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Bears general manager Jerry Angelo answers questions Monday, January 24 from reporters gathered at Halas Hall. (Chris Walker/Tribune / January 24, 2011) |
The Bears haven't made a splash around the NFL two days into the new season, but don't think they're not active at the pool.
The club that set the market with the biggest contract in free agency a year ago for Julius Peppers, and the one that made a blockbuster trade for Jay Cutler in 2009, still is positioned to make multiple free agent additions.
The Bears are choosing to monitor the action and let the market settle to where the oversized crop of available players present attractive opportunities. Theirs isn't the only front office waiting for the right time to make moves.
Unrestricted free agents can't practice until Aug. 4 because of league rules, and contracts can't be signed officially until 5 p.m. Friday. Multiple agents believe many teams are waiting until Friday to make offers because they don't want their contract parameters shopped around. It will be a situation where teams say it's their first, best and final offer.
Fans clamoring for deals should relax. General manager Jerry Angelo still can acquire a wide receiver, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, a linebacker and more.
Some big deals have been completed. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes got $10 million per year from the Jets. Another day of significant deals could spur more movement.
The Bears don't seem to be involved in the pursuit of defensive end Jason Babin anymore.
They continue to express interest in re-signing cornerback/special teams ace Corey Graham, but he has multiple suitors. When Bears Pro Bowl special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo aggressively shopped himself in 2008, the Bears pulled out of the bidding. That's not to say that will happen with the highly valued Graham.
Activity is warming for punter Steve Weatherford, and the Bears need to replace Brad Maynard.
With other teams shaking up their rosters, the landscape will become a little clearer Thursday afternoon when clubs officially can release players. That will swell the marketplace, and many linemen will be seeking jobs.
The Bears did sign two of their five draft picks Wednesday as quarterback Nathan Enderle (fifth round) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (sixth round) got four-year deals. Enderle's base value is at $2.209 million, including a $168,860 signing bonus. Thomas' contract is worth $2.133 million with a $92,520 signing bonus.
All of the draft picks are believed to be at Olivet Nazarene in Bourbonnais already. But if they don't have contracts done by Friday morning — when camp officially begins — they will have to leave. The Bears will practice for the first time at 2:30 p.m. Saturday followed by a noon workout Sunday. The first practice in pads is at 7 p.m. Monday.
By then, the team ought to have some veterans ready to plug into some of the holes on the roster.
bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs
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The club that set the market with the biggest contract in free agency a year ago for Julius Peppers, and the one that made a blockbuster trade for Jay Cutler in 2009, still is positioned to make multiple free agent additions.
The Bears are choosing to monitor the action and let the market settle to where the oversized crop of available players present attractive opportunities. Theirs isn't the only front office waiting for the right time to make moves.
Unrestricted free agents can't practice until Aug. 4 because of league rules, and contracts can't be signed officially until 5 p.m. Friday. Multiple agents believe many teams are waiting until Friday to make offers because they don't want their contract parameters shopped around. It will be a situation where teams say it's their first, best and final offer.
Fans clamoring for deals should relax. General manager Jerry Angelo still can acquire a wide receiver, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, a linebacker and more.
Some big deals have been completed. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes got $10 million per year from the Jets. Another day of significant deals could spur more movement.
The Bears don't seem to be involved in the pursuit of defensive end Jason Babin anymore.
They continue to express interest in re-signing cornerback/special teams ace Corey Graham, but he has multiple suitors. When Bears Pro Bowl special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo aggressively shopped himself in 2008, the Bears pulled out of the bidding. That's not to say that will happen with the highly valued Graham.
Activity is warming for punter Steve Weatherford, and the Bears need to replace Brad Maynard.
With other teams shaking up their rosters, the landscape will become a little clearer Thursday afternoon when clubs officially can release players. That will swell the marketplace, and many linemen will be seeking jobs.
The Bears did sign two of their five draft picks Wednesday as quarterback Nathan Enderle (fifth round) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (sixth round) got four-year deals. Enderle's base value is at $2.209 million, including a $168,860 signing bonus. Thomas' contract is worth $2.133 million with a $92,520 signing bonus.
All of the draft picks are believed to be at Olivet Nazarene in Bourbonnais already. But if they don't have contracts done by Friday morning — when camp officially begins — they will have to leave. The Bears will practice for the first time at 2:30 p.m. Saturday followed by a noon workout Sunday. The first practice in pads is at 7 p.m. Monday.
By then, the team ought to have some veterans ready to plug into some of the holes on the roster.
bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs