutler.

Finally, the biggest and boldest move for last.  The Bears signed strong side linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.  He was cut by the St. Louis Rams as a offseason move because presumably they didn’t feel he fit with their new defensive scheme.  He led the Rams in tackles in 4 of the last 6 seasons, including 135 last season.  The move heats up the competition at linebacker, where he appears to be the early front-runner for the starting spot.  The pressure is certainly on Hunter Hillenmayer, who was already set to be in an uphill battle with Nick Roach for the Sam linebacker spot.  Speed and the ability to contribute on special teams will be a key to make the opening day roster.

Tinoisamoa played for Lovie Smith in his rookie year, so he should only need a crash course to get back in the swing of things with Lovie’s defense.  Hopefully, this move works out better than the last Lovie Smith castoff brought back to Chicago.  Adam Archuletta, anyone?

With their first selection, pick # 68 overall the Bears selected Jarron Gilbert, DE out of San Jose. The 6′ 5″, 280 pounder will add some versatility to the D-line as it is believed he could play either tackle or end.  This from Scout.com:

Gilbert is a versatile lineman who has outstanding athleticism. He has a great frame and could add more mass. He can play inside or outside and flashes the ability to be a tremendous threat behind the line of scrimmage. He has long arms and delivers a quick punch to gain an advantage. He holds up well against double teams and disengages quick enough to track down a ball carrier. He’s viewed as a tweener.

And in case the Bears ever need someone to jump out of a pool, here’s this video that’s been making the rounds on YouTube and featured on ESPN when it was announced that the Bears made their first selection of the 2009 NFL draft.

Gilbert said of his pool jumping: (more…)