AZ54

I think it's ok to have Knox as primary and keep Hester in reserve for kickoffs. Hester is still a significant part of our offense and he needs to have something left in the tank. Plus the new rules mean kickoffs will basically be a formality. If it's late in the game and we need a huge return throw him out there. It's a totally different look for the coverage team and that just adds to his potential for a big return IMO.

http://thexlog.com/201108012214/xtra-point...ng-camp-report/ Interesting comments on Carimi and his run blocking. Conte seems to be playing FS well. Hester is looking good as WR.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/cate...1-training-camp Joshua Moore in mix to start at corner August, 7, 2011 AUG 7 5:14 PM CT EmailPrintComments 5 By Jeff Dickerson BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Don't rule Joshua Moore out as candidate for the Chicago Bears starting cornerback job opposite Charles Tillman. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is pretty surprising, it's the first I've heard that he's even playing well. To be fair they don't even state that he's playing well, only that he's bigger, stronger, quicker, and faster. Definitely one to watch in the preseason games.

I am very surprised for him to announce this so early in camp. Spencer has only been able to practice since Thursday. Likewise, Garza has only been at C for a week. More surprising for me is that he's showing that much confidence in Williams and Louis and so early. So perhaps there isn't that much competition but even so, why tell that to your players now?

I thought Melton was drafted when he weighed around 260lbs, then added ~15lbs a year ago, and has done the same again this offseason to where he's finally in the 290s. Looking at what he did last season at 275lbs was pretty solid. If he's still got his quickness along with the added the strength we could see a good player emerge this season.

It's a nice feel-good story but with below average size and athleticism this kid will never amount to much. He appears to have football smarts so he may very well end up a nice depth player on a roster somewhere, perhaps even ours but guys like this usually fade quickly when the competition gets real. He's not going to find such wide open spaces to run around like he did back in college and if people thought Knox had trouble getting off press coverage wait til you see him.

With FA's like Hayden and Tatupu the Bears have often let them visit other teams and basically let them set the market with their offers. They tell the players when they have an offer they like to give them a call and the Bears will see if they want to offer more. Since we have so much cap space agents know we definitely have the ability to improve upon any offer they get so the Bears will get that chance.

Knox should be upset he's losing his starting role. If he wasn't upset there'd be plenty to worry about. It seems clear he's already gotten the message...get better in route running. He is still going to be one of our top 4 and he'll get plenty of opportunities to prove he's better.

Having a baby and all, Unga should know that the NFL opportunity before him is the best way to take care of his family. Missing so much practice when the entire offseason was cut short likely means he's done unless he shows something spectacular in the preseason games.

In the end we have a similar quality player at C but we saved $2mil to sign other quality players. That's a win in my book plus we get to add in that Spencer is younger and perhaps there is a chance Tice can get better play out of him. We've already seen the best Tice can get out of Kreutz. If Roy wants to be fair take the same game and show Kreutz' good, bad, and ugly plays.

Unga

Olin knows all the tendencies and body language? Perhaps, but knowing how much film all NFL teams put together for their players it hardly matters. We're not the Jets, overall our defense is pretty plain, we just do what we do and we do it well. At the end of the day you still have be able to block the guy in front of you. I'll wait to see all the details but Kreutz taking what appears to be a heavily incentive laden contract for $4.5mil vs. a guaranteed $4mil doesn't make sense. Veterans know how easily it is to get injured and recoveries take longer. I get the idea the "incentives" were structured solely for him to save face on the deal but I bet some are not likely to be earned. What's in there...Pro Bowl appearance? Even if the incentives are likely to be earned he just walked out on his NFC-contending teammates for a mere $500k. Makes no sense.

Fitz is already talking about staying with the Cardinals and they have already set aside a chunk of cap space for his new contract.

Mays was never known as a smart player who could diagnose plays. If he could even handle it, I can't see him handling a position change like that in such a shortened offseason. Pass.

This ends all talk of the Bears being cheap with Olin. As I said before, their offer was above market value and he rejected it. He "didn't have a good feeling" about being wanted. Ok, whatever. He's still one of the Bears greats like many elite players he'll finish up for a year, perhaps two on another team.

FAs are practicing now so the pressure ratchets up on the FAs who haven't signed anywhere. The more the new guys practice the more time they get to make a lasting impression. If we get a good deal on Lofa and he's our starting LB then I really like our run defense on 1st and 2nd down this year.

Terrskiptor! It's always good to have someone playing devil's advocate on the Bears moves, I don't want to read a board filled with a bunch of cheerleader type comments. I'm just hoping for the day we can all tell Terra he was wrong because that will mean we won the Superbowl.

Where did you hear that about Louis?

There's a reason his nickname was Mount McKinnie. They grabbed a former LT from the Colts, who was replaced himself, to take the spot of McKinnie. He can't be in any kind of shape at all.

Not good, especially for a guy not known for his work ethic.

Given how some were performing they deserved to be paid little. We still have room to add another Oline, CB, and even a vet LB if they are so inclined, plus take care of Forte.

Of course we have to extend Forte's contract. We also have a bunch of retreads, i.e. Roy Williams, who if they play well we will want to sign long term.

One thing about these first few days, the coaches will get good looks at the UDFAs and other young guys before all the FAs join in.

Absolutely true and rarely do they get credit for it.

Last season every time I watched a play in slo-mo Kreutz is getting blown up in 1on1 situations. I can't recall seeing him block anyone 1on1. He was always an undersized C and relied on his quickness to keep position on bigger DTs, or get to one side to assist an OG who was beat. At his age he's still undersized but doesn't have the quickness he used to have. I really respect his career with the Bears, he's one of the great ones. However, it seems clear nobody else is willing to pay him what the Bears were offering so the comments about the Bears being cheap, or trying to short-change him is totally wrong. They offered him more than market value because he had more value to our team than any other team and he refused it. As a team we had to move on because we have areas to address and you can't leave that money sitting there committed to a guy who wants to keep negotiating. Everyone knew this FA period was going to be fast and furious including the players. The team needed an answer and got it, now we move on. As always Bears fans, and in this case the media, seem to over-value our own players more than anyone else. In this case our Oline was horrible last year and like it or not Kreutz was part of the reason it was so bad. Will his leadership be missed, likely, but right now we need players on the field who can perform not locker room leaders.