Oct 10, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears offensive tackle J

As the news broke about J’Marcus Webb’s run-in with the law, I spent some reflection time thinking about what this really means for the Bears…from the perspective of a GM, if I may.

Make no mistake about it, football is in the category of an “entertainment business”. It is big money and a major influence in our day-to-day lives; especially in the fall. A GM’s first priority is to field a competitive team that will attract followers, create a “buzz” (that is non-narcotic in nature). For those players that prefer the buzz generated from an illicit substance; well that would elicit a response from the fans, the league and yes, the law.  But really, how important is it in the overall scheme of things football related?  (more…)

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There is a feeling in the locker room that the Bears could consider trading one of their linebackers to recoup a draft pick. What a veteran linebacker would bring in return isn’t clear right now. The Bears have seven veteran linebackers and that could be one or two too many after Pisa Tinoisamoa re-signed to compete for the starting job on the strong side.

Biggs goes on to refresh everyone’s memory why that might not be the best idea, especially with an aging group that has been mired with injuries:

Yes, the Bears started last season with six veteran linebackers and it proved to be a good thing when Brian Urlacher and Tinoisamoa combined to miss a total of 29 games.

So who is likely to go?  How about Jamar Williams, who despite strong game when he filled in for Lance Briggs last season, is listed as the 6th linebacker on the Bears’ depth chart.   He’s a nice player to have, but not at the price tag attached to his tender:

He signed his tender worth $1.176 million earlier this week and one source said that move could have been made in anticipation of a trade. That’s a lot of money for a team to pay its sixth linebacker. Williams, a fourth-round pick in 2006, has three career starts and he excelled when given a chance last season. He’s also been one of the core players on special teams. But at some point the Bears need to get younger at linebacker, and Williams is set to make virtually double what he was paid last season.

I only hope that Jerry Angelo has enough time between now and when he pulls the trigger on a potential move to read this post and realize it’s a dumb idea.  Urlacher is getting old and coming off an injury, Pisa has yet to prove that he can stay healthy, Hillenmeyer is serviceable and getting older.  What does that leave you with?  Lance Briggs and Nick Roach.  Have fun with that.

Besides, what could you get for Williams?  A 6th or 7th round pick?  Unless you’re putting a package together to get one of the top remaining safeties, I say stand pat and keep a position of strength strong.

BEAR DOWN!!!

The Bears have traded up only once in their last eight drafts. Jerry Angelo has traded picks for picks on 10 occasions and moved up only one time.

A look at the list of Angelo trades involving draft picks.

Key: 2-49 indicates 2nd round, 49th overall pick

2009 with Seattle: 2-49 for 3-68 (DL Jarron Gilbert), 4-105 (DL Henry Melton)

2008 Miami: 4-110 for 4-115 (x), 7-208 (DE Ervin Baldwin)

2008 Tampa Bay: 4-115, 6-175 for 4-120 (S Craig Steltz), 5-158 (TE Kellen Davis)

2007 San Diego: 2-37 for 2-62 (DE Dan Bazuin), 3-93 (RB Garrett Wolfe), 5-167 (S Kevin Payne), 2008 3-90 (DT Marcus Harrison)

2006 Buffalo: 1-26 for 2-42 (S Danieal Manning), 3-73 (DT Dusty Dvoracek)

2004 San Fran: 4-104 for 4-112 (LB Leon Joe), 5-147 (DE Claud Harriott)

2003 N.Y. Jets: 1-4 for 1-13 (x), 1-22 (QB Rex Grossman), 4-116 (DT Ian Scott)

2003 New England: 1-13 for 1-14 (DE Michael Haynes), 6-193 (traded)

2003 Jacksonville*: 6-176, 6-193, 7-218 for 5-143 (WR Justin Gage)

2002 Dallas: 2-63, 4-129 for 3-72 (CB Roosevelt Williams), 4-104 (DE Alex Brown), 5-140 (S Bobby Gray)

(x)-traded; *-only trade to move up

Notice they only moved up once in all those deals?  There are a lot of familiar names in that list, but not many impact players.  Maybe with his back against the wall, Jerry will pull the trigger on a big move.

Will it be thumbs up for the Jerry Angelo and the Bears after the draft? (Photo: Chicago Sun Times)

Jerry Angelo offered some frank comments on the Bears‘ draft plans.  The goal for the draft is quite simple:

“We’d like to come out of this draft with the third, fourth and fifth rounds with players that make it to Sunday, meaning they dress [on the 45-man active game-day roster]. Naturally when you don’t have the first two picks, it’s very difficult to put a stamp on a player and say that we feel very strongly that he’s going to come in and potentially start. Very difficult to do. We found it very difficult to do with a first-rounder, let alone a third-rounder.”

So Jerry wants to get guys that will dress on Sundays.  Like his picks over the last several years?  Most of the picks can barely avoid getting redshirted by one of those mysterious preseason injuries.  Either that or we get force-fed Garrett Wolfe, who never should have been drafted in the first place.

Jerry admitted that the Bears need help at safety:

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LM: Do you see the Bears upgrading the safety position in free agency or the draft, or would you be comfortable starting the season with players currently on the roster?

JA: Right now we would be comfortable starting with the present cast of players at the position. Certainly it’s a much talked about position. I’m talking about the safeties and the corners, and we’re going to look hard at that. We did sign [cornerback] Tim Jennings, a young player with talent that has familiarity with the scheme. We looked at a veteran safety, but we felt that we wanted to pass on that. We just didn’t feel the timing was right. So we’ll just wait and see. Again, you’re not going to field a Pro Bowler at every position, and you don’t have to. The players that we presently have we feel good about. But we always want to create competition and better depth.

Don’t throw Tim Jennings at the fans and say that you’re addressing anything other than special teams.  That doesn’t do anything for me.  With regard to the veteran safety position,  I am guessing that JA was referring to the Bears’ flirtation with Antrell Rolle at the start of Free Agency.  That would have been something.  Instead, the Bears chose to make their splash with Julius Peppers and a couple of offensive players, leaving a gaping hole in the secondary.  (more…)

Sims became expendable for the Seahawks as they continue to clean house.   He signed his 4th round tender last week in an effort to speed up his trade and the Lions stepped up with the second selection of the 5th round.

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Antrel Rolle could make plays in the Bears secondary

The Arizona Cardinals are expected to release free safety Antrel Rolle, who is owed a $4 million roster bonus next week and a whopping $12 mildo next season.  With Adrian Wilson already one of the highest paid safeties in the league, Rolle could be the odd man out as the Cards don’t want to spend too much on one position group.

The National Football Posts’s Matt Bowen thinks Rolle would be a great fit for the Bears.  I couldn’t agree more.  The defense has been on the decline since the Super Bowl and you could point to many reasons why, but I think it’s the lack of leadership and stability in the secondary.  The Bears have been playing musical safeties since Mike Brown started his annual trips to the Injured Reserve.

Check out Bowen’s take on the state of the safety position in Chicago and later how he thinks Rolle might fit in:

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