[CBFF] Another Bears DB on IR

[Jim Ferolie]

There's one answer for you, Tom. How far can your attrition go before you're 
putting people in the wrong positions?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Madsen" <jerrywm at gmail.com>


> It's so ridiculous at this point you almost have to start and laugh.
>
> Jerry
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
> Monday, October 1, 2007
> Bears reserve DB Payne out for season with torn ACL
> By Len Pasquarelli
> ESPN.com
>
> The rash of injuries that left the Chicago Bears without a single
> starter in their secondary during Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions has
> now claimed one of the ailing unit's top reserves as well.
>
> Rookie safety Kevin Payne, who started his first regular-season game on
> Sunday but was forced from the contest in the second quarter, has been
> placed on the injured reserve list with a broken right arm. The move
> ends Payne's season after only three appearances. He joins veteran Mike
> Brown, who opened the year as the starting free safety, on injured 
> reserve.
>
> Brown suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the season opener.
>
> Chicago may promote rookie safety Josh Gattis from the practice squad
> but could also consider going outside the organization to sign a free 
> agent.
>
> Payne, 23, is a promising young player who figures prominently into the
> Bears' plans for the future. A fifth-round draft choice from
> Louisiana-Monroe and the 167th player chosen overall, Payne had two
> tackles in the three games in which he played.
>
> The Bears feel that Payne, who signed a four-year, $1.815 million
> contract this spring, possesses prototype safety skills, and that he
> will be a starter in the future. The plan was for Payne to primarily
> contribute this season on special teams before challenging for
> significant playing time from scrimmage, but his role was increased as
> injuries mounted.
>
> In his two college seasons at safety, Payne started in 20 of 24
> appearances and had 185 tackles, seven tackles for losses, six
> interceptions, four passes defensed, one sack, three forced fumbles and
> two fumble recoveries. Payne began his career as a tailback and actually
> played there and as a slot receiver his first two college seasons. He
> rushed for 1,234 yards and eight touchdowns and had 54 catches for 607
> yards and four touchdowns, appearing in 22 games on offense.
>
> Payne has excellent physical dimensions (6 feet, 220 pounds) for the
> safety spot and good flexibility. At the combine workouts, he was
> clocked at just 4.60 in the 40-yard dash but then ran in the high 4.4s
> during campus auditions.
>
> The Bears play at Green Bay next Sunday and hope that some of their
> starting secondary players are back for the contest against the
> pass-oriented Packers offense. The status of cornerbacks Charles Tillman
> (ankle) and Nathan Vasher (groin) and strong safety Adam Archuleta
> (hand) won't be known until later this week.
>
> Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Check out the CBFF Blog:
> blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
> CBFF Homepage:
> www.chicagobearsfanforum.com