[CBFF] CT - Bursting at seams with depth

[Steve Behrens]

Being the media cynic that I am,  this article just seemed like a piece
aimed at getting these guys a bit disgruntled and thinking about trying to
go someplace where they have a better chance of starting.  Otherwise, why
not just say that our depth is such that these guys could start for many a
team (which they did), and leave it at that?  No, they had to go and spell
out problems with other team and explain why they would be a great fit as a
starter somewhere else instead of a being in a back-up role here.

It may seem like a reach, but more and more, it appears some of the local
media (and much of the national), would rather write about negativity, even
if they have to spin / create it themselves....

-Behr

ps.... I sent this article out last night.... did it not come thru?




On 8/6/07, Ross McCoy <ross.mccoy at amd.com> wrote:
>
> I saw this article this morning and thought it was ridiculous. Of the guys
> on this list, there are very few that we could consider to trade if we are
> serious about a Superbowl run. I give my thoughts on each:
>
> Jerry Madsen (jerrywm at gmail.com) writes:
> >
> > Alex Brown, DE
> > Brown still may start for the Bears. He is a two-time Pro Bowl
> > alternate whom the Bears allowed to solicit trade offers last
> > off-season, none of which were good enough to give away an all-around
> > end who has started 64 straight games.
> >
> > Who should call: New York Giants. Michael Strahan is near retirement
> > and Brown has more sacks than Strahan (21-18.5) over the last three
> > years. At this point of their careers, frankly, Brown is better.
>
> We would have to see Bazuin DO something for this to be a possibility. We
> really depend on rotating linemen to keep them fresh.
>
> >
> > Brian Griese, QB
> > Griese was not happy that he didn't get a shot at starting last year
> > when Rex Grossman faltered, and the Bears were not overly pleased with
> > his attitude last off-season. The Bears are not shopping Griese, but
> > if the phone should ring ...
> >
> > Who should call: Atlanta Falcons. With Michael Vick in some jeopardy,
> > they are relying on Joey Harrington. Yes, that Joey Harrington.
>
> Griese is a necessary insurance policy unless you really believe Orton is
> significantly outperforming him. You need 2 quality QBs on the roster and
> prior to last year Grossman has not had stellar luck with injuries.
>
> >
> > Israel Idonije, DE
> > The Buffalo Bills signed Idonije to an offer sheet for a three-year
> > deal last year; the Bears, even with Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye,
> > thought enough of Idonije to match the offer and keep him. At 6 feet 6
> > inches and 275 pounds, he plays anywhere and on special teams.
> >
> > Who should call: The Bills. They had the right idea targeting a young
> > player below the public's radar.
>
> This is one that I never quite understood. Does Idonije really do enough
> to
> warrent the offer sheet we matched? I guess he is a DT/DE backup, but with
> the other players we have at those positions, I would consider him
> expendable.
>
> >
> > Danieal Manning, S
> > Manning is part of the reason Harris was expendable, and Carolina
> > wouldn't have minded him stowing away in Harris' luggage. With his
> > ability to return kickoffs and play corner, he is not going anywhere.
> >
> > Who should call: The Panthers. Harris solves only one problem in the
> > secondary. Veteran Mike Minter is on the edge of retirement and
> > Manning is all upside.
> >
>
> Only if you want to sell the future. Brown's injury history requires that
> we
> keep him as a backup and having the athletic ablility to possibly back up
> a corner as well is a bonus.
>
> > Ricky Manning Jr., CB
> > He came to Chicago with designs on a starting job. That won't happen
> > with Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman set, but Manning was a sometime
> > starter at Carolina.
> >
> > Who should call: New England Patriots. Franchise-tagged Asante Samuel
> > is threatening to hold out the first 10 games and Manning is a No. 1
> > nickel corner at the least.
> >
>
> You need at least 3 quality corners, so unless Manning or McBride are
> fully
> ready to take that 3rd CB roll (which I don't think they are especially
> for
> a possible SB year) you need to keep Manning.
>
> > Terrence Metcalf, G
> > Metcalf started the first 12 games of 2005 and the Bears won nine, and
> > the franchise thought enough of him to lock him up with a six-year
> > contract in '06. Metcalf has 20 starts in Chicago.
> >
> > Who should call: New York Jets. Veteran Pete Kendall has contract
> > issues and Adrien Clarke is young and has had back surgery. It could
> > be a reunion of Metcalf and Thomas Jones, who piled up 1,335 yards and
> > nine TDs with Metcalf at right guard in 2005.
>
> Trade an reasonable quality offensive lineman!? Are you off your rocker? I
> would be more likely to trade for OL rather than from that position.
> Frankly,
> we are old and at significant risk of having injuries on the OL and I
> think
> this could be our Achilles heel in making our run this year.
>
> > Kyle Orton, QB
> > After an off-season makeover, Orton has looked like the kind of
> > second-day draft pick teams dream about (think: Tom Brady, Mark
> > Brunell, Marc Bulger). The Bears won 10 of his 15 starts in 2005 when
> > he was charged with not losing games as much as winning them.
> >
> > Who should call: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jeff Garcia? Chris Simms? Jake
> > Plummer? Bruce Gradkowski? Orton has a future and the Bucs need to
> > start over. The Vikings were 0-3 with Tavaris Jackson, but Angelo
> > isn't going to help a division rival.
> >
>
> This isn't a possibility until Grossman's future clears up. If we end up
> signing Grossman to a long term deal, then Orton does become expendable.
> To be honest, I don't think Orton has enough trade value to make it worth
> trading him i.e. we couldn't get a draft pick any higher than we drafted
> him, so unless he is not living up to expectations, you don't get rid of
> him.
>
> > Adrian Peterson, RB
> > The quiet one is a low-mileage 28 years old and a true every-down
> > back, skilled as a ball carrier, receiver and pass protector. He is
> > 210 pounds with a career average of 4.7 yards per carry. He has
> > started only one game as a Bear (in 2003); he would start many more
> > elsewhere.
> >
> > Who should call: Green Bay Packers. Northwestern's Noah Herron may be
> > the answer, but Peterson is an ideal fit with Favre in that offense.
> > One problem: Angelo won't answer the phone when caller ID reveals
> > who's on the line.
> >
>
> Another call for insanity. Peterson is our only backup at this position
> which I would feel comfortable. Wolfe will be a good 3rd down back, but I
> would freak out if we relied on him every down (he simply isn't big enough
> to take that pounding).
>
> > Jamar Williams, LB
> > If Lance Briggs had stayed out, Williams would have been in. Williams
> > can play strong or weak side and with Briggs not likely to be a Bear
> > beyond this season, the team is in no hurry to lose Williams.
> >
> > Who should call: Indianapolis Colts. The Super Bowl champs lost Cato
> > June to the Buccaneers and Tyjuan Hagler is a project for a Colts
> > defense that has lost four starting linebackers since 2003.
> >
>
> Did we already sign Briggs to a long term deal!? I didn't think so.
> Williams
> is our future and also our best backup LB. This is not like the safety
> position
> where there was a glut of talent unless you are excited about names like
> Leon Joe or Rod Wilson (I have not been impressed by either of them). Okwo
> is
> a complete unknown at this point.
>
> Ross
>
>
>
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