Chicago Bears Roster Review: Lamarr Houston

Oct 26, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston (99) celebrates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace has quite a rebuilding project on his hands. In the next phase of our Chicago Bears Roster Review, we look at the players who are currently on the Bears roster. We’ll look back at their 2014 season and look ahead to how they might fit into the team’s plans in 2015.

Lamarr Houston, Defensive End, 27

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2014 Review

Houston’s 2014 season was the opposite of productive. The Bears signed him during that offseason to a big contract from the Oakland Raiders. They expected him to have a tremendous impact. He didn’t. In his first 7 games, he was a non factor. By week 8, he was a joke. We all know that he got his first sack of the season on Tom Brady’s human victory cigar and proceeded to celebrate as if the game was not going entirely in the adversary’s favor. His dance was a microcosm of the Bears season;a futile, pathetic, and embarrassing failure that deserves mockery. Here’s the play.

Oct 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Willie Young (97) tackles Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) after a short gain as defensive end Lamarr Houston (99) pursues in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Bears won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Houston had a grand total of 11 tackles in 2014 in a season that was far worse than any he has ever had. His one sack in eight games came was the embarrassment of the decade. Calling 2014 a down year for Lamarr would be an understatement.

2015 Outlook

I really do not want Houston to come back. This guy looked like a bust. However, we are handcuffed to his 5-year contract. Pace might as well keep him this year and see if he can step up to the plate and actually have an impact. He was essentially last year’s last valuable player, on and off the field. If there was an option as to whether or not to resign this guy, letting him walk would be a no-brainer. But since the team is stuck with him, they might as well try and get the most out of him. Maybe he can eventually bring to the Bears what he brought to the Raiders. After watching his performance last year, I highly doubt it.

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