Tag: Bears rumors (Page 3 of 3)

      Bears to lose Urlacher for 4-6 weeks?

      September 14, 2009 /

      Footballoutsiders.com is reporting that Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his dislocated wrist.

      From Rotoworld.com:

      The site doesn’t normally break news, but injury expert Will Carroll has connections with team medical staffs. Veteran Hunter Hillenmeyer will fill in for Urlacher, which will hurt the Bears run defense. We’d still sit Willie Parker against Chicago in Week 2.

      Things go from bad to worse for the Bears. Urlacher was reportedly in the best shape of his life this summer after struggling with neck and back issues last year. So it’s unfortunate that an injury like this will cause him to miss games.

      The good news is that the Chicago’s front four generated great pressure last night on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers so if they can continue that trend, it at least softens the blow of losing Urlacher.

      Update: The Chicago Tribune is now reporting that Urlacher is likely done for the season after having a dislocated bone put back into his wrist. This is obviously a huge blow to the Bears, who will either move Lance Briggs to middle linebacker or start Hunter Hillenmeyer in Urlacher’s place.

      NFL

      Bears say no on Marshall, but Burress remains an option

      June 18, 2009 /

      According to a report in the Chicago Sun Times, Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo is giving the idea of trading for Brandon Marshall a big fat “no,” but signing Plaxico Burress still remains an option.

      Smith, who can’t comment on players under contract with other teams, harshly said ”no” when Brandon Marshall’s name was brought up. Marshall has requested a trade out of Denver, and a reunion with Cutler is a natural storyline, but Marshall has a checkered off-field history, is coming off hip surgery and would require substantial compensation to acquire. Go ahead and rule him out.

      Burress, though, remains a possibility.

      ”Plaxico Burress is a good football player,” Smith said. ”Of course, we all know that. We keep all of our options open. We’re constantly evaluating all the players who are out there. But I feel good about our team that we have right now, and I feel good about the receivers we have right now.”

      I doubt that the Bears would be interested in one malcontent (Burress), but not the other (Marshall). Chances are, they’re interested in both, but there are more factors involving trading for Marshall, including putting together enough trade compensation to lure him out of Denver.

      If they signed Burress, it would probably only be to a one-year deal for a minimal amount of money. If he acts up or goes to jail, then Chicago could part with him at the end of the ’09 season and not have to worry about carrying his baggage into 2010.

      NFL

      Cutler already alienating fans in Chicago?

      June 1, 2009 /

      David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune had this interesting tidbit about Jay Cutler in his latest column:

      I know Cutler already has alienated enough small pockets of fans at various appearances in Chicago to produce a flurry of furious e-mails, such as the one from a guy at Wrigley Field last week who criticized the quarterback for waving off autograph seekers. “His lack of appreciation for fans will be his undoing in Chicago,” Glen. R. wrote me.

      We’ll see, but if Cutler experiences an undoing in Chicago it will have more to do with the people on the field than in the stands. Generally speaking, the same folks complaining about Cutler’s insouciant behavior will be cheering him on his first 350-yard Sunday.

      Sure, Cutler could do himself some favors by exuding more charm or suffering the occasional fool with a little less outward disdain. But those who have been Bears fans for two decades, or two generations, need to remember Cutler has been here for two months. There will be — and has been — a degree of culture shock. Denver isn’t Chicago. Eventually, Cutler will adjust because he will learn life is easier that way in this tradition-rich football city. If he doesn’t, then he will get what he deserves.

      But it’s too early in his tenure to predict that.

      Cutler isn’t the first athlete who shunned autograph seekers and he won’t be the last. Unless it’s obvious they’re being outright pricks to fans, I try not to let it bother me when athletes don’t sign because we have no idea what kind of schedule they’re on. For all we know they’re running late as it is. Sure, it would be nice if they signed autographs until the last person is gone, but that’s not reality.

      As far as Cutler is concerned, Chicago fans are going to embrace him if he performs well. And actually, they’ve already embraced him because they’ve been dying for a quarterback for decades. As long as he performs, it’s going to take a lot for him to ruin his image in Chicago. He’s safe for now – I don’t care what a handful of people say.

      NFL

      Matt Jones a Bear? Don’t count on it.

      May 28, 2009 /

      Although rumors persist that the Bears could be interested, Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune writes that the team is unlikely to pursue troubled free agent wideout Matt Jones.

      “He was a first-round draft pick and he is a very talented player,” Angelo said, “but it’s case by case. We’re not quick to move on any player.”

      No doubt the Bears are concerned about Jones’ checkered past, one that included an arrest for cocaine possession last July. Jones, 26, served a three-game league suspension after losing an appeal. After violating terms of a court-mandated drug program by consuming alcohol, he was arrested again and faced further disciplinary action for the 2009 season. But the league decided not to impose another suspension, although Jones was fined $50,000.

      In recent years, the Bears cut ties with two players due to off-the-field concerns: running back Cedric Benson and defensive lineman Tank Johnson.

      “Guys make mistakes, move on, and become better people,” Angelo said. “Some guys have patterns of bad behavior and continue to have those patterns. I’m not saying that about Matt Jones. What I’m saying is we have to do our homework. And then you have to look at what value that person brings to your football team irrelevant of his off-the-field issues.”

      According to a report by ESPN.com, the NFL has already notified Jones that he will not be suspended for violating a court-mandated drug program in March. At 26 years old, Jones is the best receiver left on the market. But even though he’s coming off a productive season (he caught 65 passes in 12 games last year for the Jags), he missed three games last year due to suspension and his motivation and focus have always been questioned.

      I would be surprised if the Bears go after Jones given that they made little to no effort to try and sign Torry Holt this offseason before he agreed to terms with the Jaguars. I realize Holt is six years older than Jones is, but he’s obviously less of a risk and he still has a productive season or two left in him.

      So maybe Angelo already feels that his wide receiver corps is set with Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Rashied Davis, Brandon Lloyd and rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox. Granted, none of those players will strike fear into an opposing defense outside of Hester’s deep threat ability, but there still is some potential among the group and don’t forget that Greg Olsen is the best receiver on this team. (He just happens to play tight end.)

      NFL

      Cutler reaches out to Plaxico Burress

      May 19, 2009 /

      According to a story by the Chicago Tribune, new Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler has reached out to free agent Plaxico Burress.

      Cutler has reached out to Burress, and agent Drew Rosenhaus recently said at least two teams are seriously interested in signing the former New York Giant. The Jets are likely one of them.

      “Are we one of those two teams? No,” Angelo said.

      Burress, released by the Giants on April 3, has a June 15 hearing stemming from felony gun charges. He accidentally shot himself in the thigh in November at a Manhattan nightclub. He could face jail time and if not, at least a league suspension.

      “He could help any team,” Angelo said. “His play, his production speaks for itself. Everybody would love to have him on their team, including the New York Giants.

      “But obviously, they are things that have to happen now for him to play in the league, get on with his life. There are a lot of hurdles to cross before you can really seriously sit here and use that as a viable option.”

      Cutler should back off and let Angelo do his job. He’s the quarterback – not the GM.

      The Bears’ wideout situation looks bleak on paper, but it might not be as hopeless as some make it out to be. Devin Hester isn’t a No. 1 receiver, but he’s a legit deep threat and his speed will always create opportunities in the passing game. Angelo also drafted Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox and don’t forget that Greg Olsen is essentially another receiver at the tight end position. (He’s arguably the Bears’ best receiver.)

      The wild card is 2008 third round pick Earl Bennett, whom Cutler had a great on-field relationship with at Vanderbilt. Bennett didn’t catch a pass last year, but is expected to start over incumbent Rashied Davis and could blossom if he ever learns the playbook.

      The bottom line is that the Bears have options and therefore signing Plax shouldn’t be a priority. Plus, nobody knows how his legal situation will play out and he could still face a suspension even if he is allowed to play next season. A team would have to be awfully desperate to sign Plax and despite popular belief, I don’t think the Bears fit that category.

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