Thread: Restricted free agent Hanie has value to Bear

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

I don't think we're gonna draft or sign a guy that's better than him. Unless we get a retarded offer (Fitz and a 1st or 2nd for him), I say keep him at all costs..

I see you're warming up to the idea.

Just messin' with you.

Seriously, to even have a chance at a "retarded" offer the Bears need to send a message by placing the highest tag on Hanie. Then the message is "The Bears really think a lot of this guy" and teams stand up and take notice.

To me there's no question whatsoever that Hanie is worth at least a second level tender. Where in the hell else would we find another QB as good and as familiar with the offense as Hanie for $1.8 mil?

Considering his overall lack of NFL game experience I sincerely doubt that anyone would sign him as a starter. Paying $1.8 mil plus to get him and giving up a 2nd rounder is more than I can imagine anyone thinking he's worth at this point in his career. His best and highest value is to stay with the Bears as the #2 guy for now and simply play the role Gary Kubiak did with the Broncos as a sub for Elway. Hanie probably won't play much but when he does I believe that he'll do it well plus the team seems to feel confident with him.

I really like the guy and with out a shadow of a doubt he should be offered an extension or at the very least tendered well enough to make him happy being #2 behind Cutler.

Bears backup Hanie open to playing elsewhere

DALLAS — Caleb Hanie wouldn’t mind being a Bear again. But he’d rather play elsewhere so he can compete for a starting job.
‘‘If I didn’t have any better options, I would love to stay,’’ Hanie said Thursday. ‘‘I love Chicago, and the organization has been good to me. But if an opportunity comes up, I wouldn’t shy away from that.’’

Hanie is a restricted free agent, which means the Bears can match any offer for him and limit his mobility. They likely would place a tender on him that would net them a second-round pick if a team signs him away. In 2010, that tender was worth $1.75 million, significantly higher than the $390,000 he earned.

Undrafted out of Colorado State, Hanie was the third-string quarterback, but he entered the NFC title game after Jay Cutler was injured and veteran Todd Collins was benched. He made the game interesting, leading two touchdown drives. But he also was intercepted twice, including one that was returned by Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji for a touchdown.
‘‘You always have that confidence in yourself, but you have to prove to yourself and everyone else that the doubt is gone,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m in my third year, and it’s when guys make that transition and compete for jobs.

‘‘But if I had to stick around, if they put a tender on me, I would be fine with that.’’
Hanie said he has appreciated his friendship with Cutler, particularly when he was demoted from backup to third-string around midseason.

‘‘It was hard,’’ he said. ‘‘I didn’t say much. Just went about my business as usual, and I tried to get better. But Jay was very supportive. He said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ He was encouraging. He reiterated his belief in me.’’
Hanie said Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz was ‘‘rough on me.’’

‘‘He didn’t take it easy, so that was helpful,’’ Hanie said, noting his confidence in learning one of the more difficult offenses in the NFL.
As for Cutler, Hanie said he’s ‘‘shocked’’ by critics saying Cutler lacks toughness.

‘‘I’m sure it stings a little bit, especially from his peers,’’ Hanie said. ‘‘But he’s fine. I’m sure he’s moved on. He’s a professional, and he knows this comes with the territory.’’

Pouncey sits out

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be down another starting offensive lineman. Center Maurkice Pouncey didn’t participate Thursday, receiving treatment for his injured left ankle while teammates practiced.

‘‘It’s getting to be witching hour for Maurkice,’’ Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
Doug Legursky would make his first NFL start at center if Pouncey can’t play.

Meanwhile, for the Green Bay Packers, receiver Donald Driver missed practice with a thigh injury. Packers coach Mike McCarthy suggested it was a precautionary decision.

Linebacker Erik Walden also didn’t practice.
Bears’ grass 3rd worst

In a survey of 1,619 NFL players, Soldier Field came in with the third-worst grass field in the league. Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field was voted the worst. The top-rated grass field belonged to the Arizona Cardinals (University of Phoenix Stadium).

Originally Posted by little bear

He did well against the Giants and Packers but that doesn't mean he's going to be a starting QB in the league. Let's be honest, he's never going to be a #1 QB. He'll always be a backup.

not sure about that- while he will never IMO be a top Qb he can be a starter and a #1 on some teams, if given a chance, if players like jake delhomme, trent dilfer, brady quinn,derrick anderson, etc etc can start and be #1's not out of the realm of possibilities hanie "maybe" can do it.. Don't think ever will be elite, but he showed in the playoff game can play at this level

Originally Posted by little bear

He did well against the Giants and Packers but that doesn't mean he's going to be a starting QB in the league. Let's be honest, he's never going to be a #1 QB. He'll always be a backup.

I disagree. I think Hanie can be a starter in the NFL.

whether he can or cannot is yet to be determined, but much like KO after a few years of showing signs of potential, Haine deserves a shot to compete for a starting job; which he cannot do here.

Tendering is a good idea, and then look to trade.