adam

Urlacher was essentially playing hurt most of the year after that late knee surgery, so any assessment on his decline is sort of skewed. The deciding factor is going to be money anyway, everyone knows he can still play, and an average Urlacher is still a pretty damn good MLB and leader.

I would think we could sign him to a 2-yr deal and draft a MLB in the first 2 rounds next year, then have the rookie learn from Urlacher in his first year before taking over for him the next year.

Urlacher makes a pretty strong case to re-sign him. I thought his wording was interesting. He seems to understand that to stay on this team, he is going to have to take a pay cut. I wouldn't mind bringing him back for a 2-year incentive laden deal. This would allow us to focus the draft on other needs. More at the link: http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/...n-chicago-bears

I would be happy with Johnson and Long anchoring our line for the next decade. Instead of going WR in the 5th, I would look to go TE instead, especially if we didn't sign one in FA. TE seems to be more of a need than WR3 or WR4.

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he and a draft pick or someone like Keller were the top 2 TE's entering the season with Davis and Spaeth gone.

Yeah, I am not complaining how that traded ended up, getting Marshall using the same pick was a nice deal. Hardin was picked with the Bears original 3rd rounder.

True but you have to take the entire body of work, and if he is going to want Pro Bowl type money, then we will probably not acquire him. I do like the Kromer connection though, and if that helps reduce the price, then I wouldn't be against it.

The Jon Baldwin of 20 receptions and 325 yards? That would be their #1 if they let Bowe walk. I just believe they will do everything in their power to keep if. If they can't work out a long term deal, the franchise tag is a distinct possibility. I would say he is more valuable to them than Albert is at this point.

With so many teams using 3 WR's, having 3 top CB's is almost a must. This year would be the logical year to lock Tillman up for his last contract. If we can save $1 mil a year, that would be a bonus.

I don't think they will lose Bowe though. With Reid there now, he is not going to let Bowe just walk. They will try to re-sign him, and if they have to, franchise him. Name one of their other regular WR's.

Jared Cook, he is 17th on the FA list for TE's. Just knowing that Emery is using these metrics, it is hard for me to see him paying a guy who is league average at best when a 4th round pick will cost a lot less and have comparable production.

Myers was the worst rated TE according to PFF: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/...ent-tight-ends/ There is no way Emery is going to pay for him. He was the garbage time king. Raiders down big, opponents playing prevent, and Myers boosts his numbers. Half of his receptions and yards occurred in the 4th quarter as well has 3 out of his 4 TD's. Keller is the only one that interests me in the FA market. I would rather grab a young TE from the draft.

PFF OT Rankings: Ryan Clady LT 5 DEN UFA +26.9 Andre Smith RT 4 CIN UFA +26.9 Gosder Cherilus RT 5 DET UFA +23.5 Will Beatty LT 4 NYG UFA +22.4 Sebastian Vollmer RT 4 NE UFA +21.5 Phil Loadholt RT 4 MIN UFA +15.9 Branden Albert LT 5 KC UFA +13.8 Sam Baker LT 5 ATL UFA +11.6 King Dunlap LT 5 PHI UFA +7.1 Ryan Harris RT 5 HOU UFA +4.3 Bushrod was ranked 14th, and if Emery is using any of these metrics, he is not going to pay for Bushrod. The LT top tier seems to be Clady, Beatty, Albert, and Baker.

44th in Receptions and 42nd in Yards for all TE's, and he was the starter. The 2nd TE on about 10 teams out-produced him as the starter. You are right, someone will pick him up, but probably for the league minimum and to ride the pine. I don't think he will ever start again.

Based on his last contract, and his current cap hit of $8 million, there seems to be some savings in there.

I don't think there is too much to this. Callahan changed the game plan days before the Super Bowl and it didn't work. Trestman is doing the smart thing and not getting involved. If Brown believed Trestman was involved, I would think that would've been brought up already.

What talent does Kellen Davis possess?

From PFF: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/...ight-ends-yprr/ Kellen Davis was the 2nd to last in YPRR out of 52 qualifying TE's. Olsen was 5th best, sigh. Davis needs to be cut, and TE needs to be a priority along with OL in FA and the draft. Not that you didn't know this, just more confirmation of how bad Davis was/is.

I believe it would cost more to cut Bush than to keep him this year, or at least close to it; he is not being cut this year.

Aldon Smith had 19.5 sacks but 5.5 in one game (against us Eek), but interesting enough did not have any in his last 3 regular season games or the last 2 playoff games. I just can't see the Bears investing more money in the DL with Peppers, McClellin, and Melton (assuming he is re-signed) on the books. If there was a huge run on OL, then someone would fall to us like a top notch LB. If not, then trading down and acquiring more picks seems to be the way to go.

Dude, don't feel like you have to justify yourself. I would rather get something from you that could be right than the half-ass stuff from the interwebs.

What makes you say that? Just because there is no consensus #1 at the skill positions? Actually, there is better chance that more defensive players go in the first round than offensive players (including OLine).

Thanks Brian, but please stop putting out good, accurate information too early.

Davis was targeted 78 times in the last 2 years and only caught 37 passes. That is 47%, sad.

not debate, supporting your argument. All 4 teams with some very good TE's, and even the Divisional games has some as well. Seems to be the biggest trend.