AZ54

Considering the so-so year (although I liked how he competed at DT for us) and his surgery he's got a pretty good deal in Minn IMO. I thought he'd end up closer to $1mil for a year, and maybe even vet min. His versatility helped in this case. He's a good guy and I expect he'll be around the league for another 5 years.

I'd like to see that as well. The Seahawks offered him something reportedly around $5mil but that might be pure guesstimate. Most important to me is that they only offered him a spot as the 3rd man in their DE rotation and that is exactly the position I'd like to see him fill for us. Let the younger and stronger guys handle the run downs. I know he said he wanted to be somewhere he would still the starter with the majority of reps but if he comes to accept that a) he's older and less reps means he'll be fresher for the pass rush and can likely have a few successful seasons in that role and c) he can still earn some big money but not the $10mil/yr he wanted and d) he will still be a name player because he will get plenty of sacks in a reduce role and e) he will have a shot at winning a Superbowl ring doing that Several teams are interested just don't know if we're one of them. If he's still set on earning $10mil/yr or close to that and wants to be the starter then I'm not interested.

I wanted him back but there was no need for us to go that high for Melton. Year 1 not bad, but that escalation kills it IMO. He can be just "good to very good" with say 5-6 sacks and are you really going to cut him? He's not that good in run defense, not like an $8-9mil/yr player should be. I will carefully watch what Collins does this year versus Melton but I'm thinking we'll get a lot more value for our money.

Standard. No idea there was an outline option and now that I do know there is one I'll still be in standard mode. That's because I value each and every word each of you has to say!

Standard. No idea there was an outline option and now that I do know there is one I'll still be in standard mode. That's because I value each and every word each of you has to say!

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-dra...-oregon-workout I still like him late in the draft but I think it's likely the kid from the CFL, Chris Williams, can fill this role.

That is 100% correct. We signed special teams guy when we already had one special teams guy (Hester) on the roster. For that matter we also had a slot reserved for Costanzo. Special teams coverage is important but the good GMs and/or coaches will find a guy that can do that and be a decent backup at their position (DB/WR/LB). I can live with one specialist but not three. With three veterans like that on the roster you are not reserving a spot for a young player to develop into a good position player.

If he is it will be at Emery's price. I highly doubt we'd pay him $10mil/yr (for one we don't even have the cap space). He's certainly not worth more than what Peppers received as he's not that good playing the run. Peppers is not even worth what he received. I'd say Allen ends up earning around $5mil/yr. I would love the trio of Houston, Young, and Allen as the 3rd man in the rotation. Much better edge rushing than anything we saw last year. Draft Donald, kick Houston inside on 3rd and long with Allen and Young off the edge and we will get pressure…quickly.

Emery has 50% of our 10yr draft success in terms of Rd 1-3 players who made it to the Pro Bowl. (2 of 4) He has done that in just two drafts.

I'd be very happy with that draft too. Ha Ha is an extremely fluid runner in the open field and covers a ton of ground quickly. I watch a little bit of the combine just to get an idea who some of these guys are and what they bring to the table. He stood out among the safeties. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-inter...ine-performance It seems he has the smarts to diagnose what's going on with plays as well. Downside -- he's not very big and not a physical tackler but we need coverage skills on the backend and a sure tackler. I don't think he's Ed Reed though and I'm leery of players like him that were behind an often dominant front 7 so it's easier to make standout plays. I'm not sure about using #14 on him but if we did and got Quarles in the 2nd that'd be fine. We need some realistic starter level competition at FS with Conte and Dix will provide that.

If the Giants don't protect their $20mil QB nothing they do anywhere else in the draft will matter. I don't see them gambling on a lightweight DT that high in the draft.

I heard the Seahawks were negotiating with him but that seems to have cooled off. I think what's happening is that Melton's market is not nearly as strong as what he hoped for. So he keeps shopping. Now he's headed to StL. http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2014rumors.php 3/17: "If there is a Henry Melton signing with the Cowboys, doesn't sound like it'll happen tonight. Vikings in it, Seahawks not as much." - Ian Rapoport

He was never quick around the corner and he's not quicker today than he was two years ago. He was good inside as a pass rusher and I'm sure he can play some DE for us on run downs. I don't see him as the special teams ace he was 5 years ago either. Overall, I think he's just another "versatile" player Emery and Trestman seek. Having said that, why tie up cap space on Izzy in his 12th season at DE when they've stated they want to get younger on defense and have all these players competing at DE: Houston Young Bass Lane Washington Ozougwu Robertson Scott and we still have part time rusher in SMC, and I expect we'll add someone via the draft. A draftee puts us at 9 DEs on the roster, 10 if we add Izzy to the mix. Or they cut someone. At DT on our roster we have: Collins Paea At NT we have: Ratliff At some point when you get to training camp there are only so many reps to go around and working 10 players through DE competition. I don't seriously think guys like Tracy Robertson, 6-4 285lbs 5.1 forty, are contenders as pass rushers either. He's competition for whatever role they envision for Izzy. Someone like Trevor Scott, 6-5 ran a 4.54 forty is in competition for a job as an edge rusher. Nothing stops them from cutting some of these bottom roster guys either. It's hard to know since we are changing our defensive scheme but one year removed from letting Izzy go from our DE group we suddenly decide he's the answer on the edge. Seems odd to me. The question remains, are we going to use some 3-4 looks? While we are not going all out to a 3-4, when I see a guy like Izzy I can see him doing well as a situational 3-4 DE.

Exactly, they are paying a guy $8.5mil who does not need to be double teamed anymore.

At this point in his career I'd say he was signed to be a backup DT, most likely to be used for passing downs.

I don't think that's the case. Emery has stated publicly that they told Melton's agent to shop around in FA and then come back to the Bears and let them see what they could do. Henry is out shopping. We may have given the agent some ideas where we were at but I doubt it was anything more than some wide open parameters.

I don't see us a being done. We only have 3 DTs on the roster: Collins, Paea, and Ratliff. I think we are still waiting to make a decision on Melton and if that fails we will sign one other DT to join the backup rotation (Kevin Williams 1yr?). Then we're off to the draft for our DTs. After last year's debacle I don't see how Emery could not load up on more options at DT. In terms of salary cap space we still have option in cutting Weems and/or Bennett. We already hedged that bet by signing Hixon.

Per past conversations there was not much room to restructure Peppers deal. He only had 2 years remaining, 2014/15. The best that could have happened would have been him being cut and then signing with the Bears for that same deal. I would not have paid him $8.5mil for 2014. Instead of Peppers for his $10mil in cap space this year we have: Houston $5mil Young $2.66mil Tillman $3.5mil Ok so that adds up to $11mil but it would not have happened without freeing up Peppers cap space so I'll take that 3 for 1 deal. I think it's just an added bonus that Peppers has a $8.5mil cap hit for the Packers this year.

First wave of FA is over. According to NFL Network 50 (or more) of the top 100 FA have signed with teams. He has three teams interested in him: Dallas, Seattle, and Minn. The Cowboys do not have a lot of cap space and still have a few spots to fill. Here Melton has tons of opportunity for little money. The Vikings have cap space but Melton either got no contract or didn't like what they said. Based on reports it was no contract offer. On top of that the Vikings have Floyd at the 3T spot so Melton is going to be a backup and I can't see the Vikings spending big on Melton now. Little opportunity for likely medium money. Seattle has opportunity and has a good amount of cap space left. I can see Melton landing here unless the Bears beat their offer in a significant way. Chicago has a lot of opportunity and medium to low cash. We might be willing to go a little longer term on the contract

I never forgot that. Injured player sitting on his sofa ripping on another injured player for an injury he knew nothing about.

He's moving inside to play DE in a 3-4 front. Slausson + Long = Not worried. Especially not worried if Peppers is still performing at the level he did last season. In fact, at that level it makes him a target to run at. I can't believe they gave him $8.5million for this season. They are clearly hoping he returns to form and that's a gamble we rarely see GB make.

I like what we've done too. It's just not sexy but OTOH we didn't break the bank on any single player. I think we've built a good foundation to add talent to in the draft, not to mention next year. We still need more help at DT in FA ideally Melton follows Tillman and returns home.

After reading this, and listening to his interview and press conference, and watching some highlights I think Houston still has room to improve, quite a bit of room. I preferred Bennett but I think we've seen his best, or rather he is at his ceiling. Whether or not we can get Houston to hit his ceiling is another debate but I believe there is much to be gained with this guy. With his combination of size, strength, and quickness his ceiling might be higher than Bennett's. http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1...b7-a50769584c36

Prefer we sign someone a lot younger. Now is the right time to get someone in the pipeline that is cheap and good.

Glad to have him back. Now sign Melton and we're ready to go find a few more depth players for the D and off to the draft.