Aug 24, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears helmets during the second half against the New York Giants at Metlife Stadium. The Bears won the game 20-17 Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Before I head to the store to go grocery shopping, I usually check the cupboard and see what I have and what I’m missing to decide what I need to pick up.  Now that we’re less than 48 hours away from the 2013 NFL draft and the best way to try to predict who the Chicago Bears might draft is to look at who they already have.  Let’s look at their roster and see if we can predict what needs they might try to address through the draft.  (more…)

Some of the offseason pieces have started to fall into place and the Chicago Bears roster is starting to take shape.  Of course, there could be a few more free agent pickups, but they’re unlikely to be the big name, impact type of players.  The draft is also less than a month away and Bears fans hope that Phil Emery can add a few vital pieces but for the most part, I think there are enough of the key cogs in place to project the Chicago Bears 2013 starters.  Let’s start with the offense: (more…)

Quarterbacks (3): Todd Collins, Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie.

Running backs (4): Kahlil Bell, Matt Forte, Chester Taylor, Garrett Wolfe.

Wide receivers (5): Devin Aromashodu, Earl Bennett, Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox.

Tight ends (4): Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis, Brandon Manumaleuna, Greg Olsen.

Offensive linemen (8): Johan Asiata, Roberto Garza, Olin Kreutz, Lance Louis, Frank Omiyale, Kevin Shaffer, J’Marcus Webb, Chris Williams.

Defensive linemen (9): Anthony Adams, Mark Anderson, Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, Israel Idonije, Henry Melton, Julius Peppers, Matt Toeaina, Corey Wootton.

Linebackers (6): Lance Briggs, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Brian Iwuh, Nick Roach, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Brian Urlacher.

Cornerbacks (6): Zackary Bowman, Corey Graham, Tim Jennings, D.J. Moore, Josh Moore, Charles Tillman.

Safeties (5): Josh Bullocks, Chris Harris, Danieal Manning, Craig Steltz, Major Wright.

Specialists (3): Robbie Gould, Patrick Mannelly, Brad Maynard.

A few odd choices in keeping four running backs and four tight ends, no true fullback and only five wide receivers for a Mike Martz offense that supposedly doesn’t use the tight end and isn’t known for running the ball.  (more…)

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…)

The following players have been informed they will be released:

G Dan Buenning
C Donovan Raiola
FB Jason Davis
DE Joe Clermond
WR Eric Peterman
CB Rod Hood
WR Brandon Rideau
LB Kevin Malast
LB Darrell McClover
LB Mike Rivera
LB Marcus Freeman

Meanwhile, backup running back Kevin Jones is headed to the IR with a torn ligament in his left ankle.  While it means that Garrett Wolfe and Adrian Peterson are very likely to make the squad, I’ll be interested to see if the Bears scour the waiver wires for another running back.  Plenty more as the cuts roll in.

Dusty Dvoracek in action

When I rolled out of bed this morning, Dusty Dvoracek’s season was over according to Brad Biggs.

Based on his past, it cannot come as a surprise to the Bears that Dusty Dvoracek will miss the 2009 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee Saturday night against the New York Giants.

A few hours later, that didn’t seem to be the case according to the Bears official website.

Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek sustained a sprained MCL in his right knee in Saturday night’s preseason win over the Giants and will undergo additional tests to determine if the injury is more serious.

The Bears would not confirm a newspaper report Monday indicating that Dvoracek is out for the season with a torn ACL because the results of initial tests were inconclusive.

“When I say it’s an MCL, that’s what it is,” said coach Lovie Smith. “That’s all we know right now.”

Dvoracek suffered the injury while sacking Andre Woodson late in the third quarter. The weight of both players landed on Dvoracek’s right leg as he pulled the 6-4, 230-pound quarterback down to the ground.

Who’s working miracles on Dusty’s knee?  I don’t know, but there’s a guy with the intials JC in the Bears locker room these days.   I had Dusty pegged as a having a tough time to make the final roster, but this isn’t the way to burst his roster bubble.

BEAR DOWN!!!

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First, let’s look at the Locks to make the 53-man roster.  These are your stars, starters and specialists.  These guy are on the team, no doubt in my mind.  (more…)