Thread: Vincent Jackson to hit the Open Market

I think I'd be fine with the Bears passing on him in favor of Colston or Bowe (assuming either of them make it to FA). Less cash but still a huge upgrade.

He has been at war with the SD front office for quite a while now and I agree that he won't be back in S.D. Way too much bad blood there and their GM is a complete jerk.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

Any one of those 3 clearly have to be our biggest FA target. Any one of them is head-and-shoulders above the other options out there (Manningham, Wayne, etc.) as a #1 WR FA option. VJax would probably be the most expensive to sign but I'm fine with any of them according to whatever Emery thinks is the best value. All of them would be a HUGE upgrade over RWill. Bowe may be re-signed/FT'd but Colston is likely to hit the open market too as NO has to pony up big bucks to retain Brees & Nicks first. Opportunity knocks and the Bears cannot fumble this one away.

+1

I'd be happy with any of them but Colston has had some injury issues that might make me shy away from him a bit. There are more WR's in FA this year than ever before and I count on Emery to get the best fit for our system.

I know that there is about a 90% likelihood that Bowe gets tagged, but does anyone besides me think that he will be our target given the acquisition of Emery from KC. Perhaps that is precisely why he WOULD NOT be the target also. Maybe I'm all wet here.

As far as V-Jax goes, I just don't feel like we'll go after him for some reason. $$$$$$

Originally Posted by WindyCity

5 years 42.5 million/20 guaranteed

Don't know how much the Bears will be willing to go but if Jackson, as the top FA WR this year, is looking to get what Sidney Rice got last years you're right in the ballpark. Looks like he got $6 mil to sign and the first two years salary guaranteed as well as the Pro Bowl escalator. The structure of the deal is fairly cap friendly too.

To compete with the best we need a guy like Jackson. It may not be Jackson but it's the direction we have to go in. Adding 2nd and 3rd WR types gains us nothing. Those that we have are on par with most others in the league like them. Earl Bennett is as good a clutch receiver as you could ask for and should be starting. Knox is the deep ball threat and if Tice will move Hester to the slot to rotate with Sanz or some better option those positions will work out OK. What's still needed is that 100 catch #1 guy.

Be it Jackson, Bowe, Colston whatever it needs to be done and done now which to me means a FA who can step into the #1 spot now, not a first round draft choice who may do it a year or two from now. Even in a run oriented offense we still need that guy that makes other teams game plan around him. We don't have that now. If we can get that guy it will make every other receiver on the team all that more effective because we won't be asking players to execute what they can't or at least don't do well such as running 8 yard slants with Knox.

I don't think you're off the mark here Windy. I top guy is gonna come in somewhere around this range or maybe a little less for a Bowe or Colston but if that's the cost of stepping it up then it's the price we pay, simple as that.


Seattle Seahawks Sidney Rice

Wide Receiver
Players: Drafted:Round 2 (#44 overall), 2007
College: South Carolina

Current Salary Information

Contract: 5 yr(s) / $41,000,000 Signing Bonus $6,000,000 Average Salary $8,200,000 End Year: 2015 Free Agent: 2016 / Unrestricted

Base Salary S. Bonus Misc. Bonus Cap Hit 2011 2,000,000 2,000,000 - 4,000,000 2012 7,000,000 2,000,000 - 9,000,000 2013 8,500,000 2,000,000 - 10,500,000 2014 8,750,000 - - 8,750,000 2015 8,750,000 - - 8,750,000 2016 UFA Signing Bonus: $6 million $18 million guaranteed Pro Bowl Escalator: $3 million