[CBFF] Overhaul time here for Bears :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears -Sent Using Google Toolbar

[Phil DeNomme]

Makes you wonder if some spots weren't up for competition and some players
were just handed a job.

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Subject: [CBFF] Overhaul time here for Bears :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears
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Overhaul time here for Bears :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ::
Bears<http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/725574,CST-SPT-bear04.ar
ticle#>

Overhaul time here for Bears  FROM THE BUNKER | Angelo vows competition to
upgrade QB, running back spots in '08

January 4, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS <bbiggs at suntimes.com> bbiggs at suntimes.com

The Bears' coaching staff has scattered for a long weekend to get away
before the work begins Monday at Halas Hall.

That's when the heavy lifting starts in earnest for an organization that
doesn't think it's far off from competing, no matter how dysfunctional the
on-field product appeared during points of 2007.
 > Click to enlarge image
 Jerry Angelo talks about the disappointing Bears season at a press
conference Thursday.
(Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)

RELATED STORIES
*Mulligan:* Angelo, Smith need to get their act
together<http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mulligan/725594,CST-SPT-mully04.arti
cle>
*Inside the Bears:* Updates from our blog <http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/>

General manager Jerry Angelo, discussing the season in depth for the first
time Thursday, said it will be a slow process as the Bears remove emotions
from their decisions, beginning with what to do with free agents Lance
Briggs, Rex Grossman and Bernard Berrian. Angelo didn't rule out shifting
the franchise tag from one Drew Rosenhaus client, Briggs, to another in
Berrian -- an interesting admission because it would cost nearly $8 million,
the amount of guaranteed money in the long-term extension offer that
Berrian, a wide receiver, swiftly rejected last summer.

''As long as we're honest about our evaluation, then we will get these
things righted,'' Angelo said.

He's in concert with coach Lovie Smith in wanting Grossman to return, making
it seemingly only a question of money after Grossman said he was open to
returning if the Bears wanted him back at quarterback. ''Competition'' was
one of Angelo's buzz words, and he talked about needing more of it,
particularly on offense. He said developing ''stability'' at quarterback was
the top priority -- where have you heard that before? -- and effectively
laid the offensive woes at the feet of a moribund running game.

>From the sound of things, if Grossman returns, it won't be as the billed
starter -- not right away, anyway. That makes for story lines already as the
Bears point to training camp in July.

''In all likelihood, without sitting and talking with the coaches, it's got
to be competition,'' Angelo said. ''Somebody's got to be first in line,
obviously, but that will be determined in the offseason.''

Angelo also plans to create some competition at running back for former No.
4 pick Cedric Benson -- a glaring omission last summer.

''I'd like to think [Benson] could still be a feature back,'' he said. ''But
there's going to be competition at that position. If something were to arise
and there's a good back in the marketplace or in the draft that we feel can
complement the backs, we're going to look at that, as well.

''He started to turn the corner. Unfortunately, he got an injury, and we
didn't see what we needed to see.''

Otherwise, the overriding message was to stay the course. Angelo said
Smith's decision to keep his coaching staff intact was just that -- Smith's
decision. He said he doesn't believe widespread changes are necessary, but
what's in store for the Bears won't be known until the internal meetings
wrap up, likely next month.

Position coaches will be breaking down their players, filing reports and
preparing for tough in-house meetings. Angelo won't be able to answer a lot
of the difficult or specific questions until that process is complete.
Unlike last year, the team will not have to rush into the process as it did
coming out of Super Bowl XLI.

''Whatever [the] needs are, we will fill those needs,'' Angelo said. ''There
will be certain positions that we want to create more competition so we can
upgrade at those positions. But there will be a clear delineation between
those needs and the areas that we want to create more competition and
upgrade.''

A defense that was plagued by injuries has two needs off the top at tackle
and safety, where newcomers Darwin Walker and Adam Archuleta didn't pan out.
Offensive tackle, running back and wide receiver also figure to be must-have
areas.

''Right now what we want to do is fix what we feel is broken,'' Angelo said.
''I don't think we're that far from being that team that you saw in the last
two weeks and certainly in '06. But we have to do some things in this
offseason, and we have time and we'll take that time.''
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