DABEARSDABOMB

I'm excited training camp is beginning. We'll get some fluff pieces but at the same time we'll actually get to see the Bears in uniform and practicing and soon enough we'll see some pre-season games.

http://www.talkchicagosports.com/blog/?p=139

I was listening to someone talk on the radio and they indicated that St. Clair is will be a significant upgrade at the guard position. Apparently the Bears are very high on him as a guard and because of that they won't really look around at Brown much (unless they plan on replacing Garza). The one thing that hurts is St. Clair moving to guard means you really don't have a backup tackle (unless you plan on moving St. Clair outside if anyone goes down and bringing in Metcalf which would be horrid).

The Giants clearly didn't need Shockey to win the superbowl so this makes them better in the sense that they don't have to worry about any off the field stuff regarding Shockey trying to jockey a trade. They'll also get draft picks (I'd have to imagine at least a 2nd round pick would be heading the Giants way). The Saints have significantly upgraded there receiving corps (Shockey is a hell of a receiving TE) and when you factor in Colston/Bush/Deuce (he'll be back) along with Drew Brees the offense should be more explosive than ever.

Thats a whole lot of cap room to still have available. I'm assuming Williams signing will take up a solid chunk of that available cap room because I don't think the Urlacher deal will have a significant impact on that. This also means the Bears will have a significant amount to throw towards Hester or anyone else that they are interested in extending (while using this years portion of the cap).

I sure as hell hope he's right. The last time he made the prediction they made it. If the defense is 100% all season, anything is possible (and it would definitely allow the offense to buy time and develop).

They aren't far apart but I think the key is no one near him has signed a deal yet so that has been causing the final hold-up. I think if it gets closer to Wed you'll see the Bears sweeten the deal just a bit and get things done regardless of whether the other teams around the Bears have signed (neither side is far apart so I'd be stunned if there was a holdout).

I think I read where of all of the players Washington has signed since Snyder took over none of them have made the pro-bowl as a RedSkin. I think Portis has made it (traded for) but considering all of the major signings they have had in the Snyder area, that is pretty telling. It also tells you how a good franchise is successful (and its not by getting its best players in FA, its by drafting well and using FA to fill any minor holes or a final piece). However, given the circumstances (losing 2 DE's in one day) I can't knock the Skins. Taylor is an absolute monster (even though he's older) and the only real question is whether he stays healthy and how long he'll stay. Assuming he holds true to his word and is around for 2 seasons this isn't a terrible deal, however, if he demands more money or walks at the end of this year than a 2nd rounder is far too much (especially considering that Taylor isn't the piece to put the Skins over the top, hell, I don't think the Skins make the playoffs with Taylor).

I realize this isn't really new news. However, the fact that the Bears are said to be counting on this guy as the potential #1 is a joke. A, he hasn't proven anything in the NFL. B, The only thing he has proven is that he can't stay on the field. It sounds like Brandon Lloyd has impressed so we have to really hope that he just died in the pit that is Washington and is now rejuvenated and ready to get back to doing what he did early on in his career in San Fran (where people were raving about his upside).

Its outstanding that we can now put this behind us. The next thing on the burner has to be Chris Williams, whom I'm guessing signs within the next 24 hours (definitely by Wednesday). After that I think the Bears will work early in training camp on getting Hester happy and if they do that you can honestly say they accomplished a hell of a lot this off-season with the only major mistake being related to not franchising Bernard Berrian. Thats not to say that this team doesn't have serious question-marks, but overall I was quite pleased with the draft and off-season (aside from Benson being an idiot).

Realistically I think you hope Jones is ready to take a few snaps by the final pre-season game and is back to being able to contribute 10-15 carries by Week 4 of the season. Than by Week 8, maybe he's ready to go as high as 20 carries for the time being.

I would absolutely love to get a premier WR. It would do wonders for the offense. However, I don't think the Bears have the resources to acquire Boldin (you bet your ass that I'd give up a 1st and more to get him and than sign him to a fat extension). However, what was Booker's injury? I didn't realize he was hurt.

I think they will carry 4 backs and one fewer WR. This is because Peterson has incredible value as a special teams player and the Bears just aren't going to give up on Wolfe after one year (on the right roster, Wolfe is a solid pick cause he is very effective as a receiver out of the backfield).

Fantatstic news. I can't be happier about the Bears finally getting someone signed. He's had injury concerns but should be a nice guy to have around to ensure that the Bears are able to ease Forte into his career. He is obviously returning very quickly from an ACL injury so I think our expectations should be to hope he is able to play in one preseason game and can work his way up to being a 10-15 carry a guy for the Bears by about the 3rd week of the season (which is just perfect cause that should help shelter Forte enough to prevent him from hitting some sort of rookie wall by week 12).

Favre would clearly be an upgrade and Bentley and Jones would be tremendous pickups if they could regain health. In terms of Henry he would be a significant upgrade to what is the worse WR corps in the league but I don't think its one the Bears make (given how they've been burned with Tank and Benson over the past two years).

The actual surgery was pretty minor, it was more the fact that it was infected that makes the recovery a bit longer (as he'll be on antibiotics and such). Still, I'd be shocked if he isn't taking the opening day snap against the Bears.

This is fantastic news. Glad to see the Bears didn't have there heads up there collective butts regarding this whole RB issue. Hopefully he passes his physical and will be good to go towards the end of pre-season. Having him here to help take the pressure off of Forte will be huge, plus Jones has shown he can handle a load at the RB spot previously in his career (although he never lived up to his hype coming out of the draft).

From the Tribune. Awesome news, sounds like if he shows that he's healthy he'll be a Bear (by tomorrow night if I were to guess).

I think this would be a very odd move, considering the Bears already have two unproven QB's on the roster battling things out and adding Simms would only make the process more difficult. This would mean you'd have 3 guys, all capable of being starters, all of whom have flashed some positive signs, battling for one job. Still, getting Simms gives you a guy who you could turn to if Orton/Rex don't go as planned and could potentially still be a guy that could be groomed as a starter and kept on when the Bears draft a QB next year (under the assumption that Rex/Kyle fail). If Rex/Kyle succeed, than oh well, Simms is a 3rd stringer this year and moves on to someplace else.

I heard Peter King on today and he said that from what he's heard he thinks the most likely scenario involves Favre coming back and playing on another team. However, he added that the Packers will not in any way shape or form just release him or enable him to join the Packers (or Bears). The Bucs and Ravens were the two most likely destinations.

It really is hard to say. The guys the Bears lost had played horrid last season, however, you are plugging in a rookie LT and an unproven guard. To be honest I really have no idea what to expect out of this entire team, especially the offensive unit (which could turn out to be one of the worse offenses we've ever seen). However, if Tait is healthy and dominates at RT (he's capable of it), Kreutz is his solid self, and Garza is his solid self than Williams will have a bit less pressure.

The Bears backfield is horrendous. No team that is planning on going to the playoffs should be relying on a rookie RB. Absolutely none, yet the Bears are calling themselves a playoff contender while they rely on a rookie RB and one of the most unproven WR corps I've seen on a Bears roster (and the Bears have had some pretty crappy WR corps). Angelo better have a trick up his sleeve or secretly have plans in motion for how he plans on getting the team back to the promised-land. Luckily the Bears have made the playoffs under Lovie with horrible offenses in the past so maybe they'll be able to do it again (I'm talking about the season where Orton was the starter).

McBride was playing over RMJ in Nickel sets last season for a reason. It is because he's a very very nice looking nickel CB (won't be a starting CB, but you are talking about an above average nickel CB who can step in and start if a guy goes down). And that was as a rookie.

Vasher/Tillman are two guys whose injuries probably hurt the Bears more than any other. They aren't what I'd call injury prone (at least not Tillman). However, Urlacher is aging and Tommie Harris has some serious concerns around his knee. I definitely wouldn't claim this is an injury prone defense aside from Mike Brown and Dusty, however, Urlacher is older and Harris has had two straight seasons where he had to play through some serious injuries.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Bears have the chance at the playoffs, but the defense will have to be entirely healthy (that means Urlacher & Harris especially need to play at there highest levels) and if thats the case it will be at least a top 5 defense. That will give the Bears some time to work out the offensive kinks. I like Forte and I like some of the potential at the Wr position, although I'm not going to lie when I say the Bears have as bad of a WR core as I've ever seen (yes it has the ability, but Hester is very raw, Bradley has never been healthy, Booker is slowing down and really an ideal slot WR, and you have Bennett who looks nice but is a rookie). That is one horrendous ass WR core. Thankfully Clark/Olsen are a strong TE core.