Official Chicago Bears Forum Thread

[FirstTimer]

Angelo isn't cheap. Just a myth.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported this week that no NFL team spent more money on contract extensions last year than the Bears, who committed more than $185 million in contracts, including more than $50 million guaranteed. Is that being cheap? The Bears have re-signed Pro Bowlers Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Devin Hester and Robbie Gould as well as Charles Tillman, Nate Vasher and Desmond Clark to new deals.

[Saluki]

I understand that Angelo likes to build through the draft, but at some point he has to look back and go hmmm, this isn't working out too well. Since Angelo took over the bears in 2001 they have gone 69-59, and had only THREE playoff appernces, granted they did appear in a SB but 3 playoff apperances in 9 years is pretty bad, and most GM's would have been fired by now, way better GM's than him have been fired for way less, lucky Jerry the McCaskey's like him.

[FirstTimer]

I understand that Angelo likes to build through the draft, but at some point he has to look back and go hmmm, this isn't working out too well. Since Angelo took over the bears in 2001 they have gone 69-59, and had only THREE playoff appernces, granted they did appear in a SB but 3 playoff apperances in 9 years is pretty bad, and most GM's would have been fired by now, way better GM's than him have been fired for way less, lucky Jerry the McCaskey's like him.

To be fair Angelo didn't have full GM powers until the 2004 season Jauron had a stipulation in his contract concerning the control of player decisions. So that has to be kept in mind when deal with Angelo. So since Angelo has had full GM powers the Bears are 45-35 with two playoof appearances and a Super Bowl birth.

Also, Angelo has had more "hits' than misses in free agency. Guys like Thomas Jones, John Tait, Ruben Brown, John St. Claire, Roberto Garza all come to mind. Sure he has had some misses but every GM does. The biggest issue Angelo and the Bears have had under Smith is the ability to internally scout players accurately and the ability to adapt to changes during the season and play who needs to be played.

[Saluki]

Josh Bullocks? Didn't he lose his job to Kevin Kaesviharn last season......

[FirstTimer]

Mini camp starts this week.

A few notes from Chicago Bears.com

-Made it before the draft this year so the new coaches could work with players and so the front office could look at the roster once again before the draft

-Zach Bowman moving from CB to FS. Interesting move especially considering his injury history but it would give us a guy with some good cover skills at the safety position. Something that has been severely lacking for years.

-Earl Bennett is going to be given a chance to win a starting job opposite Devin Hester(who shouldn't be starting anyways...)

-Frank Omiyale will be working at left guard......Just make him the right tackle opposite Williams for Christ sakes.

-The Bears circle jerk over Caleb Hanie continues. The team really likes this guy and thinks they found a diamond in the rough last year by signing him. Smith is "excited" to see him. They expect him to compete for the #2 job.

[FirstTimer]

I'm so sick of hearing about this guy. A "diamond in the rough" lol. I don't even like his name.

According to guys like Hub Arkush a big reason the Bears didn't target a vet QB this offseason is because the coaches and front office are really high on Caleb Hanie. They think they pulled a fast one on the rest of the NFL by signing the guy.

No matter what the deal with the QB's is though none of them on the roster will ever do much with the garbage we have at WR.

[Saluki]

According to guys like Hub Arkush a big reason the Bears didn't target a vet QB this offseason is because the coaches and front office are really high on Caleb Hanie. They think they pulled a fast one on the rest of the NFL by signing the guy.

No matter what the deal with the QB's is though none of them on the roster will ever do much with the garbage we have at WR.

Even if they think Haine is the 2nd coming of jesus it's just not smart to not have a vet QB somewhere on your bench, especially with someone like leftwhich who we would be able to sign for cheap because no one wants him. It's baffling that they wouldn't want an experienced backup on their roster.

[FirstTimer]

Even if they think Haine is the 2nd coming of jesus it's just not smart to not have a vet QB somewhere on your bench, especially with someone like leftwhich who we would be able to sign for cheap because no one wants him. It's baffling that they wouldn't want an experienced backup on their roster.

Leftwich doesn't really fit the style of QB Turner likes. Leftwiches release is slow as hell(eve slower than Orton's) so that'd be an issue. Plus I have this feeling that the Bears don't want to bring in a vet just because they would rather just have Orton play the season with no pressure on him from behind him on the depth chart. Just the inkling I have.

What pisses me off the most is you haven't heard ANYTHING about the Bears being interested in Cutler. Not even little rumors. What the hell?

[Saluki]

Leftwich doesn't really fit the style of QB Turner likes. Leftwiches release is slow as hell(eve slower than Orton's) so that'd be an issue. Plus I have this feeling that the Bears don't want to bring in a vet just because they would rather just have Orton play the season with no pressure on him from behind him on the depth chart. Just the inkling I have.

What pisses me off the most is you haven't heard ANYTHING about the Bears being interested in Cutler. Not even little rumors. What the hell?

I just used Byron as an example, i think they want Orton to start, and he should, but if he gets hurt, i don't want hanie being our only option.

[FirstTimer]

I just used Byron as an example, i think they want Orton to start, and he should, but if he gets hurt, i don't want hanie being our only option.

He isn't.

How dare you forget Brett Basanez!

[FirstTimer]

No shit Saluki. If Orton gets hurt... then what? It's like they feel the need to mention how impressed they are with Hanie just so the whole city of Chicago doesn't have an anuerysm when Orton inevitibly goes down this season.

After Simms signed with Denver I really didn't expect the Bears to try and sign anyone. If the Bears were going to bring in anyone to threaten Orton's job it was going to be a young guy IMO who the Bears felt could be a long term answer at the position and not just an old stop gap.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Given the Bears history of QBs I dont feel very good about them calling anyone a "diamond in the rough"..

[FirstTimer]

John St Claire signed with the Browns. maybe we can move Omiyele back outside to right tackle now and slot Beekman back in as the staring left guard.

[FirstTimer]

We're gonna need someone new - someone solid. Through the draft or free agency.

O Rly?

Damn I'm good.

From Chicagobears.com Today:

One day after practicing at left guard with the second-team offense, Frank Omiyale was given a promotion and a new position Wednesday at Bears minicamp.

The free-agent acquisition was installed at right tackle with the No. 1 offense, less than 24 hours after veteran free-agent tackle John St. Clair had bolted the Bears for the Cleveland Browns.

“We’re trying to lock guys in,” said coach Lovie Smith. “He’ll play right tackle now. It’s hard enough learning a new system playing one position, so we’ll lock him in there for a while and go.”

Omiyale, who agreed to a four-year contract with the Bears a few hours into free agency Feb. 27, started one game last season for the Carolina Panthers at left tackle. He has also played right tackle in the preseason and is willing to line up at guard if needed.

“Tackle is more what I’m used to; what I’ve played in the past,” Omiyale said. “But wherever they want me to be, that’s the position I’ll learn and take care of it from there.”
Given Omiyale’s experience at tackle, making the move was an easy decision for Smith after the Bears lost St. Clair, who started all 16 games at left tackle last season.

“We knew we had flexibility with Frank,” Smith said. “He’s an athletic guy. He’s eager to learn, and of course [offensive line coach] Harry [Hiestand] will do a great job with him.”
Moving on: Smith said that he wasn’t surprised by St. Clair’s departure.

“Free agency is a part of it,” said the Bears coach. “Each year some of your players leave and most of the time it opens up an opportunity for someone else to step in, and that’s what we’re looking to now.”

“We’re disappointed that John left,” added offensive coordinator Ron Turner. “He was a good football player and we were all looking forward to having him back. But we’ve just got to move forward and get guys settled into their positions.”

With only three tackles on the roster—Omiyale, 2008 first-round pick Chris Williams and first-year pro Cody Balogh—the Bears know that they must address the position.

“We’re always looking to improve our ballclub,” Smith said, “whether it’s free agency right now, and of course we have the draft coming around too. We need to get the numbers up with the offensive line right now. As you can see, we don’t have a lot of guys up.”

Practice report: Kyle Orton looked sharp Wednesday for the second straight practice. His best throw came on a deep seam route to tight end Desmond Clark that the quarterback dropped over middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and in front of safety Craig Steltz.

Second-year tight end Kellen Davis made the catch of the day, reaching behind him to pluck a Brett Basanez pass out of the air and away from cornerback Marcus Hamilton.

Hurricane alert: Former NFL linebacker Micheal Barrow, now a linebackers coach at his alma mater, the University of Miami, attended Wednesday’s practice. Barrow reminisced with Bears punter Brad Maynard, his teammate on the 2000 New York Giants, who lost to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.

[FirstTimer]

Beekman had a very good year last year at guard. Forte had a lot of success running behind him and he's a perfect fit for Turner's offense which requires the pulling guard. He was a center in college so he's real versatile and should only get better as he gets more and more time at the guard position.