Bears Inactive During Free Agency, Won’t Obtain Cutler

I know, you’re shocked. Jerry Angelo is usually so busy during this hectic time of player visits, physicals, and contract negotiations. Oh wait, I think this is annual vacation. My mistake. Like clockwork, the Bears have effectively disappeared from the free agent landscape, instead waiting for the second or third-tier talent to begin finding homes. The Bears have only made one acquisition so far: back-up offensive lineman Frank Omiyale. It’s a solid move for Angelo and his porous offensive line, but it’s nothing ground-breaking. Omiyale signed a four-year deal that will end being worth around 12 to 14 million dollars. He’s a versatile talent, evidenced by his last season in Carolina, where he was used all over the Panthers’ offensive line. He comes into Chicago expected to start at a guard spot (probably on the right side), leaving last year’s first round pick Chris Williams at left tackle. I’ll quickly run through the news regarding Chicago and their molasses-like talent search. 

Right Tackle:

With John Tait retiring, this is a dire area of need. Chicago would be best suited to re-sign John St. Clair, who filled in admirably at left tackle while Williams was injured (and kept the position as Williams returned). There are other names out there with potentially more talent, but the Bears value known commodities over the unknown. Just lock this up already.

Safety:

The Bears are supposedly going to receive a visit from former Pro Bowl free safety Darren Sharper if he makes it out of New Orleans. (That seems doubtful to me, the Saints need him.) Sharper would provide a veteran presence in the secondary to replace the departing Mike Brown and should be around for a year or two as Craig Steltz and a surely-incoming draft selection develop and learn underneath him. He’s aged, but he can still make the big plays and is consistently healthier than Brown ever was.

Wide Receiver:

After an initial article declaring Chicago as a possible landing zone (found here) that I didn’t believe for a second, T.J. Houshmandzadeh has signed with the Seattle Seahawks. That was followed by a collective sigh of relief from Bears loyalists who were frightened by the looming prospect of his signing with rival Minnesota. Chicago hasn’t been mentioned with any free agent wide-outs at all, which would indicate they’re leaning towards much cheaper options and the draft to fill the void. Again.

Quarterback:

Kerry Collins re-signed with Tennessee, Kurt Warner hasn’t been locked down by Arizona yet (that fact shocks me), and there is a varied selection of experienced quarterbacks on the open market. Chicago needs at least one, because I’m not confident about a quarterback roster with Kyle Orton, Caleb Hanie, and Brett Basanez. My solution? Sign Jeff Garcia and give him the starting job. Sign Chris Simms while keeping Orton and Hanie and head into training camp. There, problem solved. The Bears bring new blood into the mix while still developing in-house talent by holding a competition for the back-up spot. I should be a GM.

Everyone’s been chomping at the bit to chime in about Chicago acquiring disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. Cutler was offered in a three-way deal that would have sent Matt Cassel to the Broncos, Cutler to the Buccaneers, and first and fourth-round picks to the Patriots. The deal never materialized, but Cutler is still fairly upset at the lack of loyalty shown by new coach Josh McDaniels and may have expressed a desire to be traded.This deal won’t happen, as much as I would love to see it. Denver was only trading Cutler when they were getting their choice of quarterback in return. The Bears have nothing of note to offer them (unless they like Kyle Orton more than we do), but it’s still worth it to Angelo to call and see what it would take.

Following a theme, the scary thought regarding the Cutler drama is Minnesota’s reported involvement. If they can pry Cutler away from Denver, their offense would be nothing short of explosive. With Cutler, Adrian Peterson, and Bernard Berrian, you could mark down two losses on Chicago’s schedule immediately and pencil the Vikes in as NFC North champs.

I’ll be sure to report more on the Bears front as news breaks, but don’t expect much. I sure don’t.