Shouting Out Offseason News!

I'm pissed to this day

So am i. It shouldn't have ended like that. Kruetz had a glittering career, was a warrior and a leader. But i blame him as well as the agent. He shouldn't have needed to be told 4mil was a good offer and he should take it.

New Orleans says to me that Kruetz knew he was very near the end, i think he was just trying to squeeze one more big money season out of the Bears, then got proud and overplayed it. Thats exactly why the team always comes first to me. Even a guy like Kruetz, when it came to the crunch, he threw it away over a quarter mil. I'm hope he now wishes it had been done the right way, i know i do.

If you don't want him back, then who do you want to replace him?

I want Urlacher back, i hope they can work something out. MLB won't be strongest spot on the team next season whatever they do, but its certainly better for all concerned if Urlacher is back next year, for all the reasons you say aggie. But......not at any cost. Its gotta be team friendly. I'd prefer a straight 1year deal, but if they want to include options and stuff go ahead. But no gauranteed money after the 1st year.

The Seattle game where he broke down at the end really made me wonder if Urlacher could ever get through a full season healthy again. Personally i don't see him playing in 2014. And for those reasons, even if they do resign him, i still want a 2nd rounder as well for cover/the future.

Interesting. Tim Jennings escalator changes how his extension will be handled.

Bears RCB Tim Jennings triggered an escalator in his contract, raising his 2013 salary from $3.25 million to $4.25 million.

Jennings had a career year in 2012, swatting away 21 passes and racking up a league-best nine interceptions. Jennings graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 9 corner in the NFL, five spots behind teammate Charles Tillman. The 29-year-old is entering the final year of his contract.
 

And for those reasons, even if they do resign him, i still want a 2nd rounder as well for cover/the future.

I am with you 100% on this.  I just don't want to let him go and have to plug a rookie in or some free agent when we are trying to make a Super Bowl run.  Plus, I would hate to see Urlacher in any other uniform.  I agree we don't need to overpay him but a serious effort needs to be made.

Interesting. Tim Jennings escalator changes how his extension will be handled.

 

Bears RCB Tim Jennings triggered an escalator in his contract, raising his 2013 salary from $3.25 million to $4.25 million.

Jennings had a career year in 2012, swatting away 21 passes and racking up a league-best nine interceptions. Jennings graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 9 corner in the NFL, five spots behind teammate Charles Tillman. The 29-year-old is entering the final year of his contract.

I really hope that management sees just how good my man Timmy Jennings is on tape. 

He is, by far, the best open field tackler on the team.  In fact, I can't recall him ever missing a critical tackle.  He is also the best cover guy on the team, with Peanut a not that close second (but still good).  

Thankfully, we have new management blood now.  Hopefully they recognize real value when they see it.  

Tim Jennings at $4.25 mil for a Pro Bowl corner represents HUGE value.

Look at the free agent money given to the likes of Asomugha and Cromartie, and how their stats stack up to Tim Jennings.  The Bears are getting a beast at a bargain basement price.

Trestman responds about Brian Urlacher.

When asked about Brian Urlacher's future with the team, new head coach Marc Trestman was complementary but noncommittal.

"I’ve watched the man play for a lot of years. He exemplifies what being a Chicago Bear is all about, and we all know that," Trestman said. "When I step out of this room, we’ll begin to study, and I’ll talk to Phil [Emery] about where personnel fits on this football team and how it works." Emery added, "The things that are very difficult to replace for Brian, if we were ever to move in a different direction, is the leadership that he has and the knowledge base that he has with our system." Free agency begins March 12, and Urlacher told ESPN Chicago he’s hopeful he’ll remain a Bear.

Source: [Chicago Sun-Times] 

I personally think, bringing to mind the circumstances, it would be stupid not to resign him for short term. On one leg, the guy is far and away the best Mike on the roster, and Mongo already pointed out the facts. This new group seems to not want to show any hands whatsoever.

I'm pissed to this day

So am i. It shouldn't have ended like that. Kruetz had a glittering career, was a warrior and a leader. But i blame him as well as the agent. He shouldn't have needed to be told 4mil was a good offer and he should take it.

I'm not; as soon as the rule changed that Kreutz couldnt do that......psychotic, angry hand thingy that made him look possessed--he lost a huge part of his game--because he was a small dude, but had that "crazy" wildcard he could play to his advantage.  After that; his play went down, due to age.  Was he a leader?  Was he one of the best?  Absolutely.  But in a world where the game no longer appreciates veterans living on a former resume; and the "what can you do for me now" mentality--it was his time.

That, and he and his agent did that to him.  He has nobody to blame but himself for that.

If you don't want him back, then who do you want to replace him?

This is troublesome.  Because I think Lance Briggs can do it, but probably shouldnt.  Nick Roach cant.  The Bears gotta decide real quick what to do about this.  BU wants to stay and retire a bear, but didnt hesitate to add that if he cant continue playing for the bears, he'll go somewhere else.  I'd sign the man.  2 more years tops.  Then target a slew of guys in the 2nd round. 

One thing I could appreciate about the bears when it came to LBs was that they found tall, fast ones.  I would still stick to that logic, ergo--I'd like Shayne Skov (6'3 4.5 projected forty), Chase Thomas (6'4 4.4 projected 40), or Kevin Reddick (6'3, 4.5 projected 40).  But we have to get a dynamite OL in round 1 and FA.  If we cant--I'd pass for next year waiting for a MLB.  Or rounds 4-6. 

Absolutely.  But in a world where the game no longer appreciates veterans living on a former resume; and the "what can you do for me now" mentality--it was his time.

That, and he and his agent did that to him.  He has nobody to blame but himself for that.

I agree, but I don't blame the Bears for giving Olin a timetable of a few hours to make a decision on that contract, I think Olin expected a little more respect and perhaps a little more time to make that decision. I also don't hold him quitting on the Saints against him because if a guys heart isn't in it I would rather them just walk away from the game instead of hanging out just to collect a check. I don't know what he feels or how he felt with the Saints, but it's obvious the situation there didn't have the same rewards as what he had here so I won't hold that against him, he was a Bear and I guess in his heart always will be.

Moving on from front office to players. I figured you all would like this!

CHICAGO – Although [Chicago Bears] wide receiver [Brandon Marshall] remains on crutches following arthroscopic hip surgery, he said he plans to mentor second-year wideout [Alshon Jeffery] this offseason and will begin training with him on Monday in South Florida. 

"I'm excited because this kid has the potential to be an All-Pro one year," Marshall said of Jeffery Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "If he just changes some little things, the way he approaches the game as far as physically and mentally, he's going to be a beast. Because he has that dog in him, he has that in him, that you want in a receiver ... a guy who is going to make plays for you. 

"For me, I always started training the week after the Super Bowl, and he's going into his second year so it shouldn't be a problem for him. As I'm getting a little older, I have to change the way I attack it. Starting off, our routines will be a little different, but just getting him with the right people, nutritionists, trainer, chiropractors and all that stuff. (It's about) showing him the other side of the business, showing him it's not just about coming to work and going on the field. There is so much more to the game that will allow you to be successful if you just do it. I'm excited to have this position." 

Marshall spoke openly during the regular season about his desire to train with Jeffery, the Bears' 2012 second-round draft choice out of South Carolina. Jeffery caught 24 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns in a 10-game rookie season that was cut short due to hand and knee injuries. 

But Marshall will be unable to train with Jeffery at full speed for several weeks, as Marshall is still on crutches after undergoing hip surgery in early January. Marshall said he deals with hip problems every year and is believed to need constant treatments on the hip during the regular season. 

But Marshall still set Bears' single-season franchise records with 118 receptions for 1,508 yards, to go along with 11 touchdowns in his first year in Chicago after the Bears acquired him via trade from the [Miami Dolphins] last offseason. 

"I need to have the hip procedure every year so it seems like every time I have the surgery (I have) a Pro Bowl year, so hopefully the surgeries keep coming because it seems like those are my best years," said Marshall, who was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl this season. "It's just part of the game, everyone is banged up, everyone is injured. For me, I just had to get my hip cleaned out a little bit. It was causing me a little discomfort, a little pinching, but again, I went through the whole year and was able to be productive. 

"I'm just excited to get back out there. I'll be on crutches for another few weeks, and after that I'll start running a week or two after that." 

ESPN Chicago