lolwut

why you gotta slap a man in the face?

Man people are on Urlacher's side here? Whining to the media seems stupid to me in most cases and this is certainly one of them. Dont get me wrong, Im sad hes gone and were screwed at LB, but hes just not worth 4 million of money we barely have. Take it like a man and go get what you want to get paid from someone else.

I wouldn't say I'm on Urlacher's side exactly. He was obviously asking for way too much given his performance last season and the health questions he still has, and he's acting like a baby in the media now, which frankly doesn't surprise me. I've never particularly liked his attitude off the field. But given our massive holes at LB now, you can't tell me that me that it wouldn't be worth it to offer an incentive-laden deal maxing out in the $4M ballpark if (big IF) he performed as well as he did a couple years ago. Whether he would've accepted that or not is another question, but $2M max without even an attempt at further negotiation makes it seem like they didn't even try. Now we have a major hole to fill and if we make a desperation draft pick to try to address it it could create a lot bigger long-term problems than just overpaying Urlacher for a year.

Its pretty plain and simple; the Bears can't afford to pay him 4M, they are barely under the cap and will likely only have enough to pay one low key free agent after signing their draft picks

It's also time to admit that Urlacher is really ****ing slow. Like seriously, I'm not sure if he could break a 5.0 40 right now

Well I'll cede to the wheeler-dealing of Emery in my dislike of the Urlacher move, as he's signed former Bronco LB D.J.Williams to a bargain 1-year contract of 900k (none of it guaranteed) which maxes out a 1.75.

He's a decently talentd player who has had massive off-the-field issues, but the contract has been set up perfectly.

That gets us a little put of the corner we'd painted ourself back into. Of course that's only true if he doesn't end up banned for most of the season.

Looks good to me. So far we have a huge upgrade at tight end, solid improvement on the line and a solid improvement at starting linebacker. Not sure what more we could ask for. It's not like you can expect to trade for a top 3 WR...oh wait.

Good Ol' Polish Boy (and Chicago native!) Tom Zbikowski signs on the dotted line, I like it.

I don't agree on o line or LB. Williams is dumb (tried to beat the drug test with animal urine multiple times) and Bushrod was blocking for Brees (a guy who released the ball quick) instead of Cutler (who hangs on the ball long) not only did we massively overpay (there's still a few good tackles out there) but there's a good chance he's equivalent or worse than Webb is.

I'd draft Ogletree at this point and run the card to the podium if it's our pick and he's still available.

Yeah, Bears don't even have 4M to pay anyone and they still have to sign draft picks, and Urlacher's camp knew that, just total BS from everybody but that's standard.

I have that concern over Bushrod, although also some optimism. But it does concern me that we've paid a good chunk of money for a lineman that graded out no better than Webb last year, a year when he didn't have Pro Bowler Carl Nicks next to him at LG...
But I guess at worst it gets Carimi away from RT...

And the Brees/Cutler difference is something that has concerned me since he was signed. It's like if you're blocking for Peyton or Marino you can't exactly talk about not giving up sacks compared to OL on other teams.
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And like you I'm praying for Ogeltree now I think. Or Warmack (who is likely gone).

The improvement is having 2 Webb equivalents at T instead of 1 and turrible not so good very bad things at the other. They are with out a doubt improved as a unit, how much they overpaid to do it is debatable, RTs like Godser got almost the same money as Burshrod this offseason.

I think they will likely be best served to trade back unless a stud falls, need to pick up at least one more pick.

Bears sign vet LB James Anderson from the Panthers. He started 12 games for them last year (missed the last four with a back injury).

He had 154 tackles in 2010. He's started 94 games for the Panthers. And signed a 5 year 22 Million contract in 2011.
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I honestly know nothing about him, but that's two LB's Emery's signed since refusing Urlachers offer. Both of them are week-in, week-out starters, so he's got the 3 starter slots covred for this year at least (both of the two new signings are on one-year contracts).

I can see us picking up some LB youth in the draft, but the great thing is we don't beed to draft early to get someone who can start straight away.

Emery continues to impress me. He's probably improved the LB core, and saved a load of money in the process.

wat, dont agree with any of this

Bushrod freaks me out because the opinions are so divided on him. For now, I trust that Kromer gave him a passing grade when Emery asked for an assessment, and that's good enough for me...until he starts to WOAT it up if the haters were right.

DJ Williams + James Anderson is most likely > Urlacher + Nick Roach, when we factor in where these guys are at in their careers and how much they cost. Having said that, the fan in me wishes we got one more playoff run with ol' #54 patrolling the middle of the field...but these guys aren't paid to be sentimental. I'm fine with what we've done.

I still think there is a non zero chance #54 comes back after finding out their isn't a whole lot of interest elsewhere after the draft

That's because it's ridiculous. Getting a lineman who will be, at worst, equal to our best lineman of last year will improve the line.

Bears resign Jonathan Scott, as the swing Tackle. Not a good sign the Bears believe much in Carimi as a RT (me either).

I wish they'd just get signing Lance Louis out of the way though.

Agreed, his deal should come fairly easily given the circumstances

CUTLAHHHHH!

i saw this thead bumped and just had to squeeze one out been too long

Well we're down one solid OL starter, Louis signed with the Dolphins. :/

saw this.

can't believe you guys are underrating nick roach like that... but I do like getting 2 tackling machines to fill in at LB.

is no one else worried about emery's visit to mark sanchez's matt barkley's pro day?

31 teams were there, only redskins were not. I wouldnt be too worried.

I'm not going to be shocked if they draft a QB in the middle rounds maybe even the 2nd round depending on what they like. Cuter is in his last year and it looks like he won't have an extension before this season. Which means if he falls on his face this year they may be moving in a new direction.

welcome to the fold mr slauson.





nice young lineman. another solid pickup. he's not a world beater at Guard but he's definitely capable. Didn't allow a sack last year when defending a quarterback who at times would drop back and sit on the ball waiting for it to hatch.

i've gone from mad at the lovie firing basically completely full circle at this point.

emery is making really nice moves whenever they're available and shoring up the team on a pretty tight budget.

it'd be pretty undeniable that this is a better team on paper than last year at this point imo. even with losing urlacher roach and louis.

He looks beasting in them photos. PFF also has him with a positive grade for each of the last 3 years. So the good side of average is a very solid pickup for us.

Good good. Because I think Emery is proving he knows what he's doing, and I think he figured Lovie was never going to get them over the hump.

I have a lot of positivity for the team atm, I just hope Emery doesn't Jerry-pick in the first round. Because I'm still not convinced he didn't do that last year with McLellin.