Thread: Biggs: Bears sign LB Geno Hayes

I think what we get in Hayes is a younger guy who is capable of playing WLB in the Bears scheme now as backup for Briggs and later as a potential starter when Briggs retires. Hayes is only 24 years old (25 this August) and still developing as a player. I think Lovie and Babich can instill that discipline in him lb and help take him up a notch as a player.

The kid has some awesome physical skills and I doubt if Morris would have been retained in TB that Hayes would have been let walk. This kid is as nearly and ideal SLB for our defense as anyone we could draft and he's really not much older than a rookie would be. Scratch one more "need to fill in draft" of the list. Vet depth and not a rookie as well.

FWIW here's what Sporting News had to say about him before last years season began.

"On the weak side, there are times when the 6'1" 226lb Hayes plays with such passion and skill that he makes you forget he replaced Derrick Brooks".


That's pretty high praise and this is another example of Emery going out and finding "football players", not "athletes", to add talent and depth. McIntosh would have been a nice pickup too but he's nearing 30 and more of a SLB or MLB so maybe we look to draft a guy who's a better fit for those roles.

Originally Posted by soulman

Forte wouldn't have anything to do with this VJ. His money is already "on the books" and until we sign him to another deal it doesn't come off. I'm not certain the Bears cap was reported correctly a few weeks ago when it was said to me $3.8 mil. I had it over $8 mil. If you subtract about $4 mil for signing draft picks it seems to me that may be where that $3.8 mil figure came from but those contracts don't count against the cap until they're signed which won't be until June or July.

Besides these one year deals aren't all that expensive. TB tendered him last year for a little over $1 mil so you can probably guess what he's getting this year is in that neighborhood. Not a bank breaking deal.

It's also an indication that some guys who have been here and are also already on the books are going to get cut if they don't out perform these new names in camp. To the winner goes the spoils.

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

It's also an indication that some guys who have been here and are also already on the books are going to get cut if they don't out perform these new names in camp. To the winner goes the spoils.

Oh yeah. It's upgrade central at Halas Hall these days. This is where there are bargains to be had for low risk one year deals where we add vet talent and depth. Emery seems very adept at this.

Originally Posted by rich1978

simple and effective, an obvious strategy. makes you wonder why we havent been doing this for years. Loving the way Emery has been playing it since he arrived.

As if we didn't already know.........makes me hate the time we wasted even more.

Originally Posted by soulman

As if we didn't already know.........makes me hate the time we wasted even more.

Go see "Dr. Strange GM, or, How I Learned to Love Jerry Angelo."