Thread: Ex-Bears OL Williams will visit Eagles

I wish him the best. I posted this in another thread, but maybe it belongs here:



After thinking about this since yesterday, I've come to my own conclusions.

1. C.Will was billed as our most consistent lineman in 2011 at LG - but he was not the mauler type that Tice wants.

2. He is not very good at LT.

3. With a new contract coming up, the Bears didn't want to pay for an interior lineman who does not fit Tice's mauler needs.

4. C.Will will probably have a long career as an excellent interior lineman in the NFL. He'll never be a tackle though, or a mauler-type guard. Just a solid, consistent guard for a team. He's just turned 27 years old, so he'll have a long career in the NFL. Kind of like Marc Columbo did when we cut him. Marc was another 1st round olineman we cut, and he went on to have a solid career for the Cowboys (he just retired as a Cowboy this past spring).

I'm not faulting Tice for getting rid of a guy who doesn't fit his plan for the oline. I actually like having mauler-type linemen. I do regret that we spent a 1st round pick on an olineman who will benefit another team now - and we didn't get anything in return. Like Columbo, we blew a 1st round pick. I sure hope Emery can do us better, and also get us a couple of decent oline players next year.



Chicago Bears 1st round oline pick - Marc Columbo

Like you say JABF, not even a ham sandwich for this guy. I can see the Eagles getting some good use out of him.

Pretty much as expected. With his FA looming he wants to play for a new deal and who can blame him. I can't fault the guy for it. He wasn't the LT we wanted when we drafted him and he's never been able to capture that position but he's played and played well at OG and never been an attitude problem or a disruption.

“Now, I will get an opportunity to go play somewhere, and I’m excited about that,” Williams told the Tribune on Tuesday. “The Bears are a good team, they will do well and I will miss the guys. It sucks being released and that type of thing. But sitting on the bench here for the whole year wasn’t going to help me in free agency. Now, I’ll get a chance somewhere else.”

I wish him well. He's a competent NFL lineman and he deserves a shot at playing. I think the Bears have done him a big favor by releasing him now and giving him that chance.

I blame Jerry Angelo.

I blame Jerry Angelo.

LINK to the article

Jerry Angelo: A Complete Draft History




Let’s take a look at the entire Chicago Bears’ draft history under Jerry’s regime, and then you can decide if you think the afore mentioned is possible. Grab the barf bag, people:

2002 Draft Class

• 1st: OL Marc Colombo - Couldn't stay healthy in Chicago, but went on to have a solid career in Dallas.
• 3rd: DB Roosevelt Williams - I’m not even sure who he is.
• 3rd: OL Terrence Metcalf - Somehow, Metcalf stuck on the roster for 9 seasons, despite being terrible. Now out of the NFL.
• 4th: DE Alex Brown - Very solid late round pick. Good defensive end for a long time, and should have never been cut.
• 5th: DB Bobby Gray - Another bad defensive back that never did anything in the NFL.
• 5th: LB Bryan Knight - Yeah, who's this guy? He’s no longer in the NFL, and only lasted two seasons.
• 6th: RB Adrian Peterson - A utility player for the most part. Good on special teams, and was a good back up running back.
• 6th: WR Jamin Elliot - Never caught a pass.
• 6th: TE Bryan Fletcher - Never played a down for the Bears, and was out of the league shortly after.

2003 Draft Class

• 1st: DE Michael Haynes - A continuation of the 1st round Angelo busts.
• 1st: QB Rex Grossman - No need for an explanation here. Good Rex, bad Rex turned out to be a solid back up in the NFL today.
• 2nd: DB Charles Tillman - Maybe Angelo's best pick ever. Tillman has proven to be the best corner in Bears history, and he notched his first Pro Bowl ever this year.
• 3rd: LB Lance Briggs: Another great Angelo pick. Briggs will go down as a top 10 Bears linebacker ever. Seven straight Pro Bowl seasons.
• 4th: Todd Johnson - Not the worst player in the world, just nothing special. Decent back up, and a solid special teams contributor. Out of the NFL.
• 4th: DT Ian Scott - Not a great player, but in a defensive line rotation, he could contribute a bit. Nothing special. Now out of the NFL.
• 5th: WR Bobby Wade- This guy got cut because he fumbled punt returns, and he was a bad receiver. Bad pick.
• 5th: WR Justin Gage: Never did anything on the Bears, and couldn't catch a pass with his stone hands. Found some life on the Titans, but nothing to hoot and holler about.
• 5th: DL Tron LaFavor - Zero sacks in his NFL career.
• 6th: LB Joe Odom - Never saw any playing time after the Bears got rid of him.
• 6th: RB Brock Forsey - Two years, two teams, and is now out of the NFL.
• 7th: WR Bryan Anderson - I have no clue who this even was, and apparently he never made a roster.

2004 Draft Class

• 1st: DT Tommie Harris - For 3 years, Harris was the most dominant defensive tackle in the league. Unfortunately, he had horrible injuries and bad knees. Good guy, and a great player for the first few years.
• 2nd: DT Tank Johnson - Everyone remembers the weapons he had. But when Tommie went down in 2006, Johnson played a key role in the Bears going to the Superbowl.
• 3rd: WR Bernard Berrian - It's safe to say, Rex Grossman made Berrian. Got him a big contract, and then he disappeared. One trick pony.
• 4th: DB Nathan Vasher - Had a few good seasons, making the most of poorly throw passes. Got a probowl out of him, and then he turned out to be horrible in coverage. Injuries killed Vasher.
• 4th: LB Leon Joe - Never did anything, now out of the NFL.
• 5th: DL Claude Harriott - Who?
• 5th: QB Craig Krenzel - I'm not even going to remind you, I don't think thats necessary.
• 7th DB Alfonso Marshall – Uhhh ... Who?

2005 Draft Class

• 1st: RB Cedric Benson - Bust (For the Bears at least).
• 2nd: WR Mark Bradley - A big time reach, for a receiver that barely did anything in college. Blew out his knee in 2005 and that was the end of Bradley.
• 4th: QB Kyle Orton - Everyone and their brother knows about the Kyle Orton era. He turned out to be a solid, capable starter. Not a franchise by any means, but he’s a guy who you can win with.
• 5th: WR Airese Currie - All the hype around this guy and his speed, never got him on the field.
• 6th: DB Chris Harris - Solid player in the NFL for a while. Harris was a good pick, who helped contribute immediately.
• 7th: DB Rodriques Wilson - Good special teams player, but was never anything more than that.

2006 Draft Class

• 2nd: DB Danieal Manning - Lovie moved Manning around every year, and he played well at each position. Good nickel back, and in his final year, turned into a solid strong safety. Also turned out to be one of the best kick returners in the NFL.
• 2nd. DB Devin Hester - Most thought that he would be nothing but a kick and punt returner. Well, that’s what he is...but he’s the best to ever do it.
• 3rd: DT Dusty Dvoracek - Dusty couldn't stay healthy, and never contributed that much when he was. Wasted pick.
• 4th: LB Jamar Williams - Williams never amounted to anything in the NFL. Currently not on a roster.
• 5th: Mark Anderson - Anderson burst onto the scene with 12.5 sacks in his rookie year, but fell off after that. Has found new life in New England, but never did anything else on the Bears post 2006.
• 6th: RB J.D. Runnels - Never saw any action in the regular season.
• 6th: G Tyler Reed - Who?

2007 Draft Class

• 1st: TE Greg Olsen - Was becoming Cutlers best friend until Mike Martz arrived, and was traded for a 3rd round pick. Very good pass catching tight end.
• 2nd: DE Dan Bazuin - With the 2nd round pick they got for Thomas Jones, they drafted Bazuin. Needless to say, Bazuin never saw the field.
• 3rd: RB Garrett Wolfe - Big time reach for a miniature running back. Made special teams plays, and got arrested in the off-season.
• 3rd: LB Michael Okwo - I still don't remember ever seeing Okwo on the field. Not in the NFL anymore.
• 4th: OG Josh Beekman - Was drafted to be the future center, then they made him a guard...then he was a center...and then he was cut.
• 5th: DB Kevin Payne - Payne made a few plays in his time in Chicago, but ended up just being bad. Got cut by the Bears, and picked up by St. Louis. Ultimately, he couldn't stay healthy at all. Not in the NFL.
• 5th: DB Corey Graham - Graham played well when he was asked to start in 2008, and is a big time star on special teams. Graham is the best gunner in the league, and even made plays when inserted at nickel back this season. Notched his first Pro Bowl this season.
• 7th: DB Trumaine McBride - Never amounted to much in the NFL, but is still floating around a roster somewhere.
• 7th: Aaron Brant - Seriously, I've never even heard of this guy until now. Lets just say, hes not in the NFL ... or ever really was.

2008 Draft Class

• 1st: OT Chris Williams - Came in hurt, and bad at left tackle. Has found new life at left guard, but overall is a bust. The Bears drafted him to be a left tackle, and hes now a left guard.
• 2nd: RB Matt Forte - A rare great offensive pick for Angelo. Got his first probowl season this year, and is on his way to a nice contract. But according to reports, the reason the Bears drafted him, is because Lovie wanted him and pushed for him.
• 3rd: WR Earl Bennett - Best Bears receiver in a long time. Jay's go to guy, and someone who is a real wide receiver. Just inked a nice extension.
• 3rd: DT Marcus Harrison - Constantly fat and out of shape.
• 4th: DB Craig Steltz - Not a starter, but has proven to be good safety depth.
• 5th: DB Zack Bowman - Consistently getting beat for big touchdowns. Complete waste.
• 5th: TE Kellen Davis - Hasn't contributed too much, but 9 of his 28 career catches are touchdowns. Hasn't been able to show if he can do anything since he's in a Mike Martz offense.
• 7th: DE Ervin Baldwin - Never contributed.
• 7th: OG Chester Adams - Adams never once got onto the field.
• 7th: LB Joey LaRocque - Currently not employed in the NFL.
• 7th: OT Kirk Barton - Yet another guy who couldn't even stick on a roster.
• 7th: WR Marcus Monk - Went back to college and played basketball.

Throwing up yet?
2009 Draft Class

• 3rd: Jaron Gilbert - This guy could jump out of a pool, but couldn't shed a block.
• 3rd: Juaquin Iglesias - Never saw any action on the field, and has yet to record a catch in the NFL.
• 4th: DE Henry Melton - Having himself a solid year, statistically. Lovie and the gang changed his position to defensive tackle, and hes excelled at times.
• 4th: DB D.J. Moore - Very good nickel back, and is probably the best blitzer the Bears have on the roster. Good later round find by Angelo.
• 5th: WR Johnny Knox - One of the most frustrating players in recent Bears history. With speed that makes your head spin, he just leaves you scratching your head at times. After getting hurt this season, who knows if he will ever play again.
• 5th: LB Marcus Freeman - Angelo has a history of finding bad linebackers that don't even make a roster.
• 6th: DB Al Afalava - Showed flashes here and there, but ultimately was cut. No longer on an NFL roster.
• 7th: OG Lance Louis - Louis has turned into a solid player. He has looked good at right guard, and even at right tackle from time to time. Worth keeping on the roster moving forward.
• 7th: WR Derek Kinder - Yeah, this guy isn't in the NFL.

2010 Draft Class

• 3rd: DB Major Wright - He left college early because he was going to get replaced, and hasn't done much at the next level. Wright hasn't been able to stay healthy, and is very inconsistent.
• 4th: DE Corey Wootton - outside of ending Favre's career, Wootton hasn't been healthy enough to even know what the Bears have in him.
• 5th: DB Joshua More - Hasn't done anything in the NFL.
• 6th: QB Dan LeFevour - Didn't make the Bears roster.
• 7th: OT J'Marcus Webb - Is Webb the future left tackle? No way, but he has been solid. For a 7th round pick, this has been an okay pick.

2011 Draft Class

• 1st: OT Gabe Carimi - Season was ended by a knee injury, giving Bears fans visions of Marc Columbo all over again.
• 2nd: DT Stephen Paea - The Bears traded up to get this guy, and he has looked okay at times. Seems like they might have found themselves a good defensive tackle moving forward. The jury is still out.
• 3rd: DB Chris Conte - After the horrible play of the Bears safeties, Conte was forced into action early. He has looked okay, but had his season ended by an injury. Conte might be an okay player moving forward, but he's nothing to hang your hat on.
• 5th: QB Nathan Enderle - Martz wanted this kid in the draft, and hes the typical big slow Mike Martz quarterback. But he hasn't seen the field since Jay got hurt, and will be gone once Martz is gone.
• 6th. LB J.T. Thomas - Rookie season was ended by an injury, and he now rests on injured reserve.

Total draft picks: 82
Still on the roster: 22

That number is staggering. How on earth is Angelo still the Bears general manager? This doesn't even include his free agency issues. Jerry is completely inept at drafting, and he needs to go.

The Bears need too many positions to even fill, and if they miss on more than one pick in 2012, the organization will be set back for a long time. Look at the Packers, most of their starters and stars are draft picks. Now look where they are in the NFL. Take a look at where the Bears are without Jay Cutler. That says enough right there to fire the GM.

Chicago needs a number 1 wide receiver, a left tackle, Urlacher's replacement, another real cornerback, a tight end, a defensive tackle, a strong side linebacker, a strong and a free safety … and then some. My head’s spinning.

Talk about a smug look. Don't know what he has to be so pleased with himself about seeing as how he let the "Donks" jump him for Clady and we got 2nd place in the OT derby that year.

Man what a difference a couple of draft spots higher would have meant for the last 5 years. Well no matter. Clady becomes a FA this spring. If the Broncos don't re-sign him we may still have a shot at him this time around.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I blame Jerry Angelo.

For starting the Great Chicago Fire. He was the last one seen leaving the barn where Mrs O'Leary kept her cow.

I wonder what that was all about? Dead cows tell no tales.

I agree Soul. I've often (countless times) wondered what the last few years would have been like if Jerry Angelo had a decent WR corps in place, and a decent oline in place, when Jay Cutler arrived here. I'm not talking about great. Just decent.

He dug us a big hole, and also we've lost years of Urlacher, Peppers, Peanut, Forte, Briggs - careers. We can never go back and reclaim those lost years.

They're gone forever.

Now, finally, with Emery's off-season moves, we can have a shot at a Super Bowl run. But our finest talents are old now and the door is closing on some of their careers - and the others won't be around forever either.

I can understand that there will always be draft mistakes. That will happen with Emery too. But the pitiful boutique picks, "reaches" and flat screw ups, make me want to puke.

This C.Will thing just made me remember stuff I wish i could forget. It makes me angry.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I agree Soul. I've often (countless times) wondered what the last few years would have been like if Jerry Angelo had a decent WR corps in place, and a decent oline in place, when Jay Cutler arrived here. I'm not talking about great. Just decent.

He dug us a big hole, and also we've lost years of Urlacher, Peppers, Peanut, Forte, Briggs - careers. We can never go back and reclaim those lost years.

They're gone forever.

Now, finally, with Emery's off-season moves, we can have a shot at a Super Bowl run. But our finest talents are old now and the door is closing on some of their careers - and the others won't be around forever either.

I can understand that there will always be draft mistakes. That will happen with Emery too. But the pitiful boutique picks, "reaches" and flat screw ups, make me want to puke.

This C.Will thing just made me remember stuff I wish i could forget. It makes me angry.

Yeah, looking at that list is frustrating. My biggest JA peeves were:

1. Wouldn't adapt or know that he either would or could not draft offensive players
2. Had less of a staff than the rest of the league. Thought he knew more than he really did.
3. Constantly re-drafted players at positions year after year. The merry-go-round on drafting safeties was terrible. Hey I'd be known as a "can pick-em" GM if I got that many shots on goal drafting D
4-The absolute inability to draft OL talent and better injury vetting of the ones he did pick.