It's impossible to judge an NFL draft the day after it has concluded. Today's college stud can be tomorrow's NFL washout. It takes three our four years to evaluate how successful an NFL draft was in helping a team Four years removed from the Bears' 2005 draft, it rates a steady D or F with the failure of Cedric Benson and Mark Bradley at the very top. There isn't a single player from that draft left on the roster. The 2006 draft doesn't look as good as it did in, say, January 2007 when the Bears were marching to Super Bowl XLI and had Danieal Manning starting as a rookie at free safety, Devin Hester setting records as a return man and Mark Anderson looking like the next coming of Richard Dent. We'll say that draft is worth a solid C right now but this coming season will tell a lot.
The point is to take the evaluation of what the Bears did this weekend (or what they did Sunday) with a grain of salt. It's far too early to tell what is going to happen. General manager Jerry Angelo went into the draft with the belief the Bears could get three starters. The Bears promote their draft picks. They carry preferred status.
"Realistically, that's tough,'' Angelo said when asked how many from the bunch could make the 53-man roster. "Six have a chance to make it. I feel every one of them has the ability to make it. Obviously, the competition's going to be a little big keener at some positions. But I don't think that would be unrealistic with this group.''
So, let's take a look at what they are saying about Angelo's draft around the league:
*** The Sporting Newsgives Angelo an A. They point out that this draft began with quarterback Jay Cutler. Does that mean Angelo has an A coming in 2010 also?
*** John Czarnecki at FoxSports.com gives the Bears a B-minus. He calls it a "total success" if Cutler leads the Bears to the playoffs. We'd suggest it's a total success if Cutler leads the Bears to some playoff victories. Kyle Orton has gotten them to the postseason.
*** Kevin Seifert at ESPN.comwonders if the daily double of linemenJarron Gilbert and Henry Melton will turn out better than the player the Bears could have gotten at No. 49. Mohamed Massaquoi or Rashad Johnson anyone?
*** The only team with more picks than the Bears on Sunday was the Dallas Cowboys, which began the day with 12, three more than the Bears. ESPN's John Clayton believes the Bears did a much better job.
"Their picks were consistent and fit needs. Defensive ends Jarron Gilbert and Henry Melton have run the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds and will work with defensive line coach Rod Marinelli on the Bears' pass rush. Safety D.J. Moore had received a higher grade than his third-round selection. The Bears added wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias, who was rated in the round he was selected. Most of the Cowboys' picks were rated two or three rounds lower than their selections."
However, Clayton says New England had the best Day 2 of any team.
WR Devin Hester (signed through 20013)
WR Earl Bennett (2011)
WR Rashied Davis (2010)
WR Brandon Rideau (2009)
WR John Broussard (2010)
WR Devin Aromashodu (2010)
Need
Let's see if we can get this straight. Prior to the trade for quarterback Jay Cutler just more than three weeks ago, general manager Jerry Angelo said the Bears had talked themselves into drafting a wide receiver in the first round with the 18th overall selection. Angelo thought there was a good chance the Bears could land a "blue'' receiver in that spot, meaning a guy who has a chance to be an elite performer. The Bears needed to upgrade their receiver corps and Angelo was willing to take the plunge after drafting only one wideout in the first round in the combined tenures of his time with the Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kyle Orton needed the help and it was on the way. OK. What exactly has changed?
Once again, our mailbox has blown up with Anquan Boldin inquiries. On the eve of the draft, we'll pick one out of the hat and cover the bases.
Q: Considering the latest update on the Cardinals trade demands and that Jerry Angelo is now a baller, do you think the Bears have the ammo or desire to land Anquan Boldin for their second-round pick plus Jamar Williams, Garrett Wolfe and/or Dez Clark?
Micah, Minnesota
A: We've thoroughly covered the Boldin situation in the last few months, and did so right here last week when we pointed out an interesting study on his effectiveness vs. that of teammate Larry Fitzgerald. Check that out if you missed it, and keep in mind the Bears don't have a Fitzgerald to run opposite Boldin. It's not a surprise to some personnel people we polled that the price has come down. That should give you an indication what kind of value people around the league place on Boldin. Keep that in mind.
For the first time since Jay Cutler was acquired three weeks ago, offensive coordinator Ron Turner explained the scholarship offer that never happened for the quarterback at Illinois.
Cutler and his family felt jilted by the Illini when he was coming out of high school, and comments were made in recent times as well. Cutler believed he had a scholarship offer from the school and when he made his official visit in December of his senior year he found out that was not the case. It's over and done with from Turner's perspective, and he even managed to get a good laugh out of the situation.
"Basically it was a misunderstanding,'' Turner said Thursday morning following the Brian Piccolo awards ceremony. "Jay and I have talked about it. It's in the past. I never in my eight years there offered a scholarship to someone, had them accept it and then pulled it back. That never happened to anybody.
Michael McCaskey attended the annual Brian Piccolo awards ceremony Thursday morning at Halas Hall and the chairman of the board is still beaming three weeks to the day after the Bears traded for Jay Cutler.
"I join with all the Bears fans who are looking forward to the coming season,'' McCaskey said.
General manager Jerry Angelo admitted he was genuinely surprised by the celebration by fans after the blockbuster trade. McCaskey perhaps has a better understanding of the position. Asked if a deal this big would come to the desk in his office before it was approved, he said yes.
"We paid a big price,'' McCaskey said. "Not only the draft picks, but Kyle Orton was a promising young quarterback and a great teammate in the locker room."
The Bears got one of the most productive rookies in the league last year when they selected Matt Forte in the second round with the 44th overall pick.
Lovie Smith is expecting big production again this year from the player the team is going to get in the same area. The Bears will be picking 49th overall to start in the NFL draft, which begins Saturday and runs through Sunday. General manager Jerry Angelo warned earlier this week not to beat him up if he doesn't fill the most glaring need by selecting a wide receiver. The Bears could be looking at just about any position, but of course you can rule out running back.
Forte was honored this morning in the Halas Hall auditorium as the 2008 rookie recipient of the Brian Piccolo Award. He was not present as he is finishing classes toward his degree in finance at Tulane University. Forte did speak in a recorded video and offensive coordinator Ron Turner talked about his value and how it is so difficult to get him off the field. Forte set franchise records in rushing yards (1,238), scrimmage yards (1,715) and receptions (63). He was the league's seventh-leading rusher and became one of just eight rookie backs in league history to have more than 1,000 yards rushing and 50 receptions.
Expecting that much production from their second-round pick this year might be setting the bar too high, but Smith has plans to get the pick involved immediately. He's not settled on one guy.
"At [No.] 49, there are going to be a lot of good players,'' Smith said. "We're going to get a good football player right there. We got Forte and we had high hopes last year. We have high hopes this year. Our track record says you don't have to only pick a guy in the first round for him to contribute. We expect a few of these guys to contribute this year. I feel good about the picks we have.''
Kyle Orton, Tommie Harris, Chris Harris, Danieal Manning, Devin Hester and Greg Olsen are just a few examples of rookies who have contributed quickly under Smith.
Busy day of football with the pre-draft media session at Halas Hall this afternoon. Plenty of good information came out of the 45 minutes with general manager Jerry Angelo and college scouting director Greg Gabriel and we'll be getting to more of it soon. First, we'll get to Four Down Territory and at the same time touch on some of the issues covered earlier today. Here we go.
Q: If the Bears don't take a wide receiver in the second round, or maybe even if they do, who are some free-agent options that would fit their scheme? I think Plaxico Burress is a longshot as he might not even be allowed to play next year. Also, I don't see Jerry Angelo bringing in another rotten apple.
 Tom N, Wisconsin
A: Angelo ruled out Burress as an option for the Bears, even if he manages to stay out of jail in New York for carrying an unlicensed weapon.
"I know New York has pretty strict laws up there and what he did is looked at pretty seriously,'' Angelo said earlier today. "So I can't really answer that right now in terms of how we view him but I am not looking at him as an option.''
So, no bad apple even if Burress doesn't do time in the Big Apple. Who are some other options? Well, it's slim pickings out there. Angelo did acknowledge that the Bears could begin considering some players from the open market after the draft. They're not going to make a move at this point until they know how their roster is going to look come Monday. Keep in mind, no stars are going to be found now. You're probably not going to come up with a starter either. Not anyone you would want to project as a starter from the get go, any way. But here we'll take a look at five possibilities if the Bears decide to venture into free agency for some help at a position that is in definite need of some more depth four days from the start of the draft.
Drew Bennett: Complete bust for the St. Louis Rams after signing a $30 million contract. He missed last season with a broken bone in his foot. Bennett is interesting because he is 6-5, 198 pounds. He projects as a big, possession receiver. The Bears might already have that in tight end Greg Olsen, but Bennett might be worth considering.
D.J. Hackett: He's got good size at 6-2, 208 pounds, and long arms and could be an interesting option after spending one season in Carolina.
Darrell Jackson: Maybe the one productive Florida wide receiver in the last 10 years, Jackson hasn't been quite as productive since leaving Seattle after the 2006 season. He has experience with Jay Cutler having played 12 games in Denver last season catching 12 balls for 190 yards.
Ashley Lelie: The best vertical threat of the bunch. Lelie could be useful if he was in a specific role. He's been durable but hasn't been real productive since forcing his way out of Denver after 2005. He's made three stops since, most recently in Oakland.
Justin McCareins (pictured): Decent possession receiver would welcome the opportunity to play for his hometown team. The Naperville and Northern Illinois product caught 40 balls for Tennessee last season and would be an option as an X receiver.
That is what general manager Jerry Angelo has always said and that is the way the Bears went around constructing this offseason, even if the blockbuster trade to acquire Jay Cutler is the move that still dominates the spotlight. But Angelo didn't want to lose sight of the line on Tuesday afternoon when discussing the club's moves to this point.
"Obviously, the quarterback position speaks volumes,'' Angelo said. "I think we all sleep better at night. He saves lives. But going forward, we've got to do other things to help him. We feel our offensive line, and I want you all to understand this to, when you're building on offense or defense, you have to have a philosophy. Our philosophy was to build that offensive line. We want to protect the quarterback first and then we want to supply him with the needed weapons. So I felt like we were able to do that.
"Our pro department [Bobby DePaul] did an excellent job of identifying some players young and old and we feel real good about our offensive line and that was a concern coming out of the season. Now, we're building inside-out and we're going to look at some of the perimeter people. Yes, we feel real good about having our quarterback and running back in place."
General manager Jerry Angelo and college scouting director Greg Gabriel sat down Tuesday afternoon to discuss the Bears' draft, the one that already began with the acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler.
The draft, at least Saturday's first two rounds, will be anticlimactic for the Bears. Their only selection is No. 49 overall, the 17th pick of the second round and that will not come until some time after 7:30 p.m. The longer the draft session went--it lasted a little more than 45 minutes and we have some updates from it right here--the more Cutler was part of the discussion. The Bears shipped Denver their first- and third-round picks as well as a first-round pick in 2010 for Cutler and a fifth-rounder this year.
``I know not having a No. 1 pick will put a cloud on the draft,'' Angelo said.
But Cutler is the Bears' first-round pick, the closest thing the organization has had to a franchise quarterback in decades.
We have five days until one of the more exciting weekends on the NFL calendar. Check back with us often this week as we will be updating with information related to the Bears' situation as we come across it. General manager Jerry Angelo, college scouting director Greg Gabriel and coach Lovie Smith will speak Tuesday at a pre-draft session at Halas Hall. The smoke screens are already forming.
We will have a Four Down Territory each day through Friday, so get your draft-related questions in now and make sure you stay with us all week, including Saturday and Sunday from Halas Hall where we'll be filing continuous updates. Let's get to it:
Q: I've seen plenty of stories from all over that seem to indicate some of the top wide receivers could be falling into the second round. If so, why wouldn't the Bears trade up to give themselves a better chance to grab a player who could make a difference for Jay Cutler this season? I know rookie wide receivers are not always the most productive, and they are not the safest picks, but I'm with you. Are the Bears that sure Earl Bennett is a future star?
Sean B., Chicago
A: That is a good question and one we've covered a little bit before. The first point that needs to be made is that Angelo's history is to trade down in the draft. In seven years, he's traded up just once and that was to acquire wide receiver Justin Gage in the fifth round in 2003. Angelo has traded down a number of times, most notably in 2003 when he dealt out of the No. 4 overall pick and in 2006 when he traded the No. 26 overall selection to move out of the first round all together. History would say the chances are not good, but then again history would have told us the chances for Angelo getting in the running for Jay Cutler were not good either. That's changed and now the Bears need to do something to get some wide receivers to go with Cutler.
Now, NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock said last week that you can throw the traditional draft value chart away. He calls is obsolete.
``Every team in the top 10 is looking to trade out,'' Mayock said. ``Never seen it, never seen the situation quite this heavy. And the theory is, everybody knows we're upside-down right now with this draft. The rookies are getting paid way too much money proportionate to their value. So, teams are scared to death of missing (in) the top-10.
``Here's what happening, though, that I think is really interesting, and I'm anxious to see if this trend plays out. That whole trade chart that all the teams used to use, it began to go out the window last year, and I think, like the economy, it's completely out the window now. So, I think any team in the top 10 that is looking to get out will listen to any reasonable offer, and more than ever, teams are looking to get down (to picks) 15 to 25, because you can get the same kind of player at (No.) 20 as you can at (No.) 7, and you pay one-third the money.''
The Bears are going to hold their annual pre-draft media session on Tuesday at Halas Hall.
General manager Jerry Angelo and college scouting director Greg Gabriel are going to do their best to convince everyone listening--and then everyone reading and listening to the reports after the press conference--that the Bears will have a world of opportunities when they go on the clock Saturday night with the 49th overall pick in the draft.
Best available player.
The Bears have preached it forever but it's hard to find a time when they have come out and practiced it, at least with their first pick. Look no further than last year's draft when they selected offensive tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick. It wasn't a need selection, it was a dire need selection.
Angelo and Gabriel want everyone, including the teams picking in the vicinity of their selection, to believe they can go with anything other than a wide receiver at No. 49. Sure, there could be an intriguing safety on the board. Maybe even an offensive lineman or defensive lineman that is interesting. Then all you have to do is take a gander at the depth chart at wide receiver and see what real need looks like. You can't clamor for a safety or some other position in the second round now and then cry about the receiver situation come September. Remember, Angelo has had success finding safeties later in the draft.
Here we go with our final Four Down Territory edition of the week. With the draft rapidly approaching, we'll hit a Q&A Monday through Friday next week doing our best to answer all of the draft questions you might have. Let's get right to it.
Q: It seems like the Bears have had so-called easy schedules the last few years based on the opponents' winning percentage the previous year and the easiest of all 32 this year. I'm wondering how well the previous year's win percentage actually correlates with the next year's win percentage. In other words does the preseason strength of schedule actually tell us much about how tough the actual season ends up being?
Julie R., Michigan
A: That's a good question and in order to do our best answering it we've crunched a few numbers. We've also got a link here to a good story by ESPN's John Clayton earlier this week that touches on this very subject. Clayton points out that the first-place schedule has been a tough collar for the NFC South winner to wear each year. In five of the last seven seasons, the NFC South champion from the previous year has finished last. Certainly a tough schedule was not much of an obstacle for some very good teams in 2008. Pittsburgh (1st), Indianapolis (2nd), Baltimore (4th) and Minnesota (5th) all faced supposedly difficult scheduled this past season and all four clubs reached the postseason. We took a look at the strength of schedule for every playoff team the past four seasons. Here is what we found:
FB Jason McKie (signed through 2011)
FB Jason Davis (2009)
Need
The Bears went to more double tight-end sets in 2008 with Desmond Clark and Greg Olson and the result was less playing time for Jason McKie, who missed five games with a quad injury. The expectation with the arrival of quarterback Jay Cutler is that the Bears will continue as is or perhaps use the position even less. It seems fullbacks are less involved every year when you look across the landscape of the league. McKie was a dependable outlet in short-yardage and goalline situations until his usage became predictable. The Bears consider McKie to be an above-average fullback and he has some value for them on special teams.
As we wait for word to come on the 2009 schedule let's get into another round of Four Down Territory. Here we go.
Q: I do have a question about the job security of Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith and the coaching staff. Before the Jay Cutler trade, I could sense the leash on Angelo and company was tightening. Certainly the team, especially Lovie's defense, has been in steady decline since the loss in the Super Bowl, including several dubious coaching decisions (Danieal Manning, the end of the Atlanta game, etc.). I would think another year missing the playoffs this year would have put Jerry and Lovie squarely on the hot seat. Does the Cutler trade as the center of the most aggressive offseason in memory buy Angelo more time? Angelo's boldness in actually bringing in talented players seemingly has given him the leeway for another few years at the helm, but with talent finally in place on offense and Lovie taking the reigns on defense, is it time for these coaches to produce another playoff appearance? Hopefully the team will succeed with a truly talented quarterback, but these are the Bears after all. Will there be more pressure on the coaching staff this year, specifically offensive coordinator Ron Turner? Will another mediocre season mean ousting Turner and/or Bob Babich as scapegoats?
Ryan Y., Columbus, Ohio
A: Did the acquisition of Cutler buy Angelo more time? Angelo agreed to an extension following the team's appearance in Super Bowl XLI through 2013. I don't think he is going to be buying himself more time. Let's keep in mind the franchise we're talking about here--the Bears. The bold move to deal for Cutler was not the kind of move you are accustomed to in these parts. You're also not accustomed to the organization eating the contracts of high-powered employees and paying them to go away. It doesn't happen. Prior to the Cutler deal, I could not envision a scenario in which the Bears would have lost in 2009 and then Angelo would have been on the hot seat. I just didn't see any way the McCaskeys would have paid Angelo to not work for them in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
We've got less than 3 1/2 hours until the NFL releases the 2009 schedule.
The Bears have been a popular team in prime time since Lovie Smith's breakout season in 2005.
The Bears were on ``Monday Night Football'' twice in 2006, once in 2007 and once last season. They have been on ``Sunday Night Football'' three times in 2006, twice in 2007 (they were flexed out of a third SNF appearance at Seattle after a poor start) and appeared on Sunday night three times last season. They appeared on Thursday night once in 2007 and once in 2008.
So, the league has scheduled the Bears for prime time five times in 2006, five times in 2007 (reduced from six by flex scheduling) and five times in 2008.
RB Matt Forte (signed through 2011)
RB Kevin Jones (2010)
RB Garrett Wolfe (2010)
RB Adrian Peterson (2009)
Need
As we wrote Monday, we probably would have moved this down the list a notch or two if we had it to do over again. No draft additions here are going to have a very easy time making the roster, not with Wolfe in place as a guy offensive coordinator Ron Turner needs to work more to get involved before the Bears can actually make a determination as to what they have. Jones figures to be the primary backup, however, after the Bears prevented him from signing with Buffalo by reeling him in with a $3.5 million, two-year contract. Jones disappeared at times last season, so much so that he was inactive on gameday, but never stopped working. It's a credit to him that he went to coach Lovie Smith and asked to be used on special teams, a role he relished and did well in. Jones got excited talking about playing special teams as a freshman at Virginia Tech where Frank Beamer is considered one of the best coaches in the country.
Here we go again with Four Down Territory. We're going to have one every day this week through Friday so get your questions in. Let's get started.
Q: Does the acquisition of Jay Cutler change the strategy for backup quarterback? Does it increase of decrease the need to sign a veteran?
Terry L. Boulder, Colo.
A: We wrote here on Sunday that nobody finds the backup quarterbacks like the Bears, listing Brian Griese, Jeff Blake and Chris Chandler as examples of solid quarterbacks who arrived at Halas Hall after they had become journeymen. There doesn't look to be a lot left on the scrap heap right now. Did you have someone specific in mind? J.P. Losman, Charlie Frye, Gus Frerotte, Trent Green, Charlie Batch and Brooks Bollinger are out there. New agent Drew Rosenhaus is shopping Rex Grossman for the minimum. Grossman will not be returning to the Bears. Looks to me like the Bears will stand pat with what they have. If they were comfortable--and Lovie Smith said as much at the combine--with Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez competing for the No. 2 job behind Kyle Orton, why wouldn't they be comfortable with one of those two behind Cutler?
TE Desmond Clark (signed through 2010)
TE Greg Olsen (2011)
TE Kellen Davis (2011)
TE Fontel Mines (2010)
Need
After looking over the ranking list I submitted to the Sporting News, I'd probably move tight end up a slot or two if I had it to do over again. But it's certainly not an area of major concern. What the Bears could use is a more skilled in-line blocker for the run game. The loss of special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo in free agency a year ago was well chronicled but just as significant was the departure of John Gilmore. The offense didn't come up with a replacement for Gilmore and it showed at times in the running game. Matt Forte had a terrific rookie season and there's good reason for optimism moving forward with him. Let's remember the Bears ranked 24th in the league in rushing. Gilmore would not have pushed them into the top half of the league, but he might have helped in short yardage.
QB Jay Cutler (signed through 2011)
QB Brett Basanez (2010)
QB Caleb Hanie (2010)
Need
The Bears have worked for years to solve the backup quarterback position, bringing in the likes of Chris Chandler, Brian Griese and Jeff Blake in recent years. That hasn't been a problem. It's been finding the starter that has been an issue and general manager Jerry Angelo finally did that by dealing for Cutler. Hanie has impressed many in the organization since his arrival nearly a year ago and Basanez was intriguing enough for the Bears to make a move for him in February. They'll be able to proceed with what they have if they are comfortable. There really are not many interesting veteran options still available. Once again, the Bears could consider going with two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. It's something they nearly did last year before deciding to keep a spot for Hanie. But that's a decision for this summer.
We didn't find this one on our own, credit for that goes to profootballtalk.com and before them ESPN.com, but Bears fans will get a kick out of this. Or something.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who totaled 4 1/2 sacks vs. the Bears last season, has a good friendship with new quarterback Jay Cutler. In fact, when Allen was traveling overseas, someone played a joke on him and text messaged him that the Vikings had landed Cutler. Well, when Cutler made his way to the Bears last week, it was Cutler's turn to congratulate him.
Then, he talked about his plans for the future now that he'll get to face Cutler twice per season like he did when he was in Kansas City and Cutler was in Denver.
Welcome to Four Down Territory where we tackle issues surrounding the Bears as best we can. We'll do one more Q&A for this week on Friday. Get your questions in soon. We'll resume the Q&A on Monday and have a schedule for next week then.
Q: Will new quarterback Jay Cutler be able to earn the $100,000 workout bonus from the Bears that he reportedly had already missed with Denver?
Alex O., Toronto
A: We've received a few inquiries on this one and waited to have a firm answer to respond. Yes, Cutler is eligible to earn the $100,000 workout bonus that is a part of the contract the Bears inherited when they traded for Cutler. The contract applies to the Bears and because Cutler was acquired before the start of the club's voluntary offseason workout program, he's eligible to cash in. It doesn't matter what happened with the Broncos, where he had missed out on the mark after missing six days. The interesting thing to note is Cutler's contract calls for him to be present for 90 percent of the workouts to trigger the payment. Typically, the Bears ask their players to appear at 85 percent of workouts to collect bonuses in their contracts. Cutler will have to do better to be paid, but it's money he is eligible to earn.
Q: I agree with you that Jerry Angelo needs to build around Jay Cutler and that needs to start with some competent wide receivers. As much as I want to believe Earl Bennett will look like the career leader in receptions in the SEC and not Mark Bradley, how do we know that will happen. So, to improve Angelo's chances of hitting with a wide receiver in this draft, what are the chances he trades up into the top of the second round to get say Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt if they fall out of the first round which could happen.
Victor S., Chicago
A: Like I said on Tuesday in response to an inquiry about free-agent wide receiver Matt Jones, prior to the Cutler deal I would say there was little chance. After the Cutler deal, anything can happen. The Bears made a bold move to acquire the quarterback, then immediately signed a seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle in Orlando Pace. It seems to have ushered in a new way of doing business at Halas Hall. In the past, I would have said no based on Angelo's history. In studying his draft deals with the Bears, he's traded up just once. That was to select wide receiver Justin Gage in the fifth round in 2003. Bet you wish they still had him on the roster. The point is, Angelo's history has been to make conservative moves and when he trades, he trades down to add more depth or put more bullets in his gun. Your idea for moving up to the top of the second round, or near where the Bears selected cornerback Charles Tillman at No. 35 overall in 2003 is a good one. Here's the problem--what does Angelo offer to move from No. 49 to the mid-30's? The Bears traded their third-round pick to Denver in the Cutler deal. Their compensatory third-round pick--No. 99 overall--cannot be traded. That leaves a fourth-round pick and two fifths. Those picks might not be enough to get the Bears up the 12 to 15 picks you're talking about. It would also put a real squeeze on a draft right now that has the Bears with eight picks. For those reasons, I think it is unlikely the Bears will be in position to move up.
Troy Aikman was seated at a crowded table in Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville on media day the Tuesday before Super Bowl XXXIX when I asked him how Sid Luckman remained the Bears' all-time leading quarterback after, well, roughly a half-century. You know, back when leather helmets were the thing in professional football.
Aikman turned to me, laughing and said, ``That's my question. That says it all, doesn't it? It's absolutely mind-boggling. Maybe what it points to is just not really being able to get a quarterback who could last for any significant time.''
It wound up being just part of a story for the start of the 2005 season on the franchise's inability to cultivate any success at the position. It came on the heels of Rex Grossman breaking his ankle in a preseason game in St. Louis, Chad Hutchinson playing himself out of professional football in a series of disastrous preseason outings and a rookie fourth-round pick named Kyle Orton being named the starter less than two weeks before the start of the season.
We've been tied down with some other football stuff recently so we'll get to five questions in today's Four Down Territory. We'll get to another one on Wednesday so get your questions in and thanks for your patience. Let's get right to it.
Q: I have to disagree with the idea of a wide receiver in Round 2. Earl Bennett was a bust last season but given the typical trajectory of NFL receivers and the fact that they usually take two to three years to click, isn't it worth the risk to see if he develops this season? Especially given the unusual circumstance of having a playmaking and familiar quarterback now on the team? Bennett is in his best possible position to succeed and I think the Bears should realize he's got a better chance of making an impact than a rookie second rounder, a spot where the busts far outweigh the impact players. Busts can come from any position, but I think the Bears may find a safer gamble should they look for a safety (as you noted) or even a guard or defensive tackle at that spot. Seeking a veteran wide receiver to add now and a rookie in the later rounds would be just as wise, I think, and concentrate on defense in this draft.
Chris M., Pasadena, Calif.
A: I don't think you can call a player a bust after evaluating just one season, and I've certainly not said Bennett will be a bust. But his 2008 rookie season only created more questions about his future. Your concerns are valid, that there are no sure things in drafting a wide receiver in the second round. That being said, the same concerns have to be in place for a receiver selected in the third round like Bennett. I don't think there is a risk involved to selecting a receiver in the second round this season, I think the Bears would give themselves a better chance of succeeding. If they don't go after a receiver at the beginning of the draft and if Bennett does not pan out, then where is the offense? As you suggested, it takes a few years for a receiver to develop. That only ensures the offense is set back further. We'll see what happens.
We stirred some considerable debate Saturday when we suggested the Bears were locked into a wide receiver in the second round with the 49th overall pick.
Now that they have quarterback Jay Cutler, it's time to outfit him with the appropriate weapons.
Not everyone saw it that way. Some feel the addition of three starters on offense--Cutler, left tackle Orlando Pace and projected to left guard Frank Omiyale--signal a move to defense in the draft. At least in the early rounds. Certainly there are those out there who feel the Bears need some real work on the defensive side of the ball. Clark Judge of CBSSports.com writes that Cutler is not necessarily a cure-all for all things wrong with the Bears.
Earlier this week it looked like the Bears were in a position where they had to draft an offensive tackle in the first round.
What a difference a few days makes. Not only do the Bears not have a first-round pick any longer after acquiring quarterback Jay Cutler from Denver, they filled a pressing need on the line by signing seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Pace.
That leaves the Bears with a complete line, minus a young tackle to eventually join Chris Williams in the starting lineup, and some flexibility when it comes to the draft, right?
Wrong.
The addition of Cutler has made it a virtual lock the Bears will have to draft a wide receiver when their pick comes up in the second round, 49th overall, the 17th pick of the round. The idea that Cutler will make the cast they currently have better is only going to go so far. There is no Brandon Marshall on this roster. There might not be an Eddie Royal on the roster either depending on how Devin Hester progresses. Marshall and Royal gave Cutler one of the better 1-2 combinations in the league in Denver.
"I don't think quarterbacks make receivers, and I don't think receivers make the quarterback,'' Cutler said. "It's a joint mesh there, we've got to both be on the same page. I've got to deliver the ball and they've got to be in the right place. I can't do it without them, and they can't do it without me."
Any rift that was in place between Jay Cutler and Ron Turner over a scholarship to Illinois that one says was rescinded and the other says was never offered is gone.
So says Cutler.
The quarterback addressed the issue Friday at his introductory press conference at Halas Hall, less than four months after the athletic director at Cutler's high school in southern Indiana made critical comments to Denver Post columnist Woody Paige.
Jay Cutler called his arrival to the Bears the beginning of a new chapter for him and did his best to avoid questions about the saga that led to his departure from the Denver Broncos after a two month saga.
"I couldn't be more excited,'' Cutler said at his introductory press conference at Halas Hall. ``I am here to help this team win and bring a championship back to Chicago.
"I want to thank [Denver owner] Pat Bowlen and the fans of Denver. Obviously, there has been a lot said on my part and the Broncos' part over the last couple months. I think both sides would possibly do a few things different. This is a dream come true for me. I am looking forward to the future.''
Cutler said the experience was like draft day all over for him as he waited for the Broncos to deal him following Bowlen's announcement earlier in the week that the team would deal him.
Kyle Orton is excited to be a member of the Denver Broncos.
While the Bears will finally introduce Jay Cutler in a press conference at Halas Hall in about a half-hour, Orton has already made the rounds in the Mile High City. He said he was appreciative of the opportunities he had as a member of the Bears.
"My wife and I are so excited to get out here and be part of this community,'' Orton told Mike Klis of the Denver Post.
Here are some more quotes passed on by Klis.
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FOLLOW HE QB FIRESTORM?
"I've taken the same approach my entire and that is, my job description is to win football games. And I've done a pretty good job of that and I plan to keep that up. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that.''
BRIAN URLACHER SAID YOU ARE A GREAT TEAMMATE AND GOOD QB?
"I'll take that every time. I've had a lot of great teammates back in Chicago, I know I'll have a lot of great teammates here. Leadership doesn't come overnight. I plan to put my head down and go to work and show the guys what my work ethic is.''
A defensive coordinator shared his thoughts on Jay Cutler with us on Thursday shortly after the trade.
Today, we placed a call to a quarterbacks coach in the league who weighed in on the Bears' new quarterback provided he could do so without being revealed.
"I like the kid. I wish I was working with him,'' the quarterbacks coach said. ``He's a little sloppy with his mechanics at times. He's not as consistent with his release as he can be. But he stands in the pocket and just has great courage. As far as accuracy, a quick release, he's great.
Jay Cutler's exit from Denver is easily traceable.
He felt he could not trust Josh McDaniels after he got on board with the new coach, bought into the program McDaniels was selling, and then the new coach tried to trade him. The nearly five weeks of banter back-and-forth, a teleconference, a face-to-face sitdown, text messages, he said, she said produced nothing but drama, a riveting offseason story the NFL probably cherished.
And it ultimately led to Cutler becoming a Bear, the 12th starting quarterback of the Jerry Angelo regime, Thursday afternoon in a blockbuster deal that will define the general manager's career one way or another.
Now we'll see where Cutler can pick things up with another coach he feels has jilted him, or at least did at one point--Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner.
It's the safest rule there is to follow in the NFL. It's the only explanation you need when trying to understand precisely where the Bears' confidence in Kyle Orton stood. The guy was going into the final year of his contract. The Bears were demanding more from Orton before showing him the money. That tells you right there how confident they were about him as their longterm quarterback.
General manager Jerry Angelo had some very kind things to say about Orton on a conference call earlier this evening. They were probably heartfelt. But Angelo's confidence in newly acquired Jay Cutler is far greater. The man who treats draft picks as if they're virtually untradeable forked over two first-rounders and a third-rounder. Ultimately, not having those picks could be a good thing for the Bears, or Angelo, any way.
It is being hailed as the greatest move general manager Jerry Angelo has made in eight years with the Bears. No price was too steep to finally bring a franchise quarterback on board.
Let's get a sample of what they are saying elsewhere about the addition of Jay Cutler for two first-round picks, a third-round pick and Kyle Orton. Yes, we didn't forget the Bears will get a fifth-round pick back in return, which might not matter if it doesn't turn into, say, the next Mark Anderson.
"It's a massive step down. Maybe Cutler will make the Bears a lot better. He certainly should. And the Broncos will take a step back, at least until [Josh] McDaniels develops a quarterback in his own image. The saddest thing here? Cutler could have been a truly great player in McDaniels' offense. He may be great with the Bears; he certainly has the talent to be. But the Denver attack was tailor-made for Cutler's brains and ability to throw the deep ball. Whatever he says now, I know he'll always wonder how great he could have been in that offense, with that bright young coach -- whether he liked McDaniels or not."
*** Mike Ditka knows something about trading a lot for one player. He dealt away an entire draft for Texas running back Ricky Williams when he was the coach of the New Orleans Saints. Then, Williams got in a wedding dress to pose for a picture with Ditka. He weighed in on the deal for the Denver Post.
Jay Cutler will be introduced as the Bears' next quarterback Friday in a 5 p.m. press conference. Here is what general manager Jerry Angelo had to say about a whirlwind day Thursday at Halas Hall:
OPENING REMARKS
Well, we had a big day as everybody knows today. We're very happy with the outcome, not only of making the trade for Jay Cutler but also the signing of Orlando Pace. It just all came together, and really it came together unexpectedly. We didn't know for sure what the timetable was, particularly about the trade. We had plenty of time to think about the trade given all that has been going on about the Denver situation with Jay. We had a chance to talk amongst us. I came to the conclusion after talking to Lovie [Smith] and Ted [Phillips] as well as ownership that I felt like we needed to pursue this, and if we decide to get in it, we want to get in it to win it. My understanding is that there were quite a few teams that were in this; to what degree I can't answer that. I do know that we really didn't know for sure where we stood in this whole process until maybe an hour before it got done.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU IN TERMS OF THE SALARY CAP?
BRAD'S NOTE: Cutler's salary this season is $1.03 million, representing actually a cap saving compared to Kyle Orton
We're fine. As you know, he's under contract. He signed a six-year contract and he has played three years of that. So that really had no significance in any of this.
WHY IS THIS A MOVE YOU FELT YOU HAD TO MAKE?
As we've talked about postseason, and I don't want to do anything to diminish how we felt about Kyle and I want to make that real clear to everybody. We like Kyle very much. I felt very comfortable if we were going into this season with Kyle, we were fine. This came up unexpectedly. We looked into it. We just felt like in our best interest looking now and in the future, we can't minimize the importance of the position. We've talked about that. I know personally it's been something that has been my goal for the organization and felt this was the right thing to do.
Veteran linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, the elder statesman on the Bears from Vanderbilt, is not going to recognize some of his teammates when the team begins the voluntary offseason program on Monday. At least not as familiar faces around Halas Hall.
Hillenmeyer was excused from the minicamp two weeks ago. The Bears representative to the NFL Players Association, he was attending that organization's most significant meeting in decades as a successor to union boss Gene Upshaw was chosen in DeMaurice Smith.
We've got a scouting report on new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler from a defensive coordinator who spoke on the condition he not be identified. We'll just get right into it:
"I like him because of his arm strength most. He's got a little gunslinger attitude to him too and he's not afraid to fit that ball into some tight spots that some guys might not be able to do.
"He throws a good vertical ball. Anything over the middle, he's usually pretty doggone accurate with it.
"He has a good head on his shoulders. If there is one thing about him, it's his temper. At times he might lose his composure out there. That would be my only negative. I think that's something, with a little more maturity, he'll be better. He's very impressive.
"He's mobile but he looks to throw before he runs. He doesn't get sacked much and that's because he's big, he's strong and he can move.''
Quick reaction from Jerry Angelo's teleconference.
Angelo says the inclusion of Kyle Orton was a key to the deal from the perspective of the Denver Broncos.
"I feel what really fortified this trade was that Kyle was part of it,'' Angelo said. ``I can see why they like Kyle.
"That's what my opinion would be [that Orton set the Bears' offer apart from others]. He was very much an integral part of this trade. They did a lot of work on Kyle."
On his attitude entering the deal: "If we decide to get in it, we want to get in it to win it."
On the trade: "I felt this was the right thing to do."
Devin Hester will be one of the players most impacted by the acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler.
He reacted to the news on Sporting News Radio on The Monty Show.
What is your vision knowing Jay Cutler will be in Chicago?
DH: "As far as the GM, they went out there and made a pretty good move. My thoughts go out to Kyle Orton, I feel like he was getting ready to come to his peak, but the NFL is a business and things happen for a reason so... but on the other side of the hand now we have Jay Cutler, which has proven himself as a pro bowl quarterback. I think he'll come in and kind of boost up the team and probably fill in some of the pieces we're looking for."
The Bears quarterback carousel started spinning before Jerry Angelo came on the scene prior to the 2001 season.
But until Thursday's blockbuster trade for Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, Angelo was destined to have the following words written on hios tombstone one day: Could never find a quarterback. Now, that space has been cleared. Perhaps one day it will read: Finally found Bears a QB.
When Cutler starts the season opener Sept. 13 at Lambeau Field, it will mark the 36th change in starting quarterbacks for the Bears over a span of 156 regular-season games. If you don't have your calculator handy, that's one change every 4.3 games.
If Orlando Pace can be as effective as Ruben Brown was when he energized his career with a move to the Bears, the offensive line just improved considerably.
A little more than an hour after trading fopr Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, the Bears agreed to terms with Pace, the veteran left tackle who is a seven-time Pro Bowl performer, on Thursday in a move that not only reshapes the line but likely changes the plans of general manager Jerry Angelo 23 days before the NFL draft.
Pace will sign a two- or three-year contract and will be inserted as the starting left tackle meaning that 2008 first-round draft pick Chris Williams will have to stave off newly signed veteran Kevin Shaffer to claim a starting job at right tackle. Pace, 33, missed 25 games over the last three seasons but started 14 last season and cleared a physical when he visited the team on Monday. Agent Kennard McGuire praised the visit and it led to quick negotiations.
"He had a tremendous relationship with Lovie,'' McGuire said. "That was an element."
The Bears won out over the Baltimore Ravens, who initially pursued him when he was cut loose by the St. Louis Rams, and who had an offer on the table for more money. Pace, it seems, wanted to remain in the Midwest and felt comfortable with his relationship with coach Lovie Smith, who was the defensive coordinator of the Rams for three seasons. The Pace thing just came together for the Bears as his visit to Halas Hall came when offensive coaches were scheduled to be on vacation. Wide receivers coach Darryl Drake was spotted in Las Vegas earlier in the week.
After the Jay Cutler deal, let's recap quickly the impact on the 2009 draft.
Here are their current draft selections.
Round-Pick-Overall pick
2-17-49 3-20-84 (Yes, we goofed that up. That pick goes to Denver. Thanks for the posters who caught this.)
3-35-99 (compensatory)
4-19-119
5-4-140 (From Denver, originally belonging to Seattle)
5-18-154
6-17-190
7-37-246 (compensatory)
7-42-251 (compensatory)
Denver gets the Bears' first-round pick 18th overall, third-round pick 84th overall, and 2010 first-round pick.
Perhaps the Bears' quarterback carousel will stop spinning.
In a blockbuster move, the Bears acquired Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler on Thursday, sending the Denver Broncos two first-round picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Kyle Orton in exchange for Cutler and a fifth-round draft pick.
Cutler immediately reshapes the organization, ending the sometimes laughable direction the quarterback position took under Angelo as the Bears went through 11 starters in his eight seasons. He will turn 26 at the end of the month, is signed for three more seasons, and the belief is he could steady the position for the next decade.
``I can't say anything until I am up there [Friday],'' Cutler said when reached by phone. ``I'll be up there tomorrow.''
The Bears' pursuit of Orlando Pace got us thinking more about the possibility they will draft a wide receiver in the first round. If the Bears sign Pace, it greatly reduces the chance that an offensive tackle is not a target in the early rounds in the draft.
A wide receiver might be the No. 1 target already. It is not difficult to build a case for the Bears needing to draft a wideout in the first round. Sure, it's easy to come up with some reasons for why the club will stay away from a receiver in Round 1. Most notable, of course, is the track record of general manager Jerry Angelo. You can't ignore that, It's not something he does and it may take a strong effort from the coaching and scouting staffs to talk him into it.
The last time Angelo drafted a receiver in the first round was 1997 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Reidel Anthony with the 16th pick. Anthony's numbers are not very different from those put up by David Terrell, the wideout selected in the first round (8th overall) by the Bears in 2001, less than two months before Angelo was hired. Let's look at Angelo's track record for drafting receivers by round. Cover your eyes if you have a weak stomach. This isn't a pretty list and you can make a strong argument Bernard Berrian is the best of the bunch although Mark Carrier, a third-round pick of the Bucs in 1987, had a nice career. Here we go:
According to reports, the Denver Broncos have the pedal to the metal in efforts to drive Jay Cutler right out of town.
Word is that a deal could be struck as soon as Friday for the Pro Bowl quarterback. Washington, Tampa Bay, the New York Jets and Bears are believed to be primary contenders. ESPN.com and the Tampa Tribune are reporting that the Broncos want at least two first-round draft picks and it is not necessary that they receive a quarterback in return.
OK. It's no surprise whatsoever. The Washington Redskins are putting a full-court press on Denver to land soon-to-be ex-Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. After owner Daniel Snyder got the biggest prize in free agency in defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, he's looking to reel in an even bigger catch--a franchise quarterback.
That is what the Washington Post reports tonight. The Post also names Tampa Bay and the New York Jets as teams in hot pursuit. It's believed to be frenzied in Denver right now where the Broncos are getting unbelievable interest in the quarterback.
We got a lot of questions regarding Orlando Pace and the makeup of the Bears' offensive line and we're going to address that in a separate blog post a little later on. This is our first Q&A since last Thursday, and we will probably do our next one some time over the weekend. Let's get right to it.
Q: I heard you on the radio earlier today suggest that the Bears could trade linebacker Lance Briggs in order to get Jay Cutler. Do you really believe that? He's been their best defensive player since Tommie Harris stopped playing at a high level on a regular basis and I can't think where the Bears' defense would be without him. Tell me you're kidding. April Fools, right?
Chester, Chicago
A: In visiting with Mike Murphy on the WSCR 670-AM, I was trying to make the point that the Bears may have to deal just about whoever the Bears want for Cutler. The Broncos, it's believed, are seeking two first-round picks and a quarterback to start. Who knows if anyone will offer a package like that for Cutler. But there is a chance that Denver could look at Kyle Orton and say, ``no thanks.'' It's hard to say how the rest of the league views Orton, but it's probably safe to say most clubs don't hold him in the same esteem as the Bears do. Predictions of Rex Grossman being a commodity in free agency didn't go over so well, did they? It could be the league frowns on Bears' quarterbacks.
Jerry Angelo took to the podium for the Bears' Web site again Wednesday and addressed the club's reported interest in soon-to-be ex-Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, as well as free agents Orlando Pace and Ken Lucas, who both visited Halas Hall on Monday.
"We always are looking for ways to improve our team and we spend a great deal of time exploring the options available to us whether it be unrestricted free agency, restricted free agents, trades, the draft, etc.,'' Angelo announced on the Web site. "We have brought in players that have helped us win through all those vehicles in my years here in Chicago. We have already signed a few free agents this offseason and we continue to work the pro player acquisition channels as we prepare for the draft. What we have not made a habit of is talking about these moves prematurely and we will continue to operate in a similar fashion.
The phone lines are no doubt on fire as Denver as teams work to get a feel for what kind of package the Broncos are seeking in exchange for disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler, who will be traded in one of the most controversial deals in the history of the NFL, at least over the last few decades.
Let's get a quick feel for what is going on in other cities and the pulse there on possible landing spots for the Pro Bowl passer:
Detroit has the No. 1, No. 20, No. 33 and two third-round picks. General manager Martin Mayhew has said he's open to trading the No. 1 pick. Detroit has already worked out Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and if the Broncos pick up the pick, maybe Stafford becomes their next QB.
