[CBFF] Bears headed in right direction :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Mike Mulligan - Sent Using Google Toolbar

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On 3/3/08 9:14 AM, "Tom Shannon" <tshanno at gmail.com> wrote:

> So do they carry a fourth running back?  Benson and Wolfe aren't going
> anywhere.  I don¹t' think Peterson is, either.  Basically its either that or
> sign someone who wouldn't have a chance of beating Benson out anyway, right?
> 
> It's quite a dilemma.  It's quite a mess.
> 
> Tom S.

I think it is time for the Bears to put quality before loyalty and
hopefulness at the RB position.  One--or even two--of these three guys ought
to be cut in enough time so he could catch on with another team.   There
just is not enough quality in this bunch to justify keeping them all on the
roster (with some veteran or draft pick brought in to stir things up).  If
that's Angelo's thought process, that's lame thinking, from where I sit.

Who do you cut?  I could imagine them keeping Wolfe simply because he's
relatively unknown/untested as yet, but by now, you have to admit that
neither our AP nor Benson have shown they are the answer.  Only other hope
is that Benson might get his head surgically removed from his a$$ sometime
this off season-- but don't count on it.  Also, he's got one more season
ending injury on him, too.

In the meantime, the Bears need to be honest about their failings at this
position and look for other options.  If I were Angelo, I would reach an
injury settlement with Benson (but maybe that's not possible at this point
and they have to wait until camp to cut him?).  If you are going to keep 4
RBs, then holding onto AP and GW is fine.  If not, cut AP.  Then sign the
best FA RB still available and use #14 to draft Rashard Mendenhall, or
whatever stud OT is still available.  You should probably go OT in the 1st
round and RB in the 2nd, since there is excellent RB depth in this draft.

But the key to loosening up the log jam at RB is jettisoning Benson.  You
need to demonstrate a commitment to excellence at that position, so at the
very least, he's gotta go.  His attitude, his lack of production and his
injury history all make him a bust.

Steve