Chicago Bears Cuts Begin

**soulman** · 09-03-2011, 10:21 AM

No surprises here.

Cutdown day: Bears release Taylor, Harrison

By Brad Biggs Tribune News Services 9:58 a.m. CDT, September 3, 2011

It would have been much easier had the Bears just told Chester Taylor he was free to leave Monday when he bolted Halas Hall after a meeting with coach Lovie Smith, believing he was being released.

But the Bears had Taylor stick around while they no doubt looked to trade him and also evaluated the health of Marion Barber (calf) and Kahlil Bell (ankle). In the end, Taylor had to go one year after signing a $12.5 million, four-year contract that was heavily frontloaded. The Bears informed him Saturday he is being released.

He isn’t the only veteran headed out the door. The Bears are also waiving defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, a third-round draft pick in 2008 who showed up for training camp out of shape for the second time in three summers. Harrison was caught in a numbers crunch and would have been the sixth defensive tackle. Considering he was entering the final year of his contract, the Bears couldn’t keep a player who wasn’t motivated to show up for the season ready to play.

Combined with tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, the Bears paid the free-agent additions $13.105 million in 2010, the kind of misses the team hasn't had in free agency previously.

Taylor, who turns 32 later this month, received $7 million in 2010 when he rushed for 267 yards on 112 carries. His 2.38-yard per carry average is the lowest by a running back with a minimum of 100 rushes since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

But general manager Jerry Angelo credited the presence of Taylor for motivating Matt Forte to have a fine season, one that has him in negotiations for a lucrative long-term extension. Taylor became the short-yardage back midway through the season and the offense as a whole didn’t excel in those situations. That also contributed to Taylor’s poor statistics.

Because he’s a vested veteran, Taylor becomes an unrestricted free agent and does not have to clear waivers.

The Bears must clear 10 more roster spots to reach the 53-man limit by the 5 p.m. deadline.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
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**soulman** · 09-03-2011, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Butka

On a somewhat related note and I know this may appear inane to most people, but I can't bring myself to watch the 4th quarter of the last preseason game knowing that it's the end of the dream for most of the guys on the field. I explained to my wife that it's the last game a lot of these guys will ever play. Football is something most of these guys have done their whole lives with such passion. And there's no sendoff or recognition (not saying there should be). It's just one of those things. And I'm sure all of them appreciate the opportunity to make it; it has to be bittersweet. It's like a hardworking musician playing his final show to a disinterested bar crowd.

I don't know the feeling or playing my last game of football but I do remember the last game of fast pitch I played with my old team in Wisconsin before I moved to Colorado. And I sure remember a few last nighters with some bands I've played in. For us hard core players thougth it's never really over for good until we're six feet under.

Nice piece brother!

**motownbear** · 09-03-2011, 11:13 AM

They threw away 13 million dollars on a backup rb and a blocking te but have trouble re-signing our best rb since Payton and play hardball with a top 5 lb in the league over pay and don't upgrade the offense at all this offseason with a legit wr and legit oline

Typical angelo

**soulman** · 09-03-2011, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by motownbear

They threw away 13 million dollars on a backup rb and a blocking te but have trouble re-signing our best rb since Payton and play hardball with a top 5 lb in the league over pay and don't upgrade the offense at all this offseason with a legit wr and legit oline

Typical angelo

I know and with $19 mil in cap excess I keep asking the question of why he's playing such hardball this year. Just like you can't pay a player for his past you can't base the teams future on two bad FA signings. There has to be some reason besides that.

I wouldn't have given Briggs a new deal either but shifting his 2013 salary into 2011 shouldn't have become an issue as long as Briggs agree that was the end of it. No coming back and asking for more. Same money, just a different payout.

And why they won't give Forte a $14-$15 mil guarantee mystifies me. If that's what they're stuck on then Angelo is being pretty shortsighted. Just do as I suggested and give him a $10 mil signing bonus now and the $5 mil in roster bonus's over the next three years. As long as he makes the team he gets his $$$ regardless of his productivity but if he's badly injured and his career is over the Bears have a little protection. I think I could get this deal done with less sweat then they're all going through.

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