Now Here's an Interesting Proposal; Lance Briggs for Osi Umenyiora?

I think Briggs is a lot more important to our defense than Osi is to the Giants. Regardless, I don't see how we're not trading one position of need for another one. Instead of freeing up our DE need, we instead will add an immediate LB need. The Tampa 2 will not work without another linebacker like Briggs, if you're suggesting that we can just find one easily enough, why hasn't it happened yet?

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Originally Posted by soulman

Two contrasting opinions and both are logical. It is tough to pull off trades like that but this one actually fits for both team player for player better than most. But mo makes a real good point. Osi has had injury issue and that has to be part of the equation but even with the injuries last season he still gets 9 sacks in 9 games and he'll make Pep more effective.

Maybe a better route to follow is to hold on to Briggs and go after Robert Mathis. He's the same age as Osi and healthier. If Indy is gonna rebuild they probably won't re-sign him and he's averaged 10 sacks a year over the past 4 and plays LDE opposite Pep. He'd be a lot cheaper option than Osi as well.

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I will agree with you that we should get Robert Mathis in a trade deal. He's still a solid LDE and would probably benefit from having Peppers and all those three-techniques on the defensive line barking at the quarterback. Give me Robert Mathis, and I'll show you a team that is capable of putting up at least 40 sacks total.

My biggest thing right now is that I really, REALLY don't want to draft a DE in the first round simply because we have so many more needs to fill, and I think we can take care of the DE situation via a trade or via free agency.

Imagine this, soul:

Peppers had 11.0 sacks in '11
Melton had 7.0 sacks
Okoye had 4.0 sacks
Paea had 2.0 sacks
Idonije had 5.0 sacks
Four others combined for 4.0 sacks
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That makes 33 sacks in 2011. Add in about 10 sacks for Mathis, and you get 43 sacks. That makes the Bears fairly respectable at the pass rush.

don' like it. Izzy + Briggs > Osi + rookie or worse worse worse Free Agent LB

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Originally Posted by little bear

No. It's much harder to find real talent at LB in the first round of the draft than at DE. Guys like Whitney Mercilus, Vinny Curry or Andre Branch can come in and start from day one. I doubt a rookie linebacker can do the same. Keep Briggs!

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lol...wait...whut now?

DE's are MUCH more difficult to find then OLBs. ESPECIALLY Tampa-2 OLBs that arent expected to get huge sack numbers (i.e. 3-4 OLBs).

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

lol...wait...whut now?

DE's are MUCH more difficult to find then OLBs. ESPECIALLY Tampa-2 OLBs that arent expected to get huge sack numbers (i.e. 3-4 OLBs).

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well... the Bears are cheap and if they would pay, they would find. And they don't really search them

I like it. The thought of trading Briggs has crossed my mind a few times. Emery strikes me a no-nonsense, military minded honor your obligations kind of guy. That could be in direct contrast with the Briggs mindset and could lead to problems with him and possibly spread to the locker room. I think Briggs is a GREAT player, but we do need a top tier DE and with the potential for Briggs sitting out, it may be time to pull the trigger.

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Originally Posted by Dagan81

I will agree with you that we should get Robert Mathis in a trade deal. He's still a solid LDE and would probably benefit from having Peppers and all those three-techniques on the defensive line barking at the quarterback. Give me Robert Mathis, and I'll show you a team that is capable of putting up at least 40 sacks total.

My biggest thing right now is that I really, REALLY don't want to draft a DE in the first round simply because we have so many more needs to fill, and I think we can take care of the DE situation via a trade or via free agency.

Imagine this, soul:

Peppers had 11.0 sacks in '11
Melton had 7.0 sacks
Okoye had 4.0 sacks
Paea had 2.0 sacks
Idonije had 5.0 sacks
Four others combined for 4.0 sacks
------------------------------------
That makes 33 sacks in 2011. Add in about 10 sacks for Mathis, and you get 43 sacks. That makes the Bears fairly respectable at the pass rush.

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Don't need to trade. Mathis is an UFA so he's fair game for anyone if he doesn't re-sign with the Colts. If he comes free he's worth looking into.

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Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

well... the Bears are cheap and if they would pay, they would find. And they don't really search them

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The Bears WERE cheap but that isn't the case anymore. Last year was the first in a very long time that they didn't bump up against the cap limit and part of the reason for that was the ability to carry over the excess to this year. That's a one time thing so they'll have a big cap excess to work with this year to sign FA's.

This isn't a weak LB class there are at least 3 guys and possibly 4 that will go in round one of the very top or round two and another 3 or 4 worth second round or high third round picks so I'm not all that worried about replacing him with a rookie. All you need to replace Briggs is a kid with good speed who can tackle in the open field. Briggs isn't a great cover LB and he doesn't blitz often he's just a tackling machine in this defense.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Don't need to trade. Mathis is an UFA so he's fair game for anyone if he doesn't re-sign with the Colts. If he comes free he's worth looking into.

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Signing a guy like Mathis would be HUGE for us. He's young enough to give us some productive years still and he's much more likely to hit the open market that Avril is. He may not be as good, but he's good enough to make a significant impact with Pep and our improving young DTs.

The second thing is that now we would be freed up to focus like a laser beam on LT in round 1. Reiff, Martin, and Adams are all guys who are worthy of strong consideration. Adams may be draftable at #19. Reiff and/or Martin could fall to double digits. Even if it cost a trade-up, securing the LT we need is that important IMO.

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Originally Posted by MPBears68

Signing a guy like Mathis would be HUGE for us. He's young enough to give us some productive years still and he's much more likely to hit the open market that Avril is. He may not be as good, but he's good enough to make a significant impact with Pep and our improving young DTs.

The second thing is that now we would be freed up to focus like a laser beam on LT in round 1. Reiff, Martin, and Adams are all guys who are worthy of strong consideration. Adams may be draftable at #19. Reiff and/or Martin could fall to double digits. Even if it cost a trade-up, securing the LT we need is that important IMO.

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That would suit me just fine since I think both LT and DE rank nearly equal in terms of need but I think there's more likelihood of a pass rusher we like being on the board at #19 then one of the LT. Once a run on those guys start I doubt it will let up until the top four are gone because after that there are no more worth a first round pick.