Thread: Kreutz a free agent when NFL lockout ends

Kreutz a free agent when NFL lockout ends

Will Bears allow heart of offensive line walk?

By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter 7:26 p.m. CDT, May 9, 2011




Olin Kreutz turns 34 next month so he doesn't mind a little down time in what would be the heart of the offseason program any other year.

But the veteran center, who will be an unrestricted free agent when the NFL resumes business, knows the effect the lockout is having.

"You miss being around the guys, but it's a nice break for an older guy," he said. "But young guys are really losing out and that's the scary thing. Hopefully they will figure this out soon."

The lockout is two months old and no one can say when it will be lifted or how the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals will handle the case it's reviewing June 3.

"You follow a little bit of it, but I am just as lost as everybody else," Kreutz said. "It's ridiculous. It's crazy. It's gone overboard."

Although he's not allowed at Halas Hall, he is working out regularly and talked before a session Monday morning. Coach Lovie Smith more or less announced the team's plans to re-sign Kreutz in February at the scouting combine when he said, "Olin knows we need him."

The team had a brief conversation with his representatives and no negotiations took place before the lockout. Do the Bears still plan to sign Kreutz, who with one more start will tie Walter Payton at 184 for the most in franchise history?

"Love Olin Kreutz," Smith said. "Every time you've heard me talk about Olin, I've said the same thing. I think that is pretty easy to say."

Eventually, the club will have to put its money where Smith's heart is. Whether it's a one-year contract or a short-term deal remains to be seen. Edwin Williams has been mentioned as a possible replacement, but right guard Roberto Garza is probably the only player line coach Mike Tice would trust without Kreutz. Free-agent possibilities are scant.

"There is no one else that can play center on our roster right now," Garza said. "We have a couple young guys, but to do what Olin has done, that's hard to replace."

Where is Kreutz on the issue?

"When we come out again I will be a free agent," he said. "And we'll see what happens."

The Bears began their line makeover by drafting Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi in the first round. General manager Jerry Angelo could add another lineman in free agency and it's impossible to tell who will line up where. In a shortened offseason, turnover is going to be challenging for Tice and that's what makes Kreutz more valuable because the center is the traffic cop for the line.

"It's hard to when you're a free agent, so I'm not going to talk about the team," Kreutz said. "But I expect that line to keep improving, especially with coach Tice and the guys they have there."

Kreutz still has a burning desire to play and there is no mistaking him for a guy trying to squeeze a salary out of a team for one more year. He traveled to the University of Tennessee last month to spend a few days with former line coach Harry Hiestand during the Volunteers' spring program. Kreutz observed and helped break down film.

"There are very few people in the NFL who understand football techniques and schematically know the game as well as him," Hiestand said.

A couple of years ago, Kreutz would have told you he had no desire to coach. Now, he says "we'll see what happens." If the Bears can identify an heir apparent, he'd probably handle a mentoring role well.

"Olin is always willing to help a guy who wants to work hard, period," Hiestand said. "It's never about him. It's always about the team, the O-line being as good as possible.

"He didn't pick all the people he's played around while he's been there. Every time he's gone out there, he's made the 10 players around him better."

bmbiggs@tribune.com