Bears sign RB Kevin Jones

[lostfan]

If for some reason he was really, really good...then there's always the franchise or transition tags available to the Bears as well.

Off-topic, but are there any big names with expiring contracts at the end of this year that could be looking at the tag? I think Tommie Harris was the one before he got re-signed (best news of the offseason btw).

 

But yeah if the Bears wanted to they could tag Jones, but he'd need to have like a 1600 yard season for that.

[Balta1701]

Off-topic, but are there any big names with expiring contracts at the end of this year that could be looking at the tag? I think Tommie Harris was the one before he got re-signed (best news of the offseason btw).

 

But yeah if the Bears wanted to they could tag Jones, but he'd need to have like a 1600 yard season for that.

The only guys the Bears have to worry about losing next offseason are guys like their QB's and various people brought in on short tryout deals like Lloyd and Jones. Maybe Mike Brown also, I don't think anyone ever knows his status after all the injuries and contract shuffling with him. Hester is 2 years away IIRC.

[lostfan]

The only guys the Bears have to worry about losing next offseason are guys like their QB's and various people brought in on short tryout deals like Lloyd and Jones. Maybe Mike Brown also, I don't think anyone ever knows his status after all the injuries and contract shuffling with him. Hester is 2 years away IIRC.

I'm not worried about Hester, he will get an extension at some point sooner rather than later. Angelo likes to give players with big contracts heavily front-loaded deals so they get their guaranteed $$ up front, and they have some salary cap room to play with right now. He was planning the Harris thing for a while now. The meathead myth is "the Bears are cheap" and I don't know why... Angelo's MO with contracts is not actually that hard to understand. He's basically the opposite of Dan Snyder.

[rangercal]

Love the Move. Very happy with the draft/off season. I just wish we would have signed 1 more Guard.

[lostfan]

Love the Move. Very happy with the draft/off season. I just wish we would have signed 1 more Guard.

Yeah that drives me nuts. Obviously Angelo had no intentions of signing a OG, I don't know why because there were plenty of FAs available he could've had for a modest price, it's not like he had to sign Faneca or anything. Metcalf is absolutely horrible, and that position is a gaping hole unless Beekman turns out to be some kind of ace.

[Chisoxfn]

Yeah that drives me nuts. Obviously Angelo had no intentions of signing a OG, I don't know why because there were plenty of FAs available he could've had for a modest price, it's not like he had to sign Faneca or anything. Metcalf is absolutely horrible, and that position is a gaping hole unless Beekman turns out to be some kind of ace.

Ruben Brown and LeCharles Bentley are still out there. Brown has also had nothing but positive things to say about the org so I still think at the end of the day the Bears will bring Brown in.

[DBAHO]

Love the Move. Very happy with the draft/off season. I just wish we would have signed 1 more Guard.

Are you happy with how the Bears have dealt with the QB/WR situation?

[Balta1701]

Are you happy with how the Bears have dealt with the QB/WR situation?

Frankly I think they did just about as well as they possibly could have with both of those spots.

[lostfan]

There really was no other option at QB. Frankly, Grossman was the best FA out there. Sure they could have taken a flyer on Woodson and they've been bashed for not doing either that or drafting Brohm, but even if they did, it's not like Brohm would've been starting anyway, and Woodson definitely wouldn't be. I wouldn't be too confident in them developing a QB as raw as Woodson anyway.

 

As far as WR they did have better FA options than Brandon Lloyd but they addressed it in the draft, so I'm not complaining too much. Bennett and/or Monk need to deliver though.

Edited July 17, 2008 by lostfan

[rangercal]

Are you happy with how the Bears have dealt with the QB/WR situation?

 

The QB situation I am fine with. I don't think anyone in the draft is going to be playoff QB right now. I would rather go with Rex than what was out there.

 

The Wr situation was a bit tough. No way Berrian was worth what the Vikings gave him, so I am not sad to see him go at that price. I am very pleased with Booker taking over for Muhaumed. It basically comes down to Bradley/Lloyd/Bennett taking over for Berrian. Everyone seems to forget that Berrian would have never had an opportunity to begin with if Bradley never got hurt. If Bradley stays healthy, I am pretty confident that he will do a decent job replacing Berrian. Lloyd and Bennett are Dark horses out of all of this. Who knows what will become of Devin Hester with the WR corps. Also, look for the Bears to run many 2 TE sets.

 

 

I was most concerned with runing back and Guard. With Kevin Jones abroad, my biggest concern is gone. So as a Bear fan ,with a Healthy D and 2 New RBs I am pretty excited about the new season. Anything short of the playoffs would be very disappointing.

[Chisoxfn]

The QB situation I am fine with. I don't think anyone in the draft is going to be playoff QB right now. I would rather go with Rex than what was out there.

 

The Wr situation was a bit tough. No way Berrian was worth what the Vikings gave him, so I am not sad to see him go at that price. I am very pleased with Booker taking over for Muhaumed. It basically comes down to Bradley/Lloyd/Bennett taking over for Berrian. Everyone seems to forget that Berrian would have never had an opportunity to begin with if Bradley never got hurt. If Bradley stays healthy, I am pretty confident that he will do a decent job replacing Berrian. Lloyd and Bennett are Dark horses out of all of this. Who knows what will become of Devin Hester with the WR corps. Also, look for the Bears to run many 2 TE sets.

 

 

I was most concerned with runing back and Guard. With Kevin Jones abroad, my biggest concern is gone. So as a Bear fan ,with a Healthy D and 2 New RBs I am pretty excited about the new season. Anything short of the playoffs would be very disappointing.

Angelo made a huge mistake when he didn't franchise Berrian. He could have signed the one year tender and the Bears would have had a year to be able to better develop and evaluate the WR's on roster. Instead the Bears are left with s*** in the WR cupboard (at least in terms of anyone who has proven anything in the NFL and yes, Booker is s*** if you are expecting him to be a #1 WR; As a 3rd stringer, he's freaking tremendous).

[rangercal]

Angelo made a huge mistake when he didn't franchise Berrian. He could have signed the one year tender and the Bears would have had a year to be able to better develop and evaluate the WR's on roster. Instead the Bears are left with s*** in the WR cupboard (at least in terms of anyone who has proven anything in the NFL and yes, Booker is s*** if you are expecting him to be a #1 WR; As a 3rd stringer, he's freaking tremendous).

 

Not Franchising Berrian Hurts, not matching the Vikes offer doesn't hurt at all. Booker better not be the # 1. I expect him to replace Moose and that's about it. That's what he is fully capable of. Hoping any of Bradley,Bennet or Llyod emerge as a # 1 is a crapshoot. But, it would not be a bigger surprise than when Berrian emerged out of no where a few years back. Having 2 good TE's makes this unproven WR corps a little easier to swallow.

[Chisoxfn]

Not Franchising Berrian Hurts, not matching the Vikes offer doesn't hurt at all. Booker better not be the # 1. I expect him to replace Moose and that's about it. That's what he is fully capable of. Hoping any of Bradley,Bennet or Llyod emerge as a # 1 is a crapshoot. But, it would not be a bigger surprise than when Berrian emerged out of no where a few years back. Having 2 good TE's makes this unproven WR corps a little easier to swallow.

Brandon Lloyd has struggled to do anything the past couple of seasons. Therefor, relying on him to be a #1 WR would be like the Bears expecting Orton to put up Peyton Manning or Tom Brady like numbers (in fact, even worse, it would be like expecting Hunter Hillmeyer to be Brian Urlacher).

 

Mark Bradley has had 3 years in this league and has yet to prove himself as a reliable #3, let alone a #1.

 

Bennet is a 3rd round draft pick who has yet to prove anything in the NFL

 

The fact that the Bears have to count on any of these guys to be a #1 is absolutely freaking ridiculous.

[lostfan]

Mark Bradley has had 3 years in this league and has yet to prove himself as a reliable #3, let alone a #1.

He's not really had a legit opportunity to do so either. Each time it appears he is going to start the season with significant playing time something happens - he was well on his way to being established before tearing his ACL, then the next year he was having a good camp and had a muscle pull (or something, I forget) which set him back and ended up burying him on the depth chart while the Bears went to the Super Bowl. Then the following year he was just kind of there, and he was stuck behind Berrian on the depth chart again, this time with Hester in the equation.

 

However, as much of a Bradley apologist as I am, I will say this - he is not too bright, and has had trouble learning which routes to run. If he was able to do that they may have let him play more that year.

[rangercal]

Brandon Lloyd has struggled to do anything the past couple of seasons. Therefor, relying on him to be a #1 WR would be like the Bears expecting Orton to put up Peyton Manning or Tom Brady like numbers (in fact, even worse, it would be like expecting Hunter Hillmeyer to be Brian Urlacher).

 

Mark Bradley has had 3 years in this league and has yet to prove himself as a reliable #3, let alone a #1.

 

Bennet is a 3rd round draft pick who has yet to prove anything in the NFL

 

The fact that the Bears have to count on any of these guys to be a #1 is absolutely freaking ridiculous.

Llyod May not even make the roster. I expect the least out of him.

Bradley has never had a real opportunity to perform since his injury. Bennet may have the talent of a # 1 eventually, but this should not be the year to find out. It's really Bradley or Bust. As scary as that is, it is not any worse than relying on a unproven Berrian at the start of 2006. Olsen/Clark/Hester/Jones need to step up on O obviously.

[Chisoxfn]

He's not really had a legit opportunity to do so either. Each time it appears he is going to start the season with significant playing time something happens - he was well on his way to being established before tearing his ACL, then the next year he was having a good camp and had a muscle pull (or something, I forget) which set him back and ended up burying him on the depth chart while the Bears went to the Super Bowl. Then the following year he was just kind of there, and he was stuck behind Berrian on the depth chart again, this time with Hester in the equation.

 

However, as much of a Bradley apologist as I am, I will say this - he is not too bright, and has had trouble learning which routes to run. If he was able to do that they may have let him play more that year.

Listen, I like Bradley as much as the next guy but you can't possibly ignore those injuries. When it happens that many times its a trend. He also failed to even be able to make it out on the field for most of the season even when he was healthy (Grossman had to plead to get him out there) and there had to be some sort of reason for that.

[Chisoxfn]

Llyod May not even make the roster. I expect the least out of him.

Bradley has never had a real opportunity to perform since his injury. Bennet may have the talent of a # 1 eventually, but this should not be the year to find out. It's really Bradley or Bust. As scary as that is, it is not any worse than relying on a unproven Berrian at the start of 2006. Olsen/Clark/Hester/Jones need to step up on O obviously.

Hester is the guy I think most likely to emerge as a #1 but he is incredibly raw and will be a first time starter. The reality is Berrian getting franchised would have been perfect because the Bears could have had Bennett adjust in, Hester as a 2 or 3 (and slowly adjust) and give Bradley and opportunity to prove themselves. That way at the end of the year the Bears would lose BB but also know what they have in Bennet/Bradley/Hester and whether that would be an adequate corps or if they would need to go out and target a WR via FA/Trade/1st Round Selection.

 

I should point out that this isn't me saying this after the fact. I continually said that the Bears should have franchised Berrian regardless of whether they felt they would be able to come to terms with on an extension or not.

[Balta1701]

I should point out that this isn't me saying this after the fact. I continually said that the Bears should have franchised Berrian regardless of whether they felt they would be able to come to terms with on an extension or not.

I'm frankly of the opposite mind. I just think that even the franchise tag is too much cap space to blow on a receiver of Berrian's level for one season. If they thought they had a shot at extending him and then they could spread out the cap hit I'd have been game, but at no where near the numbers that Minnesota offered. The only way I'd have wanted him tagged was if they were planning to trade him.

 

Looking at the way the Bears use cap room...it may hurt the team this year, but letting Berrian walk without tagging him makes the team better long term, because that cap space is money that goes directly to holding on to Harris and Hester. In the NFL, I'm willing to be weak at a position for one year if it is the right move for the long term cap situation...and IMO, the Bears are more likely to win a Super Bowl the next 3 years by having Harris and hopefully Hester extended and trying to find a fill in at the WR position (either through the draft or by finding someone who can step in and recover like they're hoping Lloyd can) than they would by holding on to Berrian for 1 more year and not being able to sign Harris or Hester or some other spot because of it

[lostfan]

Listen, I like Bradley as much as the next guy but you can't possibly ignore those injuries. When it happens that many times its a trend. He also failed to even be able to make it out on the field for most of the season even when he was healthy (Grossman had to plead to get him out there) and there had to be some sort of reason for that.

I know, injuries. Plus he had his knee scoped this year but it's not like he had a ton of work to do in the offseason so I'm guessing he'll be ready for the season. That's neither here nor there. All I'm saying is Bradley is talented and often gets forgotten about.

 

The reason he didn't make it onto the field is the same reason the Bears' offensive coaching staff turned Hester into a non-factor on offense by calling blatantly obvious WR screens every time he came onto the field. It's because they're functionally retarded.

[lostfan]

I'm frankly of the opposite mind. I just think that even the franchise tag is too much cap space to blow on a receiver of Berrian's level for one season. If they thought they had a shot at extending him and then they could spread out the cap hit I'd have been game, but at no where near the numbers that Minnesota offered. The only way I'd have wanted him tagged was if they were planning to trade him.

 

Looking at the way the Bears use cap room...it may hurt the team this year, but letting Berrian walk without tagging him makes the team better long term, because that cap space is money that goes directly to holding on to Harris and Hester. In the NFL, I'm willing to be weak at a position for one year if it is the right move for the long term cap situation...and IMO, the Bears are more likely to win a Super Bowl the next 3 years by having Harris and hopefully Hester extended and trying to find a fill in at the WR position (either through the draft or by finding someone who can step in and recover like they're hoping Lloyd can) than they would by holding on to Berrian for 1 more year and not being able to sign Harris or Hester or some other spot because of it

Cap management is one of Angelo's strong points, and it often gets misunderstood by pissed-off fans who need to vent about not signing random big-name free agents every year. Angelo certainly has his vices, but handing out bad contracts isn't one of them. I trust him to handle expiring contracts as well as any NFL GM out there (I was on Angelo's side through the whole Briggs debacle, in which Briggs's punk ass ended up playing himself).

 

However, if Angelo managed to sign Bentley, I'd kiss him on the forehead in the most non-gay way possible.

[knightni]

If Hester's to be a WR, they better be starting Grossman.

 

Orton can't get the ball downfield far enough for Devin.

[Balta1701]

Orton can't get the ball downfield far enough for Devin.

Eventually, if he's going to be a big time receiver, he has to get used to getting past people on short throws as well as long ones. But I still think Grossman winds up the opening day starter barring injury.

[lostfan]

If Hester's to be a WR, they better be starting Grossman.

 

Orton can't get the ball downfield far enough for Devin.

Orton has decent arm strength. He just has absolutely horrid accuracy, so it doesn't matter.

 

I can't recall the last time I saw a QB throw a ball 5 yards over a RB's head when there is no one else within 8 yards of them in the flat. I've also never seen a QB throw so many passes 5 yards in front of his WR's feet. I've come to the conclusion that the reason Orton doesn't throw that many interceptions is because his passes are so inaccurate they are literally uninterceptable.

Edited July 17, 2008 by lostfan