Henry Melton - Rookie contract expires this season

Good article, I am inclined to see the Bears do a deal but with the CAP situation this ofseason and a Left tackle so critical I don't know if franchising him would make sense. It may cause some friction. Thoughts?

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,2444188.story

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 8:17 p.m. CST, December 20, 2012

Henry Melton did not say he wants to be paid like the game's No. 1 defensive tackle but he believes that's what he is.

If Melton's self-assessment is accurate, the Bears will have to pay through the nose to lock up his for the long haul. Melton, a fourth-round pick in 2009 earning $565,000 this season, is in the final year of his rookie contract and hopes to play Sunday against the Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz., after missing the Packers game with a clavicle injury.

It was a good sign that he participated in practice Thursday for the second consecutive day as the Bears need their core players available for a must-win game with the postseason in jeopardy.

"I could definitely play through it but they don't want anything worse to happen to it that would keep me out of the playoffs," Melton, 26, said. "So we're going to see how it feels and maybe give it a go."

Melton, 26, has his future to consider too. He could become a top player in free agency, though it would be surprising if general manager Phil Emery didn't use the franchise tag in the absence a long-term deal.

"We're still playing the 4-3 … there is not another better D-tackle in the league than myself," Melton said. "I feel like that."

Melton is third among tackles in the NFL with six sacks, trailing only the Bengals' Geno Atkins (101/2) and the Lions' Ndamukong Suh (61/2). Melton's 13 sacks since the start of the 2011 season are the most at the position and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said opponents are starting to chip him with a running back on occasion, something you don't see often for three-technique tackles. He also has two forced fumbles and his 20 quarterback pressures are most on the team.

In the run game, Pro Football Focus ranks Melton No. 1 at his position in run-stop percentage just ahead of Atkins and the Seahawks' Brandon Mebane. That has been the single-biggest difference in his game this season.

"The rush part is there," Marinelli said. "He has made some, I don't want to say special, but really good plays in the run game. He has been very effective."

The benchmark for defensive tackles is $10 million annually but it's doubtful Melton can approach that unless he reaches the free market. The franchise tag for the position in 2013 is projected to be about $8.3 million and some believe the Bears ultimately will offer Melton a deal with a guarantee equaling the value of two franchise tags, which is almost exactly what running back Matt Forte received.

The Bears have begun contract talks and Melton characterized those as a "back-and-forth thing."

"I would love to be here. I have grown a lot with this organization, with Chicago and the fans," he said. "It's up to them if they want to keep me. It's definitely rare to see a lot of guys get to the quarterback from the inside and still play the run. The franchise tag is not what we want. I would like the long-term deal."

Of course, if the Bears did place the tag on him in February, it would not preclude him from receiving a multi-year contract before the middle of the summer, similar to what happened with Forte.

For now, it's about the remainder of the season and what Melton can do to help break the team's slump. He is dialed in even if he couldn't tell you who the Cardinals quarterback for Sunday — Ryan Lindley, a rookie sixth-round pick from San Diego State.

"I don't want to know his name," Melton said. "I don't even know his number. That's all I'm going to aim for."

Quote:

Originally Posted by dabears

Good article, I am inclined to see the Bears do a deal but with the CAP situation this ofseason and a Left tackle so critical I don't know if franchising him would make sense. It may cause some friction. Thoughts?

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,2444188.story

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 8:17 p.m. CST, December 20, 2012

Henry Melton did not say he wants to be paid like the game's No. 1 defensive tackle but he believes that's what he is.

If Melton's self-assessment is accurate, the Bears will have to pay through the nose to lock up his for the long haul. Melton, a fourth-round pick in 2009 earning $565,000 this season, is in the final year of his rookie contract and hopes to play Sunday against the Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz., after missing the Packers game with a clavicle injury.

It was a good sign that he participated in practice Thursday for the second consecutive day as the Bears need their core players available for a must-win game with the postseason in jeopardy.

"I could definitely play through it but they don't want anything worse to happen to it that would keep me out of the playoffs," Melton, 26, said. "So we're going to see how it feels and maybe give it a go."

Melton, 26, has his future to consider too. He could become a top player in free agency, though it would be surprising if general manager Phil Emery didn't use the franchise tag in the absence a long-term deal.

"We're still playing the 4-3 … there is not another better D-tackle in the league than myself," Melton said. "I feel like that."

Melton is third among tackles in the NFL with six sacks, trailing only the Bengals' Geno Atkins (101/2) and the Lions' Ndamukong Suh (61/2). Melton's 13 sacks since the start of the 2011 season are the most at the position and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said opponents are starting to chip him with a running back on occasion, something you don't see often for three-technique tackles. He also has two forced fumbles and his 20 quarterback pressures are most on the team.

In the run game, Pro Football Focus ranks Melton No. 1 at his position in run-stop percentage just ahead of Atkins and the Seahawks' Brandon Mebane. That has been the single-biggest difference in his game this season.

"The rush part is there," Marinelli said. "He has made some, I don't want to say special, but really good plays in the run game. He has been very effective."

The benchmark for defensive tackles is $10 million annually but it's doubtful Melton can approach that unless he reaches the free market. The franchise tag for the position in 2013 is projected to be about $8.3 million and some believe the Bears ultimately will offer Melton a deal with a guarantee equaling the value of two franchise tags, which is almost exactly what running back Matt Forte received.

The Bears have begun contract talks and Melton characterized those as a "back-and-forth thing."

"I would love to be here. I have grown a lot with this organization, with Chicago and the fans," he said. "It's up to them if they want to keep me. It's definitely rare to see a lot of guys get to the quarterback from the inside and still play the run. The franchise tag is not what we want. I would like the long-term deal."

Of course, if the Bears did place the tag on him in February, it would not preclude him from receiving a multi-year contract before the middle of the summer, similar to what happened with Forte.

For now, it's about the remainder of the season and what Melton can do to help break the team's slump. He is dialed in even if he couldn't tell you who the Cardinals quarterback for Sunday — Ryan Lindley, a rookie sixth-round pick from San Diego State.

"I don't want to know his name," Melton said. "I don't even know his number. That's all I'm going to aim for."

With Peppers already commanding a hefty salary can the Bears afford to have this much cap tied up in the defensive line? They also have Cutler, Marshall, and Forte's contracts on the offensive side of the ball, but won't get much out of the talent without an offensive line. This is a bad situation especially since Peppers will be 33 in January.

Does anyone else think the Bears should cut Devin Hester this offseason??

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffCalim

Does anyone else think the Bears should cut Devin Hester this offseason??

If they can get a real LT then yes. I'd hate to see them cut him but he is getting more mony than he is worth currently. He should be paid as the best returner in the league and perhaps a little bit for being WR but he should not be paid like a 1, 2 or 3# WR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffCalim

Does anyone else think the Bears should cut Devin Hester this offseason??

Welcome Geoff! Prefer we keep him, but only as kick returner and our #5 or #6 receiver (if we carry six). Someone earlier mentioned devise a real "package" for him, 4-5 targets a game, and only in the right situations. If we part ways with the greatest kick returner ever to play the game, we should get something for him instead of just cutting him. We could possibly get a 5th rounder, or Hester + our 7th for a higher pick. Problem is, he's shown that he's a one dimensional player, even for ST. He doesn't cover, only returns kicks. So, would a team want to give up a draft pick for him? I really don't think so. If he was a viable option in the receiving game, maybe.

They finally hit on a guy they drafted and then let him go after his rookie contract, that would be stupid, just like I thought letting D. Manning go was stupid.

Pay the Man, because if we continue to play the 4-3 then the front 4 is vital.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffCalim

Does anyone else think the Bears should cut Devin Hester this offseason??

Are you crazy?

Without the "Hester Package" our offense is useless. Tice assured us that THIS year they, really really really were going to unleash Devin Hester on offense!

Quote:

Hester: Bears To Use ‘Hester Package’… For Real This Time

May 30, 2012 2:54 PM

HALAS HALL (CBS) For years, we’ve been hearing about the Bears developing creative ways to get Devin Hester the ball within the offense.

We’ve seen glimpses of it — mostly in a “Wildcat” formation that fails — but for the most part, the much-talked about “Hester package” has been non-existent during games.

Well, according to Hester, that’s going to change this season.

“That’s pretty much been there for the last five or six years,” he said. “But this offense, I really do truly think that Mike Tice and Jeremy Bates and those guys really want to put it in this year. So we’re looking forward to it.”

It was just a week ago that quarterback Jay Cutler and new wide receiver Brandon Marshall were raving about how Hester was having the best off-season of any wide receiver.

But we’ve heard that story before.

Still, Hester stood out once again Wednesday, making a couple of nice grabs in traffic — one of which would have gone for a touchdown in a game.

But why should anybody believe the talk? According to Hester, people should believe it because Tice is now in charge.
“Mike Tice is excited more than anybody in this organization about putting in this Hester package, so I think if anybody, he’s going to control that,” the wide receiver said.

Asked if the “Hester Package” has basically just been collecting dust the last few years, he said: “Yeah pretty much. You know this year, with the offensive coordinator that we got, he’s really dwelling on this Hester package so I’m looking forward to it.”

Obviously the wide receiver wouldn’t give away secrets, but the package is pretty much what you would think it is: Getting him the ball so he can “do a lot of damage”.

Whether the package actually sees the light of day in an NFL game remains to be seen, but Hester does look healthy again and, at least in a setting without pads, he’s making plays in OTAs.

He also figures to at least improve a little in Tice’s system, because as Hester put it: “It’s a new system, but at the same time, it’s not that complicated”

For more Bears coverage, follow Adam on Twitter (@AdamHogeCBS).

Ya read this and you laugh until you have tears in your eyes. The mighty Devin Hester at wide receiver. What a joke. A bad joke.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffCalim

Does anyone else think the Bears should cut Devin Hester this offseason??

Geoff, I've this debate with others on a different thread several times. We all know Hester's limitations. He's pretty much a waste of roster space on offense, doesn't play defense, and doesn't even cover kicks on STs. He's a pure returner only and, while still a good one, isn't a game-changer threat like he used to be. Finally, he's going to be 30 I believe so how much of even that does he have left?

Im in favor of unloading him if one of these two occur:
1) You can get a draft pick (probably a 5th or so) for him. We need picks and having an extra ~ 5th gives you move-up possibilities in the 2nd if you need to. Or
2) Cutting him if his cap cost saved helps make other FA signings (ours or new ones) possible.

If he can't be traded, if his cap cost isn't an issue, if he is relegated purely to returns, and if we draft/find a better prospect to become WR#4, I say we keep him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdbearz

They finally hit on a guy they drafted and then let him go after his rookie contract, that would be stupid, just like I thought letting D. Manning go was stupid.

Pay the Man, because if we continue to play the 4-3 then the front 4 is vital.

And PAY MELTON for sure.