Now that the no-drama of the number one pick is behind him, Bulls GM John Paxson has a pretty big problem on his hands: he's overloaded at two positions.

He has a wealth of power forwards, but unfortunately, none are the "bruising in the post" sort.

Noah will not give you more than 10 points a game on average, and he's been forced to play center, being the taller of the forwards. Noah simply doesn't have the strength to consistently play against true centers. Don't ask me why the only actual center on the team, Quinn Gray, doesn't see more playing time.

As far as Tyrus Thomas goes, there's no telling what he'll bring on a nightly basis. Some nights he's the most dominant player on the floor, but most games he simply goes through the motions. He was all potential when the Bulls traded Lamarcus Aldridge for him in the 2006 draft, and he's still potential, while Aldridge has flourished in Portland.

Continue reading "Decision Time for Paxson: Who Leaves?"

The Bears signed their running back of the future earlier today. Matt Forte, now the starter by default, was given a 4 year contract. With no Cedric Benson in his way, expect Forte to make the most of this opportunity when training camp opens on July 23. He'll have all of the opportunities Cedric was given, but with no Thomas Jones entrenched in the locker room causing a rift and competing for the starting job. There can be no better situation for a rookie running back to flourish. He has Adrian Peterson as his primary back-up and Garrett Wolfe as the change-of-pace reliever if no one other free agent is signed. Forte will have the overwhelming bulk of the carries, as he should be far and away more talented and suited for the role.

His signing is important news for the Chicago Bears, as it leaves only first-round OT Chris Williams unsigned from their rookie class of '08. GM Jerry Angelo is consistently ahead of the curve in the NFL when it comes to addressing rookie contracts. He does not wait for the market to establish itself for any position or round, instead choosing to dole out contracts he deems fit for each player. It is surely working in his favor. I expect Chris Williams to be signed within a week, and that is a conservative estimate on my part. There shouldn't be any significant disagreements from the 14th overall pick. The only real issues come from the top 10 picks in any given draft, and 3 of the top 4 are already signed, so be prepared for a fairly drama-free draft class in general.

Continue reading "Bears are Fast-Movers with Their Rookies"

Well, Jerry Angelo sure didn't mind spending any money this off-season. The Chicago Bears general manager managed to find all sorts of creative solutions to sign his key players to long-term deals. When the season ended, there were plenty of question marks concerning the Bears' roster. Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, and Devin Hester were all looking for new contracts or extensions. 

Lance Briggs was allowed to test free agency, but the linebacker signed with the Bears after no team stepped up. Thought to be bitter after losing his starting job, defensive end Alex Brown signed a new deal. Tommie Harris received a well-deserved contract extension that keeps him in Chicago until 2012. After voicing displeasure with the front office, Brian Urlacher showed up to team activities and got paid all sorts of new money. Devin Hester was next in line, but he did something no one else did.

Continue reading "Contract disputes solved, but Bears' offense still the issue."