Chicago Bears Begin Free Agency Period
While nothing has happened as of the time this was written, expect this free agency period to be like a waterfall. Teams will sign guys fast, so be ready. The Chicago Bears are going to be busy.
The Chicago Bears top targets are interestingly enough at linebacker. Former Bear and current Carolina Panther Jamal Williams and Jacksonville Jaguar linebacker James Durant. The Chicago Bears would also love a shot at Carolina Panther James Anderson, but his price tag and desire to stay in Carolina may be too much.
Everyone wants the Chicago Bears to sign a wide receiver. Andy Fantuz from Canada made many plays in the CFL, but the transition may be too difficult right away. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a player, but it may not be overnight. I think the Bears may sign as many as two wide receivers to give Jay Cutler a much-needed target. Chad Johnson from the Bengals could come cheap.
On the offensive line, I think the Chicago Bears may actually be more content than people think. Mike Tice is a great coach and had the unit playing respectably by the end of the season. We will know more when a decision is made with Olin Kruetz. He’s expected to resign, but the Chicago Bears could look to get younger in the middle. Roberto Garza’s time with the Chicago Bears could be expiring as well. Robert Gallery from the Oakland Raiders and former second overall pick may be given a shot. Tice loves projects, and this could be his guy. Gallery has been a disappointment with the Raiders, but he may be the difference on this team. While the Chicago Bears have J’Marcus Webb and newcomer first-round pick Gabe Carimi at tackle, I’m not convinced the Chicago Bears are set at this position. Obviously, if Kruetz and Garza go, there may be some movement on the interior line. Some even feel that Carimi may be more suited at guard.
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Soon We Will Have Chicago Bears Football
From every indication, the NFL Lockout will be coming to a close very shortly. The players association has agreed to the new collective bargaining agreement. All’s well that ends well.
While many of us are not shocked that the work stoppage didn’t impact the regular season, it will impact the free-agency period. Players will have a shorter window to sign contracts and teams are going to have less time to negotiate with potential signees.
It is no secret that the Chicago Bears need to improve depth at wide receiver, offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. A backup running back and quarterback would be nice too.
As of today, I think the Chicago Bears will struggle to win seven games. However, this can change quickly if the Chicago Bears make a splash in free agency. Will this happen? It is my belief that Jerry Angelo has some things up his sleeve. He is going to be aggressive in free agency and bring in some much-needed help. With players like Brian Urlacher getting older, the window is becoming smaller and smaller. With one or two solid moves, the struggle to seven wins can be a 10 or 11 win team. Remember, this team darn near beat the Packers in the championship game.
There will be much more to follow in the up-c0ming days. But folks, we’re going to have football. Thank goodness for that…
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What the Chicago Bears Owe the Fans???
I was listening to a local sports radio show in Chicago last evening when the conversation turned to the idea of who’s right and who’s wrong in this whole NFL labor dispute through the eyes of a Chicago Bears fan. Almost all of the callers sided with the players and the radio host suggested that as fans we should be upset because of the high prices involved with attending a Chicago Bears game.
I am so sick and tired of this line of thinking. The NFL owes me nothing. The Chicago Bears owe me nothing. I have season tickets to the Chicago Bears as a choice. Anytime I want to stop paying for my tickets is my right. I have no issue with what the Chicago Bears charge me because I CHOOSE to pay it. If I cannot afford to attend a game, guess what, it is available on television.
The NFL is a business. Owners and players have a right to maximize the value of the product. If the owners want to make more money, that is their collective right. Do you really believe the players give a crap about the name on the front of the jersey? OK, well a select few might but they want to get paid as well. It is called capitalism.
This power-to-the-people nonsense really irritates me. As a small-business owner I need to make as much money as I can. Otherwise, why the hell did I go into business? Do you think that it’s any different with the owners. If I do not like the way the owners do things, it is my right to stop watching. The Chicago Bears are my passion, but the team is hardly a necessity in my life. I will live and breath without football. And I hate to break it to you folks that complain about the cost of attending a Bears game, you will too.
I grew up at the old Soldier Field. The tickets have been in my family for many many years. I hated the old place…it was a dump. The new stadium is nice. This wasn’t exactly free. If the city raised taxes to pay for it, I am sure that everyone would be up-in-arms about it. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Bears worked out a plan that cost the residence of Chicago nothing (there is a hotel tax involved, but it wasn’t a direct tax). Meanwhile, the costs were passed onto the fans. That is certainly a fair deal to those individuals in Chicago that do not care about football. Again, to repeat myself, if you do not like the costs of attending a football game…don’t go.
As some of you may or may-not know, I am a Chicago Cubs fan. I am so fed up with the horrible product and direction of the team that I am avoiding Wrigley Field. I still love baseball and remain loyal to the Chicago Cubs, but why should I pay for something that I find to be inferior? My point is to all of you sanctimonious bastards out there complaining about sports prices and the way fans are treated, stop going. Stop supporting your team. Find something else to do with your time. Stop worrying about how the owners treat the fans. But until you are prepared to do that, there’s no basis to your argument.
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The NFL Cancels the Hall-of-Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams
The Chicago Bears will have to start the preseason like everyone else. The scheduled Hall-of-Fame game in Canton,Ohio on August 7th has officially been cancelled. I love football, but hate the preseason. No need to rush the Chicago Bears back and risk major injuries.
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NFL Lockout Update
Last week or so, Bears Headquarters reported that the NFL lockout was going to be settled by July 4th weekend. It didn’t happen obviously. But what has happened is a real crack in the player’s association.
According to my source, there was a deal on the table that the players association was ready to accept. However, some top players wouldn’t accept it. What makes this even worse for the former NFLPA is there’s now problems with many of the players. There are some players that want to play, and don’t care if the players recertify or not.
I want football. The nation wants football. And this greedy display by both sides screws over one important group…us.
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