[CBFF] No reaching for the stars for Bears :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Mike Mulligan - Sent using Google Toolbar

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No reaching for the stars for Bears :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Mike
Mulligan<http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mulligan/1455022,CST-SPT-mully01.article#>

No reaching for the stars for Bears Bears have had success finding values in
free agency -- is Omiyale another?  Recommend (4)
<http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mulligan/1455022,CST-SPT-mully01.article#none>
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 March 1, 2009
BY MIKE MULLIGAN <mmulligan at suntimes.com> mmulligan at suntimes.com

Let's face it, the Bears' quick strike in the free-agent market isn't the
sort of move that's going to make an immediate impact on ticket sales. The
team's acquisition of lineman Frank Omiyale, at first blush, inspires little
more than the need for a pronunciation chart.

You say it: ''Oh-Me-Yell,'' as in Oh-Me-Scream or
Oh-Me-Pull-My-Hair-Out-And-Wonder-Why-The-Bears-Can't-Get-A-Guy-Like-Albert-Haynesworth.
 » Click to enlarge image
 The Bears made one of the first moves in free agency Friday morning when
they signed Frank Omiyale to a four-year contract worth as much as $14
million with $5 million guaranteed.
(AP)


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What about it, Jerry Angelo? What do you say to the fans who wonder why the
organization is coaxing a backup lineman from his in-laws' home outside of
Nashville instead of getting the prize of the free-agent market from the
Tennessee Titans?

''All that glitters is not gold,'' the Bears' general manager said on a
conference call Friday.

No buying a stairway to heaven for this team. Sadly, no drafting your way
there, either. Omiyale came out in 2005, a fifth-round draft pick by the
Atlanta Falcons who was waived and claimed by the Carolina Panthers before
becoming a target man for the Bears. You remember the 2005 draft, don't you?
The Bears had six picks, but they were high in each round. They used the No.
4 overall selection on Cedric Benson and the No. 39 on Mark Bradley. Kyle
Orton, the only remaining member of the Class of '05 and a guy put on notice
by the general manager just after the end of last season, was a fourth-round
pick.

Omiyale, whom the Bears were fond of, according to Angelo, went No. 163, or
23 spots after the Bears burned a fifth-round selection on leading MRI man
Airese Currie. Safety Chris Harris, who was teammates with Omiyale last year
in Carolina, was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round. Flared-out
linebacker Rod Wilson was the seventh-round pick that year.

What's the point? Only that the free-agent market is a place to overpay to
find replacements for failed draft picks. Fantasy-football owners with trust
funds and big checkbooks hand out $100 million for the right to pay
Haynesworth. The Bears sweat and claw and battle to unearth hidden gems such
as Omiyale and hope they have a young ''traits guy'' ready to blossom
despite limited playing time in four seasons.

In fairness, it remains to be seen if the drafts have been the problem or
whether it's player development that hasn't been up to snuff -- or maybe
just the evaluations of the guys on hand. Benson, Bradley and especially
Harris might yet have decent careers. Of course, just because there is room
for improvement doesn't mean that improvement will occur.

Regardless, given that Omiyale has ''an abbreviated resume,'' as Angelo put
it, the real hope for the kid lies in the multiple successes of the pro
personnel department, led by Bobby DePaul and his staff. They have struck
gold before with budget buys Thomas Jones, Desmond Clark, Ruben Brown,
Roberto Garza and Robbie Gould. In fact, if you go back to the Bears' recent
Super Bowl team, you'll find 14 key contributors who were not drafted onto
the team.

The Bears have been especially good with offensive linemen, such as Omiyale.
Four of the five linemen on the Super Bowl team -- John Tait, Fred Miller,
Garza and Brown -- were not drafted by the team. And John St. Clair, who
remains a priority to re-sign, was the sixth man with that group.

The bet here is that Omiyale ends up starting, most likely at left guard in
place of former fourth-round draft pick Josh Beekman, whose future might be
as the eventual replacement for Olin Kreutz at center. Beekman battles hard
but is undersized and might be better suited at center. Omiyale might end up
at left tackle if 2008 first-round pick Chris Williams struggles after
playing sparingly as a rookie following back surgery.

Angelo insisted signing Omiyale has no bearing on the team's desire to bring
back St. Clair, although it certainly sounds as though the team wants St.
Clair at its price and not his. Angelo also says bringing in a young lineman
offers the team options with the No. 18 overall pick.

''The draft is an ever-moving target right now, and what we are able to
accomplish in free agency prior to the draft gives us more latitude,''
Angelo said.

The advice here is to stick to drafting linemen on both sides of the ball.
Get another offensive tackle at No. 18 if the right guy is there. An edge
pass rusher would be the only higher priority. Angelo might talk about
having options, but the best option is to continue to upgrade an aging
offensive line.
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