After a quiet opening to the free agency period, in start contrast to recent years, Halas Hall has suddenly seen a burst of activity. Not all of it good. Jerry Azumah will announce his retirement today due to the reoccurring neck injury he initially suffered in 2004. Now I know I am one of those fans who frequently give players undue loyalty because they play for the Bears (see: McQuarters/Gage/Forsey) even when it makes sense to let them go (Booker/Washington/Traylor) but Zoom's retirement really is a sad moment. A Pro Bowl return man 2 seasons ago he wasn’t the same this year after his hip surgery, either as a return man or a corner. Nevertheless he was a leader in the locker room, a solid and dependable player and one of the leaders of a defensive unit that is really starting to make a name for itself. I am sorry that #23 wont be picking off any passes for the Bears anymore.
The good news is we have a solid backup quarterback who can really push Grossman and can step in successfully if Rex goes down again. (I really can’t imagine him getting hurt again. At this point it’s like one of those Final Destination sequels, you just run out of new ways for disaster to strike.) I like Griese, I like him a lot. He’s a good dependable QB with a lot of experience as a starter and a backup. Marriotti is an idiot. Drew Brees was never gonna happen and rightly so. We have been committed to Rex as the starter for two years, both of which were interrupted early on by injury. We owe one more season to see if Rex's brief flashes of potential can be realized for a full season. He doesn’t perform or he gets hurt again then its time to move on, but I saw the way he electrified the team in the Sunday night game against the Falcons, I saw him direct three long TD scoring drives in the second half of the playoff game with the Panthers. I really think Rex can be a great QB next season.
My one complaint is that the backup QB situation is the only personnel situation that has really been dealt with so far. We desperately need quality depth at cornerback. We knew it was likely Zoom would be gone, but we haven’t acted and now we are left with one guy who hawks balls, one peanut who has a tendency to lose concentration at critical moments, the guy "who fell down" and some glorified special teamer from the Panthers. Our weakest point last season was our return game. Bobby Wade is mercifully gone but we failed to get anyone to take his place. Nothing against Berrian or Vasher but with a team like the Bears, where field position is so vital, a return man with big play potential (and an ability to catch the ball) should have been a top priority this off season. We also need another solid veteran receiver, a tight end and some depth for an aging O-line. Some of these needs can be filled in the draft but the window for success in the NFL is very small and we don’t have a few seasons to waste while rookies learn the ropes. Certainly when its a defense as young as ours in need of some veteran presences. I understand we tried and the Redskins just overpaid for several people (my mystification as to how the Redskins with their cap problems managed to throw that kind of money at a number 2 receiver and a solid but unspectacular safety is a post all to itself) but we didn’t seem to have a good plan going into free agency.
In other good news all charges against Tank Johnson involving the second gun incident have been dropped. The police officer involved declined to press charges. I have to say I really want to know why. Were they dropped for legitimate reasons? And if so what really happened? Did Tank really threaten the cop? Did Olin pay a visit to the cop's house on Tank's behalf?
Finally in response to some of Jeff's questions/comments yesterday:
I agree that going to the Colts was an asshole move for Vinatieri.
I think Bill and TO will get a long fine this season cause TO will be on his best behavior for the next season or two and then Bill will retire before TO reverts to his old ways.
Its mind boggling that the Vikings got rid of Moss and Culpepper in consecutive seasons for nothing but a wide receiver, a linebacker they might be getting rid of and some low draft picks. That said I think they have done pretty well so far in the free agency and think they will be the Bears' toughest opponent in the NFC North
I also love how Culpepper defended himself from allegations of sexual impropriety on the Love Boat by loudly claiming he spent the whole time shooting dice.
I am really interested to see what the Lions do in the draft and to see how they perform next year. I bet they exceed everyone's (admittedly low) expectations.
I think Brett Favre is an asshole, the Packers are in some serious trouble, and I am really enjoying it.
Miami is going to be amazing this year. I expect them to win the AFC East and make a solid playoff run. They showed a lot of potential last year. They have made some good moves this off-season and Nick Saban is really going to shine in his second year.
I think the Browns are another team that has made great moves in the free agency, which combined with a year under Romeo, and the return of Winslow and Braylon Edwards should make them a pretty good team. I think that the AFC North will be one of the hardest divisions in football this season.
My Pre-draft NFC playoff teams are the same as Jeff's: Seahawks, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Cowboys, Redskins (though I think of those the Cowboys are the most on the bubble)
My Pre-draft AFC playoff teams: Dolphins, Colts, Bengals, Broncos, Chiefs, Pats. Palmer is a concern certainly but I think he will return in time to win the division. I think the Steelers will follow the curse of the Super Bowl losers and not make the playoffs. They barely squeaked in last season requiring a 4 game win streak and they have lost some talent and some valuable locker room presence.
The only reason for getting rid of Brees is that his arm is more banged up then they let on. Or else Rivers has some incriminating photos. Either way I think getting rid of him was a disservice to a team that could have been solid playoff contenders. Actually that’s a bit of an overstatement. As long as they have that coach they wont have success in the playoffs. Case in point: playing Brees in that meaningless week 17 game where he suffered the shoulder injury, when he should’ve been using it as an opportunity to get Rivers some experience.
I don’t care what kind of TE Vernon Davis is, it’s not worth giving up next year's first round pick for.
This year's draft in Radio City Music Hall. Seems like a kind of strange location. Don’t know if I like the idea.
I discovered I get Sports New York and watched part of an Arena Football game. Horrible. Awful. Shouldn’t be allowed to call itself football.
The pre-season seems so far away
I have to admit that I don't really think I understand Jerry Angelo but I like him. I like him more and more each offseason. While Jay Mariotti spent last night clamoring for Drew Brees (you can read that mindless piece of sports writing in the Sun Times today), I sat at the West Side Brewery and thought, "You know...I like Brian Griese."
And I do. He's not going to come into the game and throw forty-yard bombs and he's not going to dazzle you with his scrambling ability, but under Jon Gruden he became one hell of a game manager. Think Jim Miller, only a hell of a lot more talented.
This site's trio of authors fully endorse Rex Grossman as the starting quarterback as the Chicago Bears. The signing of Griese means that the Bears have their most able-to-win backup since Steve Fuller or Mike Tomczak. What Jay Mariotti doesn't understand yet is that Jerry Angelo has been walking the Grossman tightrope and the signing of Brees would have essentially undermined his mantra of the last two seasons. This is Grossman's Last Chance Cafe and Angelo knows it might also be his own. If his golden boy goes down (which Vegas currently has at about 5-2 odds), Griese is his safety net.
I'm not trying to convince ya'll that Brian Griese is going to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February but it's a sound football move. Not go-out-and-buy-a-pinata great, but sound. Signing Dante Wesley for special teams and cornerback depth was a similar move.
I like it.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:
I didn't know that the Redskins made Adam Archuleta the highest paid safety in NFL history. They are fucking nuts. He'd struggle to be listed in the top fifteen safeties in the game right now.
I'd like to see something happen at the receiver position but I just don't see it coming out of free agency. The talent just isn't out there.
Anybody else think Adam Vinatieri is an asshole for signing with the Colts?
Bill Parcells is going to end up murdering T.O. in his sleep?
Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss has become Brad Johnson to Troy Williamson. Just love writing that over and over again.
If I'm Rod Marinelli and the Detroit Lions, I'm looking wide receiver in the first round.
So...Brett...when are you deciding, exactly?
Staying on Culpepper, he's going to have a monster season in Miami if he's on the field and healthy. He's got great weapons at receiver and a good, focused running game. It's going to be very difficult for me to pick any other team in that division to win it. Nick Saban is terrific.
Pre-draft NFC playoff teams: Seahawks, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Cowboys, Redskins
Pre-draft AFC playoff teams: Dolphins, Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, Broncos, Chiefs (no Bengals until I heard definitively about Palmer and no Pats for no reason whatsoever)
The Chargers letting Drew Brees go in favor of Philip Rivers doesn't make a single bit of sense to me. I just don't fucking get it. If you do, Comment.
If the Bears can trade up in the draft - and I mean high - for VD the TE from MD...they fucking should. A tight end can't just run a 3.47 and not be worth giving up next year's first rounder.
If the Bears pulls a Bears and go 5-11 and half the team is on IR by the bye week, I'm quitting.
CALLING ALL METROPOLITAN AREA BEARS FANS! We've got games at the Giants and at the Jets this year. Come to dabearsblog tailgate party, hosted by yours truly.
It seems we have some offseason traffic on dabearsblog so let's see where we find ourselves now...
The Redskins snaked Randel El and Archuletta from us by drastically overpaying both players, which raises two questions: (1) Have the Redskins ever heard of the New York Yankees and (2) Where do the Bears go from here?
All evidence in the paper seems to point to the Bears trying to land Eddie Drummond from Detroit to return kicks. I'd put kick returns as one of this team's five major weaknesses so I think it's a smart move. This guy's a several time Pro Bowler and he'll immediately make a difference.
I've said it before but Robbie Gould can't kick anything beyond 45 and both Vandy and Mr. Clutch can. I'd like to see the Bears get active in those markets but evidence is pointing elsewhere.
Last night I had a thought. Terrell Owens.
The I had another though. Not a good idea.
One thing is for sure: thie non-acquisition of Randel El should clear the way for Jerry to work out the Lance Briggs extension before the start of camp.
And PLEASE DO NOT CALL DESMOND CLARK A PRO BOWL TIGHT END ON THIS WEBSITE. He was the like 9th tight end in the conference. No one else could go. They actually called Dave and he turned them down.
We shall see...
2009: May April March February January
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2007: December November October September August July June May April March February January
2006: December November October September August July June May April March February January