Thread: Free-agent DT Okoye to meet with Bengals

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

That is because Melton missed several games with injury

Benji we were 6th against the rush last season.

So what we have I wouldnt like to let slip away over money.

We have to make up for the mistakes of signing Texas players,

fuck ... out of the only good as Kroney has pointed out from last years signings from Texas,

is Okoye.

The very situation that ALOT of other teams are interested in him means ... sign him.

Otherwise we are just going to take a draft pick and waste it on somthing like him to get back again.

Thats stupid ... a bird in hand ... is worth two in the feather.

I'm in the camp of paying Okoye as high as ordinary DT starter money if needed since he does play starter-DT number of snaps and (ask Sox said) he is both leverage and insurance in the Melton negotiations. It is possible that some other one-gap team will offer him Good-Starter money and that that would lure him away but he is very valuable. The worry about Melton is he shows hints of 'head case' either laziness or something. If he is signed to a long term big money contract will he continue to produce? Okoye is tested in that situation (big rook contract) and DID work hard (in Texas).

I would be fully content with a resigning of Okoye and no 1st round DE. Melton, I thought, was at least an interesting rush DE, as perhaps Okoye could be. Drafting a good but one-dimensional pass rush DE might be possible in later rounds ... I ultimate hope would be a MLB-of-the-future type how could pass rush from the DE spot (for that I *would* be willing to use the first round pick). The prototype of this is, of course, Mr Brian U. Reports from training camp are of how awesome he is as a pass rusher (and/or how he 'panics' the poor slob who has to look bad in training camp trying to block him in pass rushing drills). The bears would have to be outstandingly lucky to do THAT well again, but that is the prototype. If Mr. MLB-of-the future turns out not to be a quality rush-only DE he still could be a fine pick ... and might well make a good SLB in the base defense.

The money to sign Okoye? Perhaps, go ahead and use most of the remaining about 5 Mil (leaving 4/5 for the rookies) on him .... or (my preference) trade Forte for whatever pick you can get and use the pick (and cheap FAs) to fill in the back-up running back spot(s). (I won't repeat my previous posts on how I thought Forte was no better than Bush and only a little better than Barber/Bell [empty calories yards, too few TDs, unproductive in red zone, etc.] ... this allows the Bears to get very active in the late, cheap FA signing market (CB, third WR competition, Safety, LB). Admittedly, I am nearly alone in this corner. :-)

We shall see. I have my fingers crossed.