Apparently the rumors are true and the Bears are interested in bringing Chris Brown to Halas Hall. It's not a move I particularly like but one I do understand. If it plays out, the following questions follow:
(1) Does Adrian Peterson move to special teams exclusively? I'll assume that Jerry Angelo is not going to allow his draft pick of a year ago (GWolfe) be bounced from the offense, leaving Adrian Peterson as the odd man out. Peterson is terrific in special teams coverage.
(2) Does the draft become entirely about the offensive line?
Again I'm not in love with it but it does create the competition for Cedric Benson that Angelo has mentioned several times. We shall wait and see.
ProFootballTalk Addendum: With all that said, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Brown could sign with the Texans as soon as Thursday..
#2 bfos7215 said . . .Would the acquisition of Brown (3rd rd. '03) mean that the Bears have found their competition for Cedric Benson?
Or would they still draft a RB to try and do the same?
If the Bears can make it happen for a cheap price (which may be possible) then I say go for it. Why not? Add as much competition as you can.
But the Bears still need a game changer!
Peterson. A reliable backup.
Wolfe. His youth and size make him quick and elusive, but it also limits him from getting many touches. Hungry performs best in open space as a change of pace.
Benson. The guy will continue to loaf if there isn't serious competition for the starters spot.
Chris Brown probably isn't the answer, but what the hell. Throw some impatient fans a bone already!
March 13, 2008
#3 Rancid said . . .The only reason I don't like this, is because it would preclude the Bears from picking Mendenhall if he still on the board at 14.
Outside of Mendenhall, I wouldn't mind Brown being in the mix in Chicago. Injuries keep him from being a full-time back. But, he's got more talent than Benson.
March 13, 2008
#4 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .I don't necessarily hate the move, I just think I'd rather see a RB pick in this years draft (not #14 though) than Brown. It's ok as far providing competition goes, but I'd rather have the shot that we land a future star. I guess I'm lukewarm on the idea. Again, if he can sign a cheap deal like Lloyd, take him. Then we can still take a rookie and if he pans out we can ditch Brown.
March 13, 2008
#5 "Wiseass" said . . .Hell NO to Chris Brown,another retread with no upside.
I can see this signing happening though because the BT thought he could have helped last year.With this signing I don't see Ced feeling threaten about his job.
ONLY way I would feel good about this guy is if the BT spent the early picks(w/o trading down,one of JA favorite moves to do on draft day)is selecting some linemen.
With these lukewarm signing they will have addressed there other glaring problems,without spending high draft picks on (WR,RB)
March 13, 2008
#6 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Just another example of this franchise only going for mediocre on offense.
March 13, 2008
#7 jeff said . . .Well at least we know for sure is that the Bears will select a lineman somewhere in the draft.
Boise State Ryan Clady OT gives private audition
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/835439,CST-SPT-bear11.article
March 13, 2008
#8 Max said . . .clady and long will both be gone long before the bears pick. they've got more of a shot at chris williams but i can see people jumping them because we know jerry doesn't like moving up and loves moving back.
March 13, 2008
#9 Chad said . . .NO CHRIS BROWN . . . no. . . no. . . stop it. No
March 13, 2008
#10 tenacious d said . . .Please don't forget that Ced may never be the same again. The Bears need a running back. MENDENHALL!!!!
March 13, 2008
#11 JAB said . . .Chris Brown or no Chris Brown, no way that JA takes a RB on the first day and backs himself into the same corner he was in with TJ & Ced. With the $ invested in Ced, they want to see him behind a decent o-line before giving up on him.
Its difficult to predict what JA will do, with his preference for picking best-available.
All I know is...we need to start training camp with a new starting OT (likely from draft) & OG (likely from June 1 cuts or trade).March 13, 2008
#12 JB said . . .Tenacious, I agree that the Bears must address the O-line first but if they don't sign Chris Brown the 2nd rounder will almost definitely going to be a RB.
March 13, 2008
#13 Pissed Off said . . ."Please don't forget that Ced may never be the same again. "
Umm...you mean he'll never be a whiny cry baby running back that averages 2 ypc? great!
Seriously though, chris brown does not excite me...i rookie runner is the way to go here....even if it's a ray rice or steve slaton, give me a young guy. but if it happens, i'll live with it...anything is better than ced.
March 13, 2008
#14 Phil from SATX said . . .I'd much rather have a day two draft pick for a RB than Chris Brown. We've already signed Booker and Lloyd, how many more bottom low end free agents can we sign in one offseason?
March 13, 2008
#15 Al in WI said . . .I don't like the sounds of Chris Brown either - 6'3" as a running back? Runs straight up and down? Shades of Brad Muster (although I liked Brad). I agree with tenacious, it may be a while, if ever, before JA picks another first round RB. I was wondering, all of you calling for Mendenhall, interested in your breakdown of the probability/possibility that he could be a bust. We know they all can - Ced was supposed to be a sure thing. What is it about him that makes you so sure that he'll be a stud?
But regardless of whether we sign a Chris Brown type, I agree that Round 2 pick will either be a second Olineman or a RB. And we'll get a good one there - great if Felix Jones could last! (but doubtful)
How good of a chance do you think it is that there will be a better selection of FA linemen after the draft? It's been suggested by some...
One more question - could you imagine loving Ced again if he ends up having a great season behind a new oline? Actually wanting JA to re-sign him? I guess I could, but he managed to turn a huge fan and booster in me into an enemy last year.
March 13, 2008
#16 tenacious d said . . .I'm not wild about this move either but sadly he would be an upgrade. He's been more productive then Benson, and has a more ability as a runner then Peterson.
But I have to agree with Po'ds comments about another bottom feeding FA. Like I said yesterday, it continues to look to me that the Bears are aiming for middle of the pack instead of the bowl.March 13, 2008
#17 tenacious D said . . .Phil, I believe there will be a decent amount of o-line FA talent available after the draft. By most accounts, this is a deep draft for o-line, and those roster spots have to come from somewhere. You will see teams cutting or trading some guys with tread left on the tires. The best example I can think of is Ruben Brown. That being said, I'd like for us to address the line with our first 2 picks.
If we do end up with Chris Brown or a RB in the draft, who gets cut Wolfe or Peterson? We usually only carry 3. JA is real slow to give up on his draft darlings, so as much as I hate to say it I think it'll be AP. They could keep him around for special teams only I guess, like they did with Ayanbadejo.
March 13, 2008
#18 JB said . . .Al, they may be aiming for a bowl, but its the wrong kind of bowl.
March 13, 2008
#19 JAB said . . .the sugar bowl? 'cause that'd be sweet!
March 13, 2008
#20 DTB said . . .If Chris Brown can stay healthy (and that's a big if) he is an upgrade over Benson. 102 carries for 460 yards or so last season. I would take that over the Bears 3.5 ypc. I still want to draft a RB in rd 3 at the latest.
March 13, 2008
#21 mikebdot said . . .What is with all the Chris Brown backlash? This guy is a solid back that has had some issues staying healthy. Bring in the veteran that has actually had some success in the NFL. I seem to remember him popping off for over 200 in a game last year. Sitting here and claiming that we are accepting mediocrity is not the case at all. I am sure you all would like to throw money around like the Raiders or the Skins. So we can get excited about overpaying for a WR with no knee, or a FS that has been average over his entire career, or maybe we can get our hopes up and then find out that we overpaid for everyone we bring in! Its absurd. People were clamoring for Burner, and yet he has had less success in the NFL than C. Brown. People just get excited becasue he's had a few long runs backing up LT. I just dont understand anyones logic here. Furthermore, there is no way in hell we are going to draft a RB in the first round. We all understand the line is the biggest issue, period. What happens here is we sign a stop gap backup that can show Ced how to be a professional. If he doesn't get it, then we draft new starting RB next year.
March 13, 2008
#22 tenacious d said . . .Here's the great equalizer with regards to Chris Brown's performance vs. Cedric Benson's: the offensive line. Tennessee's offensive line is actually very good, which must make it all the more frustrating for fans watching Vince Young run out of the very well protected pocket nearly every time he steps back to pass.
In any event, I've been thinking about the whole "I hate Cedric Benson's attitude on the field" thing. Most people would agree that his line last season was absolutely terrible, right? Who here wouldn't be frustrated getting the chance to prove yourself and having to run behind THAT line with THOSE plays being called? At least he doesn't pop off at the mouth like Tiki-fucking-Barber.
That said, I like the Chris Brown idea, just because I think it is fairly likely (maybe 60/40) that Benson ends up on IR next season. This would allow us to keep Wolfe, AP, and rookie to be drafted.
Someone floated the idea of using Benson as a fullback. Fuck that, why not have AP bulk up 15-20 pounds or so and use HIM as a fullback. Fuckin' A that would be sweet.
March 13, 2008
#23 JB said . . .DTB, Its not that Chris Brown would be a bad signing. Its just hard to get real excited about another value pick. Its clear that the Bears are more interested in extending their own players, and finding values in free agency. And that's fine, as long as we score big in the draft to fix the o-line.
I find it interesting that everyone is talking about drafting another RB when we already have a third round pick from last year that didn't get enough time on the field behind our crappy line to determine whether he belongs on the roster. No way that JA cuts Wolfe yet.
March 13, 2008
#24 tenacious d said . . .how about cutting benson?
March 13, 2008
#25 Phil from SATX said . . .JB, JA has always coddled his draft picks and is very slow to take action when it comes to admitting a mistake. He is not ready to give up on Benson until he fixes the o-line. The jury is still out on Wolfe, and he won't cut him until he gets a chance to prove himself.
2008 Bears RB Roster:
Benson, Chris Brown OR draft pick (not both), Wolfe, Peterson (special teams only)March 13, 2008
#26 Pissed Off said . . .Great posting going on today, guys. Excellent intelligent give and take. I would have to agree that Wolfe isn't going anywhere for the previously mentioned reasons - and I still think that BT will keep Ayan for ST, and also for character, because he's one of the great character guys on the team.
The question is, what happens if we do sign a Chris Brown. Does that mean we don't pick a RB, in this year with a draft deep in RB's? I think they're taking one even if Brown or someone signs, and maybe that involves dealing Wolfe in a trade right around the same time, or cutting BA. There's no way Wolfe gets cut but I could see them trading him while he is mostly potential - he showed enough in the few times he was used to make a team who wants to add speed want him.
I would be fine with that, I think it would repair an error made in the draft last year.
March 13, 2008
#27 mikebdot said . . .I wouldnt mind trading Wolfe as Phil suggested in the right situation but I dont see that happening. JA probably still thinks he can be the next LT. Either way I just want to see some moves showing that this O-line is getting fixed. Looks like I might have to wait until the draft for that.
March 13, 2008
#28 DTB said . . .My biggest problem with our offense last season was it didn't have any character whatsoever. There was no identity. No "go-to" guy. That falls squarely on Ron Turner. Sure, miscues by players sucked quite a bit, but there were so many different formations, a few times where we used no-huddle and succeeded like mad only to switch it up, a few times where we actually left Hester on the field for more than a few plays where we ended up being fairly successful. It was just so muddled.
Turner needs to have roles for each player and that just simply wasn't there last season. At any of the positions.
We need to build a team for either, speed, finesse, or power, but what we have ended up with is potential for any of those and you know what they say about jacks of all trades...master of none! Shoot, at least put the potential for any of those on the field at the same time.
March 13, 2008
#29 "Wiseass" said . . .And no, I dont think that bringing this guy in means that we dont draft a RB this year. I'm sick of saying it but look a the Giants. How many RB's did they have a year ago? They had 5 that contibuted for them or in Grants case, GB. It's about quality football players no matter what the position and to be honest we need to bring in as many as possible.
March 13, 2008
#30 Monkeynuts said . . .I think the Bears should definately be looking to trade Wolfe. They can't go into the season carrying 4 running backs. Benson's not going anywhere this year, we need to find a real competitor for the starting job, Peterson is much more valuable than 5'7" Wolfe, not only on special teams but as a third down back. As I've said before, Wolfe was a cocky pick. He has his value without a doubt, but I just don't see a place on this team for him.
March 13, 2008
#31 Phil from SATX said . . .Its the second week of March and i am worried that we still only have 3/5 o linemen.
Are we going to have 2 rookies playing on the oline in 2008? That would be stupid. Why can we not just sign two quality olinemen in FA.
We would then be in a good position to sign the best available talent with the 14the pick (ie Mendehall) and a QB in the second round (Flacco or Henn).
That way i m sure we would have a team able to compete in the playoffs
If we have two rookie OL, Benson and Grossman we will be REBUILDING.
Give the offense a chance, this year not 2 or 3 years down the line, and sign somebody soon.
March 13, 2008
#32 JB said . . .Monkeynuts, we're all worried about 2/5 of a line being unidentified, but you're going to a wrong place - there aren't good enough FA linemen out there right now to avoid needing a stud rookie tackle. And if you're so worried about next year, why are you picking a QB in the 2nd round who absolutely will do nothing for us next year?
There's no suggestion that we're going in with only Benson next year - the question is, will it be FA, a draft pick, or (my choice) both? And if you're lumping Grossman into the rebuilding deal, Grossman was in there playing in a Super Bowl so he hardly qualifies as rebuilding.
If the two Olinemen picked are high enough (1st day picks, meaning 1st and 2nd round) we can indeed have a much better line this in 2007 with those rooks suiting up. If we get no FA linemen and if one of the draft picks is 3rd round or later, we may be in a bit of a pickle, UNLESS BT thinks Beekman is ready to step up and play. On this point we know nothing.
To the pessimists out there, I'll sadly point out that Harry Hiestand is still our Oline coach, last I checked. The man who thought our oline played pretty darn well last year and that stupid fans don't know what they're talking about.
March 13, 2008
#33 jeff said . . .The more I read about kevin payne, the more i like the guy. Brown, Manning & Payne, not to mention mcgowan, I think the need for safety is lower than people think on here. I'll draft oline with the first 3 picks before i'd take a safety this year...well, maybe not that, but you know what i mean.
trading wolfe...seriously, i don't see that even being a conversation...not because he's so great but because we don't know anything about him...and neither do other teams, therefore no way to project his value.
does anyone have a favorite back we can get in round 2? round 3?
March 13, 2008
#34 Pissed Off said . . .RUMOR ALERT
profootballtalk is reporting that kevin jones may have been released by the lions. this is a terrific choice over chris brown for two reasons: better and axe to grind twice a year.
March 13, 2008
#35 mikebdot said . . .I would take Kevin Jones over Chris Brown...WAY over Chris Brown. That would probably be our best signing if we can get him, then we dont need to draft a RB and cna focus on getting like 5 O-lineman...you know what I mean.
Phil, well said response to monkeynuts. I dont care if we have even 2 rookie OLinemen starting...so what. I think after the draft we'll probably sign another FA o-lineman too.
I also agree that Wolfe isnt going anywhere and the need for safety is not as dire as some think. We have 4 quality guys if MB stays healthy.
March 13, 2008
#36 Phil from SATX said . . .I might have mentioned this before, or maybe not, but if we used literally every single one of our draft picks on O-line, would anyone be that upset? I think that would be a viable drafting strategy. Alternate positions every year. Surely you could find 3 or 4 starters per year at each position, then fill need positions with free agents. This way you corner the market on a specific position every single year.
If nothing else, I might use that strategy in Madden or something just because the franchise crap is such a pain in the ass.
March 13, 2008
#37 Phil from SATX said . . .Speaking of Payne and McGowan, I have to say that I barely remember Payne playing - I'm thinking I was so busy gnashing my teeth and howling at the moon while watching the inimitable Arch D that he doesn't register much with me - but I will also say that I really liked the play of McGowan as the season went on. I see him as a very promising young player, and so it impresses me that the BT sees Payne as even more promising. The one area I refuse to doubt these guys is on their ability to evaluate D, even if they whiffed in a big way on Arch. At least they sat him, and quickly, when they realized the enormity of his crappiness.
March 13, 2008
#38 mikebdot said . . .If we signed a good free agent RB, I would be extremely happy if we used four straight picks on Oline - no lie. We could go into next year with this ersatz WR crew, a better RB and our incredible TE's and be great. And MikeB's onto something about cornering the market - to capitalize on the FA insanity you could enrich your team every year by trading off your luxury depth picks.
March 13, 2008
#39 mikebdot said . . .Phil: The only thing I'm pissed about last year on D was their lack of realization that Alex Brown should have started above Mark Anderson. Alex Brown caused turnovers just by pressuring the QB and by using his mitts to swipe the ball away himself. I bought into the Anderson hype and realized that was a mistake a few games into the season. I truly believe that single factor cost us at least one or two games. No joke. The line of scrimmage is the most important area of the field. We were dominated on both sides of the ball last year. Dominated.
March 13, 2008
#40 Max said . . .From the latest ChalkTalk on da site:
"I don’t see the Bears taking a safety in the draft. Jerry Angelo described the crop of safeties in the draft as “anemic� and the Bears are high on young players such as Danieal Manning, Brandon McGowan and Kevin Payne."
I'm just glad he didn't mention Archuleta as having a "comeback" year or some other such nonsense. Maybe that means they'll cut him post June 1? Or he'll be a special teamer only. He's basically Cam Worrell at this point...
March 13, 2008
#41 said . . .Id totally take Cameron Worrell at this point over Arch. . . no question
March 13, 2008
#42 tenacious d said . . .No longer a rumor...The Lions just released RB Kevin Jones and DE Kalimba Edwards
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/SPORTS0101/803130490/1126
March 13, 2008
#43 Worm0922 said . . .JA better be on the phone with Jones right now.
March 13, 2008
#44 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .This blog can end and the KJ one can begin......
HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have signed unrestricted free agent RB Chris Brown, the team announced today.
NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the deal is for two years.
Brown (6-3, 220) is entering his sixth NFL season. He was taken in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Brown played in 54 games, starting 29. For his career, Brown has rushed for 2,757 yards and 16 touchdowns. His best season came in 2004 when he cracked the 1,000-yard barrier rushing for 1,067 yards on 220 carries and scored a career-high six touchdowns.
Brown was the fifth running back taken in the 2003 draft. He trails only Willis McGahee and Larry Johnson in rushing yards gained by active players from their draft class. Last season, Brown finished second on the Titans with 462 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns. He led the team with a 4.5 yards-per-carry average.
Brown is the third unrestricted free agent to sign with the team. Houston secured the services of CB Jacques Reeves and LB Kevin Bentley earlier the month. Houston re-signed TE Mark Bruener, WR André Davis and SS Glenn Earl thus far in free agency.
March 13, 2008
#45 PerryCSB said . . .Since everybody excited over past injuried RB's
Can we look into Bo Jackson?
I'd take his bad hip right now then some of these guy out there right now.Bo knows football
just kidding....
March 13, 2008
I am really, really, really happy to see Houston sign Brown instead of the Bears. I know we need to draft for the offensive line, but I don't understand how we don't draft either Stewart or Mendenhall if either are available at the 14th pick. I know Angelo drafts better on D, but Benson is not the answer, and the organization has admitted it. This is the year to right that wrong.
March 14, 2008
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.