Muhsin Muhammad's disappointing tenure with the Chicago Bears has ended as the Bears released him today, while also re-signing Alex Brown through 2011.
This puts a great deal of pressure on the Bears to make a deal with Bernard Berrian or face the possibility of entering the free agency period desperate for human beings to place on the roster next to the letters WR.
ADDENDUM #1: Apologies for site problems today. We're back up and running.
ADDENDUM #2: Fred Miller and Darwin Walker are also gone. No surprise in either place.
#2 Midway Monster said . . .Let me say it first: GOOD.
February 19, 2008
#3 startOlsen said . . .Hey - remember me? well, FIRST!
Yeah I'll miss Muhsin. He made a few critical snags. As for the WR:
got free agent?
-Midway-
(ps - posting to this site not working so hot for me. it bounces a bunch for some odd reason and posts get dropped. Is Rex the system admin?)February 19, 2008
#4 said . . .Wow- actually first! So Ill say a little more. First, Ive been passively reading the board and enjoying the chatter, but too depressed to talk much. Chicago could have been that Giants team so easily... it hurts. We missed TJ and MB, the heart and soul of the O and D. Lets hope we get that back.
Im happy about Brown. Look at the way he responded to being benched for our KGB. He came on so strong at the end of the year. I predict he plays on fire all year, and returns Anderson to the KGB specialist role he belongs in. Brown is a great all around end, a playmaker.
Good riddance, Moose. My only regret is, he is for some reason my 12 yr. old son's favorite player. I had to get him the 87 jersey last year. However, he did nothing but dissapoint. Young, talented and erratic Sexy Rexy needed a big, sure handed security blanket veteran wideout. Shoulda been Moose, but it never was for some reason. Can't help but think (and agree with most of you) that Marty Booker can come back and catch 50 balls in a more reliable, team-oriented fashion for Rex.
Finally, I can't wait to watch #8 in his first pro bowl a year from now. Then all his critics can eat it once and for all.
Peace out, and Bear Down
animalFebruary 19, 2008
#5 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .From Sun-Times, Brad Biggs,
"Defensive tackle Darwin Walker will be released unless there is a major re-writing of his contract, and right tackle Fred Miller could also be cut."
And the hits just keep on comin'.
February 19, 2008
#6 Beardown1982 said . . .Thanks Moose for coming in when we really didn't have a true WR for defense's to respect.
But over time you prove the critic's right in that you wern't going to see that whole contract fulfilled.
good luck an thanks for the last catch I'll remember against the Eagles.February 19, 2008
#7 Z said . . .I heard Moose a week or so ago on 670 and he actually said that he thought he was underpaid considering the things he brought to the field as a receiver. Now, take in mind that he was obvioulsy trying to lobby other teams at this point because there was already speculation that the Bears may cut him...but needless to say, I threw up in mouth a little bit when he said that.
Does this mean the Bears have to seriously consider putting the franchise tag on Bernard? I would expect them to bring in Booker at this point...and perhaps, they may even be thinking of using that first pick on a receiver as well.
Glad Alex Brown got another two years. He had a nice season, and proved a lot of people wrong (including me) when it came to who should have been starting opposite Adewale.
One thing IS for sure...this is going to be a very, very interesting offseason. Maybe even crazier than last offseason.
February 19, 2008
#8 Jimbo said . . .I agree with the Rex quandry. It sucks that he is the best we have available but he is definitely the best we have available. I am in favor of keeping our picks if we can resign Rex over DA or McNabb unless it is 4 not much. Both are a bit intriguing but as stated here DA has 1 year shown and had a good O-line and McNabb has serious problems staying healthy. I don't think either team would give them up cheap anyway.
I also would like us to sign more people at a position B4 we cut some but whatever it had to be done. Cut away Angelo, slash, chop, slice and dice.
I want the key words this year to be restructured and incentive-laden with the current roster. Faneca and a tag on BB will eat a lot of that cap. I wonder what all these cuts will add to it.
I would rather spend a little 2 much 4 someone that does real good than a little less for someone that busts.
Bear Down!!
February 19, 2008
#9 19-0000ps said . . .The Pats made an offer to Zach Thomas.
February 19, 2008
#10 mikebdot said . . .I hate the Pats. Watching them lose feels almost as good as watching a Division rival lose and they aren't even in the same Conference. Like the Yankees. Lose, lose, lose!
February 19, 2008
#11 Al in WI said . . .And there it is again: "McNabb has serious problems staying healthy". What about Rex? 1 season in 4. Do you really like those odds?
February 19, 2008
#12 Al in WI said . . .Bears have also declined the option on Darwin Walker. He's a gonner, one sack.......
February 19, 2008
#13 Z said . . .Fred Miller also gone too. It has begun.
February 19, 2008
#14 The Duke said . . .I agree MikeB, Rex not staying on the field due to injury or performance is a major concern as are most of the other criticisms on here of him.
My biggest problem in going after McNabb is what will it cost us to get him and how many other needs on the team will it take away from filling.
Shit for the right price I am all for signing Rex and getting McNabb but I also agree that without significant O-line upgrades and WR and RB improvement it won't matter who is taking sacks (cough, cough) I mean snaps back there.
I don't care who bitches about playing time or start me this or my role that. Shut up, here is your ridiculously overblown paycheck and play when we tell u to or see ya. Wins. That is it. Too many QB options is an oxymoron personified.
February 19, 2008
#15 PolygonHell said . . .Is it just me or are the Bears the cheapest team in the NFL? I read somewhere that there are only three other teams with more salary cap space than them. They have the money to spend but never spend it. It's all about the bottom line in that front office, and their makin' money hand over fist. Which is why we keep putting patch work teams on the field year after year and never pull the trigger on some real talent. Given the Moose, Miller and Walker cuts and their refusal to pay Berrian the big bucks to keep him, I honestly cannot wait to see what kind of a fucked up franken-team we put on the field in '08.
February 19, 2008
#16 jdawg said . . .The cuts are a good start, no real surprises, and at least they demonstrate the direction that the team intends to go in this offseason.
I like Moose, if only because he worked hard to block down field, I could have lived without his TV appearances though.
Does dropping moose mean picking up Booker, Franchising Berrian, or are the Bears intending to make some sort of trade for another wideout... It'll be interesting to see.
February 19, 2008
#17 mikebdot said . . .I don't think the Bears are the cheapest team in the league -- that cap number is a result of the cuts they made yesterday. With those savings they have made offers to Briggs, T. Harris, B Aya.... and BB. Now, whether the offers are great remains to be seen. Also, considering all four players' agent is he-who-shall-not-be-named, I don't expect any movement with those players any time soon.
February 19, 2008
#18 Al in WI said . . .The Duke: It's just you. We are no longer "cheap". We spend most of our money. We already made fresh offers to Briggs, Berrian, Ayanbadejo, and Tommie Harris. We are going to need every penny of the $31.5M in cap space we now have either filling in for a loss of one of those players (not Tommie THIS year I guess), and finding some other premium talent. Paying what we paid for Moose used to be unheard of for us. It turned out it was an awful signing (per dollar). I just hope we go ahead and give a little love to Hester next year when he breaks the all-time record for return TDs, especially if he actually plays well at wideout.
I would be all for trying to sign free agent talent out there, but $31.5M is not that great of position knowing what we need on both sides of the ball.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm glad they're taking the obvious steps necessary to put a quality product onto the football field. There is more obvious dead weight to remove (aka Archuleta, restructing Mike Brown's deal, watching Briggs/Berrian/Ayanbadejo leave the offers on the table and opt for another team) which will all be played out in the next few weeks.
February 19, 2008
#19 JM said . . .Had a hard time accessing the site today. Is there some kind of issue?
Anyway, big happening out there in Bears land these days. According to both papers the Bears have made contract offers to Berrian, Briggs and Brendon A last night. And the Sun Times is also reporting that they have scheduled meetings with Rex Grossman's agent wednesday at the scouting combine. And hope to have a deal done with Grossman before free agency is suppsed to start.
It also looks like the offers to Berrian and Briggs are serious attempts to bring them back. With the latest moves the Bears cap space is now above $25 Million and may be close to $30 Mill after they complete their moves.
This is getting exciting!! Finally action.February 19, 2008
#20 Rancid said . . .When do we cut BG? After we get a third in F.A. or the draft. He could free up a lot of cap space. Probably after the draft and once Rex gets an incentive deal.
February 19, 2008
#21 JB said . . .Good work. I like every move so far. Keep it up! Nice to see we are actually doing things.
February 19, 2008
#22 Reverend Dave said . . .Love the fresh offers. Rosenhaus needs to spend the week at Halas hall for these guys. I think we can get Tommie extended for sure. As for the FA guys, I think it's likely to be BA back in before FA, but berrian and briggs will probably test the market. But who knows. I'm also happy to see some things happening. As far as I remember, Rosenhaus and Angelo are still on good terms, so hopefully they can work together to get some of these deals done.
February 19, 2008
#23 Max said . . .Moose shoulda been cut the second he stepped off the field after dropping that touchdown in the the Bears Packers game in December. His locker should've been empty by halftime.
But better late than never.
February 19, 2008
#24 serious said . . .MARTY! MARTY! MARTY!
Come on . . .
February 19, 2008
#25 Chi-Town Joe said . . .If we resign Briggs and B-twice (or even F-tag BB) how much cap room will that eat? Once you throw in rex, tommy harris, Brandon A. will there be much left to pay a FA RB or OT. I guess now that we cut moose loose we really need BB. I love briggs... but the guy is gonna cost a ton. Can't help but to wonder if thats the best use of our cash, since OLB is a spot easily filled in the cover 2 (athough, briggs is probably one of the top 5 or 10 LB's in the NFL).
I guess we can resign all those guys. Draft two OT's. Then, with any money left over, lock up a saftey or RB later on in FA. That is, ofcourse, if briggs even considers the offer.
February 19, 2008
#26 Pissed Off said . . .All I wanted to say right here is that I'm majorly confused. Why are we keeping the useless QB we don't need and pitching the WR we so desperately need (unless we sign a good WR or two), nevertheless probably losing our already crappy O-Line.
So now we have to look for QB (which it doesn't look like we will), WR, RB, FB, O-Line... the entire offense. And that's just counting offense!!!
February 19, 2008
#27 jeff said . . .Shady, from the past thread, I cant argue with you anymore. I understand your point but what I'm saying is that I do not think it is a bad thing that Rex is our only option. You are. I am glad he is our only option. I see his potential and what he can do (lead us to the Super Bowl, that should be good enough). The team around him last year - post benching - was shit. He needs an O-line and some playmakers (WR, RB). Thats all. You also think he was average after his benching last year. I say he was better than average and with the team around him he was like a miracle worker to put up the numbers he did. If he gets this O-line help he will kill his 2006 stats.
Good to see you back startolsen.
I'll say it again...good riddance Moose. Miller has been a soldier but his time has come. Glad to learn about all these contract talks now. I would love if we signed Booker too. Really from what we've been hearing that deal should have been done by now. I wonder what the hold up is. Cant wait to learn about Briggs, BB, and Brendan A's situations......oh yeah and that Rex guy.
February 19, 2008
#28 Dan Pompei said . . .apparently the bears have no interest in marty booker, leading me to believe the bernard is coming back.
February 19, 2008
#29 Pissed Off said . . .Dan Pompei says the Bears have no interest in Marty Booker. And that they fully expect to lose both Lance Briggs and Bernard Berrian. Or so he said on WSCR today.
February 19, 2008
#30 Duff Diggler said . . .For the sake of getting some of these under utilized, talented players in the mix I think that if we re-sign Bernard we should not sign Booker. This will allow for more time for Davis, Hester and Bradley who would compete for the #2 spot in training camp along with a rookie to play more....and this is a good thing in my mind. I think Bradley is very talented and could easily be a good #2 or even a #1 but he had to get on the field consistently, not just a few plays each game. However if we lose Berrian then we do need to go hard after a guy at least like Booker, preferrably more like Hackett.
February 19, 2008
#31 Dan said . . .Booker is talking with New Orleans....
February 19, 2008
#32 Phil from SATX said . . .What in God's green earth makes anyone conclude that Mark Bradley could be a quality # 1 or 2 receiver?!? He's done NOTHING in three seasons. What is the basis for your lofty (and ridiculous) conclusion?!?
February 19, 2008
#33 HesterFan23 said . . .Site was down for me all morning. This is seriously great news! The BT is moving as scheduled, which should not be surprising, but as a bruised and battered Bear fan somehow it is. No Moose, no Miller, no Walker - all great decisions. Re-signing Alex Brown - equally great! Tendering offers to Berrian, Briggs and Brendan Ay - fantastic! Now the offers to Berrian and Briggs will no doubt not hold up or be accepted. But I'm hopeful they went far enough to BA to get him to say yes early - and I'm excited to learn about the scheduled Rex talks - and hopefully reports of an early accord with him.
We had $20MM of cap space, and I read that the cuts today freed up an additional $15 - why doesn't that add up to $35MM? I'm sure no one knows.
I'm reading that you don't need to worry about cutting Arch - he's basically close to free so he'll stay, just will never be considered as a potential starter again. But Ricky Manning Jr., Ruben Brown, Brian Griese and (sadly) Mike Brown may be the next to go.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, then LOTS OF STUFF all at once. I'm psyched. I still believe that we will not be the club to nail any of the biggest fish - it's just not like us - but we'll have lots of money to throw around for good FA's.
Not sure what we'll do with my son's framed poster of Moose that stands next to Brian's - I asked him this morning after delivering the news and he grumpily responded "burn it." A jaded Bear fan at age 9.
Go Bears!February 19, 2008
#34 Mike Brown has been cut said . . .Glad to see that they've offered to Berrian, Briggs, BA and Harris...
February 19, 2008
#35 Pissed Off said . . .Halas Hall today.
February 19, 2008
#36 jdawg said . . .Dan...I mean Mike...we know its you, you dont fool anyone. Your the only one who thinks Bradley is not talented. Just go back to using your name. You dont fool anyone and unless it makes you feel better to have us reply to your fake name there is no point, you cant hide, your writing is too too obvious.
Are we really keeping Arch? Phil, where have you heard the others are being cut?
February 19, 2008
#37 Phil from SATX said . . .please post a link to the Mike Brown news.
February 19, 2008
#38 Shady said . . .PO'd, I didn't make it clear enough, that was just MY prediction and projection. I'd read about Arch on some Bears site, maybe Chalk Talk or something, and it jibes with what I heard before - if the guy is essentially dirt cheap because the money's out the door, you may as well use him as backup plus special teams, assuming he can help you there. It was the same analysis about Benson, but even more so.
Is it true about Mike Brown? I'll be sad, but more money to spend. I have to admit I totally thought Dan was Mike. But Mike usually picks more creative fake names. So maybe there's two people in Beardom who think that Bradley's been played enough to show what he's worth. The other kazillion of us disagree.
I'll ask this question: how important is it to have a critical mass of WR's who have been with us before and know our system? I honestly don't know the answer, but I would assume it's not that important. Based on that assumption, I don't know why the cutting of Moose means that it's even more important to keep Berrian. There's plenty of WRs in the world, both FA's and draft picks. So what if we did go in next year with a new #1 and #2? Is that terrible? But I do believe they're going to make a hard run at Berrian, and possibly overpay him - strangely I favor that direction more than giving him a 1 year tender on a tag that just results in losing him next year if he majorly improves. We know that football contracts are only partially guaranteed, so go ahead and sign him for the big bucks now and give us the upside on him, not the next team. But I warn you Bernard, watch what happens to you next year at Soldier Field after you sign the big contract and start dropping balls like you did in the first half of 2007. There'll be lots of pressure on you. But hopefully the other O improvements will help your game too - plus you should have something to prove (although you apparently thought you were doing pretty good in the middle of 2007, so maybe that point will be lost on you...)
February 19, 2008
#39 wheresolsen? said . . .I was able to congratulate Alex Brown IN PERSON today...He's definately one of my favorite players.
While nobody else recognized him, I found it hard to miss a big guy like Alex in a bright orange Gators T-Shirt.
Also ran into Tony Kukoc and the parents of Joe Girardi, his dad was wearing a Yankees WS ring, sweet bling!
Anyway, thought I'd share the news. Is this Mike brown rumor true? I hope not, but sounds believable considering the circumstances. I hope the Bears could work with Mike on a reasonable contract considering what's happened the past few years.
PO'd - Agree to disagree. If Rex ends up being our #1 then so be it, but not under the same circumstances as last year (O-Line, RB, WRs). Change things up for him, maybe an extra second or two can make the difference as someone put it.
Phil - That's some funny shit about your kid saying burn it! Now you have to go out an buy a Greg Olsen poster for him to replace it with... Or perhaps Berrian if he decides to stick around.
February 19, 2008
#40 Phil from SATX said . . .the mike brown news is not true. as of right now he is only listed as a 'possible cap casualty'
February 19, 2008
#41 Shady said . . .Shady, where do you work where you have so many "brushes with greatness?" Mag Mile or something? Before I knew that the Mike Brown thing hadn't actually happened, I began wondering if either he or Moose could actually be cuts and re-signings - the dates that they will receive bonuses are bright lines that can't be avoided. Maybe some of these guys could ultimately still be Bears after being cut, once free agency beins. I know I could be in favor of Moose in a cheaper, lesser role (like Moose as #3). Quadruple that for Mike Brown. I know they could just restructure their deals right now, but maybe the Bears aren't prepared yet for that - but if those guys aren't getting big offers in free agency, maybe there's a chance they could be back in the fold.
By the way, speaking of the poster, we still haven't gotten son's Urlacher Bighead put up yet - the two posters, giant Bears flag and SWEET (overpriced) Bears electric scoreboard/clock is taking up all the room.
February 20, 2008
#42 jdawg said . . .I work up in the 'burbs. Outside of the occasional athlete, I really don't see that much action up there.
You actually bought one of those FatHeads? haha
Look out, Urlacher could turn into one of those fire-breathing Bears like in the commercial.
February 20, 2008
#43 Rancid said . . .yeah -- I'll believe the Mike Brown stuff when I see it. That cut would put a 180 on my thoughts on the off-season so far.
February 20, 2008
#44 Max said . . .Carolina has franchised Gross. Yet another FA O lineman who is no longer available. I think the likelihood of JA using the draft and not FA to fix the O line increases with each of these tags and re-signings since there is such a large number available in the draft and the FA pool is shrinking. Overall not good news for us since the smaller the FA pool is, the more the ones who are available will command on the open market.
February 20, 2008
#45 Z said . . .why are we not pursuing Marty??? I mean shit, it cant hurt to bring him in. . . can it? If the Pats, with that receiving corps fly him in for an interview, what have we got to lose?
god this is frustrating
February 20, 2008
#46 Z said . . .By the way, I consider Angelo 4-0 so far in the 1st round of FA.
February 20, 2008
#47 greg said . . .But I definitely agree about why aren't we at least talking to Booker. Beggars can't be choosers and I would say we definitely qualify as beggars at the WR position. Even if we bring back BB, we can always use a veteran presence for the young guys.
And I was 1 that was also tricked with the Chris Harris wasn't performing up to snuff and AA seemed like a great move but u never give up players for almost nothing at a position of seriously diminished depth w/ just 1 injury or player underperforming when u have had those problems there recently.
My 1st thought when Harris went was wow we have way too many safties huh. I had no idea.
February 20, 2008
did bears cut mike brown
March 3, 2008
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