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The Carl Nicks Mock Offseason
This Offseason is based on the projection by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that the Bears should start the offseason with 28 million in cap space.
Breaking down Bears and the salary cap - chicagotribune.com
Cuts/Restructuring [7 million saved]
OT Frank Omiyale [1.6 million]
RB Marion Barber [1.9 million]
DE Chauncey Davis [500K]
DT Anthony Adams [1.5]
DT Mansfield Wrotto [[500K]
WR Max Komar [500K]
TE Chris Adams [500K]
Re-Signing [15 million spent]
RB Matt Forte [4 years 32 million/20 guaranteed] [6/8/8/10]
A must resign and the most dynamic playmaker that the Bears have.
DT Amobi Okoye [4 years 14 million/6 guaranteed] [2/4/4/4]
DE Israel Idonije [3 years 6 million/2 guaranteed] [1/2/3]
Idonije might not be the pass rusher that the Bears need across from Peppers he is a great run stuffer and a perfect rotational player.
TE Kellen Davis [2 years 5 million/3 guaranteed] [2/3]
He is worth another look.
CB Tim Jennings [2 years 5 million/2 guaranteed] [2/3]
The Bears need Jennings for 1 more year while they develop Hayward to be the starter. He is also very good depth.
S Craig Steltz [2 years 2.5 million/1 guaranteed] [1/1.5]
Steltz has been a consistent contributor and can hold up as a sport starter and a leader on special teams.
RB Khalil Bell [2 years 3 million/1 guaranteed] [1/2]
Bell in my opinion has earned the right to be the primary back up, he runs hard and catches the ball well out of the backfield.
Free Agency [14 Million Spent]
This free agency plan focuses on making immediate fixes to the offense that has struggled for 3 years to play up to the defense. The offense needs immediate solutions to take advantage of the defenses strong play.
OG Carl Nicks [New Orleans] 7 years 60 million/28 guaranteed [15 SB/13 RB] [6/7/8/9/9/9/12]
The Bears move aggressively to get a player that is the BEST at his position in the NFL. Nicks provides the Bears with a dominant player on their OL that they do not have. Ideally the Bears would be spending the big money at LT, but the market does not have an elite LT and the team seems to love J'Marcus Webb's potential. If the Bears want to push the ball downfield they need to secure the interior pocket and allow Cutler to step into throws. Nicks dominated Suh the entire game that the Saints played against the Lions.
WR Pierre Garcon [Indianapolis] 5 years 35 million/16 guaranteed [10 SB/6 RB] [4/7/7/8/9]
The Bears do not get involved in the Vincent Jackson sweepstakes and instead focus on adding a couple of solid targets that upgrade the WR core. Garcon has a great combination of speed and physicality and can run all the routes. He also has the speed to threaten vertically.
WR Harry Douglas [Atlanta] 4 years 12 million/4 guaranteed [4 SB] [2/3/3/4]
The Bears have 1 healthy WR that should start games in Earl Bennett and while I hope Knox recovers I do not think that he will be 100% this season. Douglas has the speed that the Bears will be lacking as Knox recovers from his injury and will give the Bears depth.
QB David Garrard [Jacksonville] 2 years 4 million/2 guaranteed [2/2]
The Bears were destroyed by their lack of a solid backup QB the last 2 seasons and they remedy that with Garrard. Garrard was holding out for a big money starting gig, but I do not see anyone giving that to him and in Chicago he can re-join Mike Tice and play for a team that really has a chance of winning. It would also provide him with a break for a body that has been beaten up in his career.
Draft
The draft will focus on adding depth to the defense by spending a majority of the high picks on the defense in areas where are is becoming a concern.
1[19] WR Stephen Hill [Georgia Tech] 6'4" 215lbs.
Stephen Hill is an incredible risk, but he is also a player that can become a dominant force in the NFL with his size and physical ability [4.36 40, 39.5" vert]. The Bears may need to be patient with Hill and allow him to develop while using him like the Ravens used Torrey Smith, but the Bears have been to conservative for to long at the WR position.
2[50] DE Vinny Curry [Marshall] 6'3" 266lbs.
Vinny Curry did not wow people at the combine and he did not run a blistering 40 yard dash, but after taking a risk in the 1st round the Bears play it safe in the 2nd. Curry is a relentless pass rusher with a good burst to threaten the edge. He showed at the Senior Bowl that he can rush the passer with a variety of moves. He can join the rotation with Izzy right away at the LE position.
3[74] CB Casey Hayward [Vanderbilt] 5'11" 190lbs.
Hayward has the size and speed to be a starter in the cover 2 defense and more importantly he creates a lot of trunovers [5 ints this season], which is a must in Lovie's defense.
3[80] LB Terrell Manning [NC State] 6'3" 235lbs.
The Bears need to add depth and speed to the LB core and Manning has the speed and quickness to be a starter down the road in the Cover 2 defense. This season he learns from Briggs while providing depth and contributing on special teams.
4. OT Donald Stephenson [OU] 6'6" 310lbs.
The Bears with the signing of Nicks can move Chris Williams to LT to compete with J'Marcus Webb, but they need to continue to add depth to the OT position. Stephenson is under the radar, but has the physical ability to play OT and he provides depth behind Carimi and his knee.
5. LB DeMario Davis [Arkansas St] 6'3" 225lbs.
Davis is another LB prospect that has the height, speed and nose for the ball to develop into a starter in the Cover 2 defense.
6. S Donovan Richard [South Carolina St] 6'1" 220lbs
The Bears seem happy with Conte and Wright as they starting safeties heading into next season, but they need depth for the defense and special teams. Richard is from a small school, but he has incredible size combined with very good speed.
7. DT DeAngelo Tyson [Georgia] 6'2" 306lbs.
After cutting Adams the Bears add Tyson to the NT competition and he gives them increased size in the rotation against the run. Melton and Okoye have the pass rush that the Bears need, but they are not good against the run.
Depth Chart
QB: Cutler, Garrard, Enderle
RB: Forte, Bell, Allen, Clutts
WR: Garcon, Bennett, Hill, Douglas, Knox [Inj], Hester
TE: Davis, Spaeth, A. Smith
LT: Webb/C. Williams
LG: Nicks
C: Garza, E. Williams
RG: Louis/Spencer
RT: Carimi, Stephenson
RE: Peppers, Wootton
DT: Melton, Okoye
NT: Toenia, Paea, Tyson
LE: Idonije/Curry
SLB: Roach, Davis
MLB: Urlacher, Dicico
WLB: Briggs, Manning
CB: Tillman, Jennings, Hayward, Moore, J. Moore
FS: Conte, Richard, Walter
SS: Wright, Steltz
Last edited by WindyCity; 03-04-2012 at 02:42 PM.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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It'll be interesting if new general manager Phil Emery has a different philosophy -- like acquiring the best guy to do the job. The Bears figure to stick with Gabe Carimi and J'Marcus Webb as their starting tackles -- both have shown enough to warrant giving them time to develop. Lance Louis also has earned a full-season's look at right guard after holding his own at guard and tackle last season. Veteran Roberto Garza received Pro Bowl consideration in his first year at center and figures to be locked in there for 2012.
That leaves left guard as the biggest room for an upgrade, which is exactly where Carl Nicks has played since he entered the NFL in 2008 as a fifth-round draft pick. Chris Williams, whom the Bears drafted 150 picks ahead of Nicks in 2008 as an offensive tackle, started the first nine games of last season at left guard before suffering a season-ending dislocated wrist. Edwin Williams, an undrafted free agent the Bears picked up in 2010 after he was cut by the Redskins, started the final seven games.
It's hard to judge offensive linemen from the cheap seats. But while both Williamses were at least good enough for the Bears to win with, neither is close to the level of Nicks. Adding a 27-year-old two-time Pro Bowler who has played in 70 consecutive games (67 starts) since entering the NFL is usually considered an upgrade.
Should the Bears take a look at Carl Nicks? - Inside the Bears
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This Offseason is based on the projection by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that the Bears should start the offseason with 28 million in cap space.
Breaking down Bears and the salary cap - chicagotribune.com
Cuts/Restructuring [7 million saved]
OT Frank Omiyale [1.6 million]
RB Marion Barber [1.9 million]
DE Chauncey Davis [500K]
DT Anthony Adams [1.5]
DT Mansfield Wrotto [[500K]
WR Max Komar [500K]
TE Chris Adams [500K]
Re-Signing [15 million spent]
RB Matt Forte [4 years 32 million/20 guaranteed] [6/8/8/10]
A must resign and the most dynamic playmaker that the Bears have.
DT Amobi Okoye [4 years 14 million/6 guaranteed] [2/4/4/4]
DE Israel Idonije [3 years 6 million/2 guaranteed] [1/2/3]
Idonije might not be the pass rusher that the Bears need across from Peppers he is a great run stuffer and a perfect rotational player.
TE Kellen Davis [2 years 5 million/3 guaranteed] [2/3]
He is worth another look.
CB Tim Jennings [2 years 5 million/2 guaranteed] [2/3]
The Bears need Jennings for 1 more year while they develop Hayward to be the starter. He is also very good depth.
S Craig Steltz [2 years 2.5 million/1 guaranteed] [1/1.5]
Steltz has been a consistent contributor and can hold up as a sport starter and a leader on special teams.
RB Khalil Bell [2 years 3 million/1 guaranteed] [1/2]
Bell in my opinion has earned the right to be the primary back up, he runs hard and catches the ball well out of the backfield.
Free Agency [14 Million Spent]
This free agency plan focuses on making immediate fixes to the offense that has struggled for 3 years to play up to the defense. The offense needs immediate solutions to take advantage of the defenses strong play.
OG Carl Nicks [New Orleans] 7 years 60 million/28 guaranteed [15 SB/13 RB] [6/7/8/9/9/9/12]
The Bears move aggressively to get a player that is the BEST at his position in the NFL. Nicks provides the Bears with a dominant player on their OL that they do not have. Ideally the Bears would be spending the big money at LT, but the market does not have an elite LT and the team seems to love J'Marcus Webb's potential. If the Bears want to push the ball downfield they need to secure the interior pocket and allow Cutler to step into throws. Nicks dominated Suh the entire game that the Saints played against the Lions.
WR Pierre Garcon [Indianapolis] 5 years 35 million/16 guaranteed [10 SB/6 RB] [4/7/7/8/9]
The Bears do not get involved in the Vincent Jackson sweepstakes and instead focus on adding a couple of solid targets that upgrade the WR core. Garcon has a great combination of speed and physicality and can run all the routes. He also has the speed to threaten vertically.
WR Harry Douglas [Atlanta] 4 years 12 million/4 guaranteed [4 SB] [2/3/3/4]
The Bears have 1 healthy WR that should start games in Earl Bennett and while I hope Knox recovers I do not think that he will be 100% this season. Douglas has the speed that the Bears will be lacking as Knox recovers from his injury and will give the Bears depth.
QB David Garrard [Jacksonville] 2 years 4 million/2 guaranteed [2/2]
The Bears were destroyed by their lack of a solid backup QB the last 2 seasons and they remedy that with Garrard. Garrard was holding out for a big money starting gig, but I do not see anyone giving that to him and in Chicago he can re-join Mike Tice and play for a team that really has a chance of winning. It would also provide him with a break for a body that has been beaten up in his career.
Draft
The draft will focus on adding depth to the defense by spending a majority of the high picks on the defense in areas where are is becoming a concern.
*Trade* The Bears trade 1[19] and 3[74] to the Dallas Cowboys for 1[14] and leap frog the Eagles, Jets and Chargers who could take Floyd.
1[14] WR Michael Floyd [Notre Dame] 6'3" 220lbs.
The Bears need a #1 WR with size that can step in and start from Day 1. Floyd is big, fast and polished as a WR and can provide the big target that Cutler needs.
2[50] DE Vinny Curry [Marshall] 6'3" 266lbs.
Vinny Curry did not wow people at the combine and he did not run a blistering 40 yard dash, but after taking a risk in the 1st round the Bears play it safe in the 2nd. Curry is a relentless pass rusher with a good burst to threaten the edge. He showed at the Senior Bowl that he can rush the passer with a variety of moves. He can join the rotation with Izzy right away at the LE position.
3[80] CB Casey Hayward [Vanderbilt] 5'11" 190lbs.
Hayward has the size and speed to be a starter in the cover 2 defense and more importantly he creates a lot of trunovers [5 ints this season], which is a must in Lovie's defense.
4. LB Keenan Robinson [Texas] 6'3" 240lbs.
The Bears grab an athletic weakside LB to learn behind Briggs and to provide depth and speed on special teams.
5. LB DeMario Davis [Arkansas St] 6'3" 225lbs.
Davis is another LB prospect that has the height, speed and nose for the ball to develop into a starter in the Cover 2 defense.
6. OT Josh Ogelsby [Wisconsin] 6'7" 338lbs.
A massive RT prospect from the Wisconsin OL factory that can be develop at RT and provide depth behind Carimi's knee and possibly allow Carimi to compete with Webb at LT.
7. S Donovan Richard [South Carolina St] 6'1" 220lbs
The Bears seem happy with Conte and Wright as they starting safeties heading into next season, but they need depth for the defense and special teams. Richard is from a small school, but he has incredible size combined with very good speed.
Depth Chart
QB: Cutler, Garrard, Enderle
RB: Forte, Bell, Allen, Clutts
WR: Floyd, Garcon, Bennett, Douglas, Knox [Inj], Hester
TE: Davis, Spaeth, A. Smith
LT: Webb/C. Williams
LG: Nicks
C: Garza, E. Williams
RG: Louis/Spencer
RT: Carimi, Ogelsby
RE: Peppers, Wootton
DT: Melton, Okoye
NT: Toenia, Paea
LE: Idonije/Curry
SLB: Roach, Davis
MLB: Urlacher, Dicico
WLB: Briggs, Manning
CB: Tillman, Jennings, Hayward, Moore, J. Moore
FS: Conte, Richard, Walter
SS: Wright, Steltz
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Option 1 got ripped up when I posted it on another site so I tried option 2 to appease some of those people.
I think that the Bears can very easily make a Nicks signing work and improve the offense incredibly in one offseason while still providing the depth to the defense in key places.
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity 
Option 1 got ripped up when I posted it on another site so I tried option 2 to appease some of those people.
I think that the Bears can very easily make a Nicks signing work and improve the offense incredibly in one offseason while still providing the depth to the defense in key places.
If you want me to buy off on this idea you're gonna have to justify why you would spend $60 mil or so on Nicks when you could draft Glenn and lay out about $10 mil/4yrs for him or wait until the 3rd round and take the guy sox hyped and spend maybe $3 mil/4yrs. No matter how good he is there is no way in hell Carl Nicks is worth that much money to the Bears.
If I'm Ted Phillips and George McCaskey how do you propose to justify spending $60 mil on an OG when we have bigger needs at LT on the just the line alone. That doesn't include bigger needs at WR and DE too. I don't think there's anyway you could justify it. This isn't about fitting Nicks in with the cap this is about overspending at a position that isn't a major need and could be filled more economically in other ways.
If Emery made that deal I'd seriously question his sanity and you need to lay off the Moosehead or Molson before you do mock v10.0 or whichever number is next or I'm gonna think you're nuts too.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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I'd love to have a big honkin' dominant offensive line.
So would The Bears.
And every other NFL team.
With guys like Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder out there, acquiring Nicks' services will become a bidding war and he'll wind up being overpaid, just like Steve Hutchinson.
There's more to it than just signing need players. Other teams vie in and throw out numbers not only to maybe sign that player, but also to pressure rival teams into ponying up, keeping them from having the cap room they need to sign all the players they need or to distract them from the actual target. And there's payback, too.
While Minnesota was busy nabbing Hutchinson from the Seahawks (they couldn't resign him after signing Walter Jones, there was a 'poison-pill' clause in Hutchinson's contract), the 'Hawks nabbed Nate Burleson.
Playing Fantasy GM is all fun and stuff, but real-world economics and strategy is overlooked at times and tossing out proposals like Nicks will get you creamed. Not to say it couldn't happen, but these numbers are ridiculous and let's not forget that, ultimately, Nicks decides where Nicks goes.
Last edited by matsellah; 03-04-2012 at 06:52 PM.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Good thoughts Mats. I have no doubt that Carl Nicks is one of the best if not the best OG in football but he's not worth more than triple what you'd pay a prized rookie like DeCastro or Nicks both whom could knock him off his hill in a year or two.
Maybe those who would go after him don't realize what a huge cost difference there is under new CBA which limits rookies compensation a lot. Carimi was the 28th player drafted last year, he was drafted as a LT even though he's currently at RT like many other rookies do, and his entire contract is $7 mil and change over 4 years. I'm guessing a #19 pick might come in around $10 mil over 4 years or about $2.5 mil per year on average. Nicks is looking for better than $8 mil per year. No matter how good he is the Bears couldn't justify that much difference for him. If the guy was that good and a LT yeah, but as an OG, no.
Last edited by soulman; 03-04-2012 at 07:50 PM.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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That is not the numbers we would be paying him, but the cap structure for us.
7 years 60 million/28 guaranteed [21 Signing Bonus, 7 Roster Bonus]
Actual Cash Payments
Year 1: 25 million [21 SB + 4 Sal]
Year 2: 5 million [2 RB + 3 Sal]
Year 3: 4 million [4 Sal]
Year 4: 6 million [2 RB + 4 Sal]
Year 5: 6 million [6 Sal]
Year 6: 6 million [6 Sal]
Year 7: 8 million [3 RB + 5 Sal]
Pays him 34 million in the first 3 years.
Cap Hits [Our structure]
Year 1: 7 million [3 SB + 4 Sal]
Year 2: 8 million [3 SB + 2 RB + 3 Sal]
Year 3: 7 million [3 SB + 4 Sal]
Year 4: 9 million ]3 SB + 2 RB + 4 Sal]
Year 5: 9 million [3 SB + 6 Sal]
Year 6: 9 million [3 SB + 6 Sal]
Year 7: 11 million [3 SB + 3 RB + 5 Sal]
If we cut him in the final year we save 8 million and he still cashes out 52 million dollars.
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I feel that you need 1 dominant OG in the passing NFL.
You need 1 OG that can beat a DT like Suh 1 on 1 and allow the center and other OG to double team.
With Nicks on passing plays he can dominate Suh while Garza and Spencer double team Fairley. By having an OG that can win 1 on 1 battle it allows you to be very creative with your protections.
The real question is what you brought up would you want to pay 10 million to Nicks for 3 seasons. I would because of the quality of the player because he is the best. I would not for a player like Grubbs, but Nicks is a perennial All-Pro and potential HOFer.
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity I feel that you need 1 dominant OG in the passing NFL.
You need 1 OG that can beat a DT like Suh 1 on 1 and allow the center and other OG to double team.
With Nicks on passing plays he can dominate Suh while Garza and Spencer double team Fairley. By having an OG that can win 1 on 1 battle it allows you to be very creative with your protections.
The real question is what you brought up would you want to pay 10 million to Nicks for 3 seasons. I would because of the quality of the player because he is the best. I would not for a player like Grubbs, but Nicks is a perennial All-Pro and potential HOFer.
If he could play LT yes, LG no. There is no way you can justify that cost for a team with as many other needs that come first as the Bears. Especially not when their are two OG's in FA who rate as highly as Glenn and DeCastro who you'd only pay $10 mil over 4 years not $10 mil PER YEAR!
It's wasted $$$ in the scheme of things. Nicks does not get this team closer to a Super Bowl but it's likely a great DE and/or WR upgrades will. Raji and Suh don't dominate against us and are not the reason why the Packers have beaten us these last few games. The guy on the Packers we need to stop is Aaron Rodger, not BJ Raji, and Nicks can't pass rush.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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