Thread: Bears will sign a starting OL

I'm going to say its a mid tier guard like moore or schwartz. Another question is what Bear FA will be back? I think Izzy is gone with a multi year deal somewhere

Originally Posted by Coolhandluke

I'm going to say its a mid tier guard like moore or schwartz. Another question is what Bear FA will be back? I think Izzy is gone with a multi year deal somewhere

I agree on a mid tier guy...I don't think emery is going to have the coin to land long or even bushrod but won't leave it all on the draft to rebuild the line


That being said I do feel he will attempt to rebuild the line via draft and plug leaks in FA (this is how you build a winning team)

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

if you put a gun to my head and ask who we will sign I would say Long

German - I am tending to agree with you. That is also my guess. My problem with this is that it is either a fantastic or a really lousy signing. He has not played well lately and he has had several significant injuries. It is going to be feast or famine with that signing. Emery does not seem like a big risk taker - so I am going to be somewhat surprised. However, I also expect him to have done quite a bit of digging before pulling the trigger so hopefully my worries on him are misplaced.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

German - I am tending to agree with you. That is also my guess. My problem with this is that it is either a fantastic or a really lousy signing. He has not played well lately and he has had several significant injuries. It is going to be feast or famine with that signing. Emery does not seem like a big risk taker - so I am going to be somewhat surprised. However, I also expect him to have done quite a bit of digging before pulling the trigger so hopefully my worries on him are misplaced.

All valid concerns. If Long hadn't had some injury issues and down play he probably would have been tagged by Miami. You don't let 27yo pro bowl LTs walk. [Of course, this is Miami we are talking about--a place where they trade away 28yo perennial pro bowl WRs for 2 3rd round picks]. I'm not worried about the cap space at all...it's easily done and worth it if necessary. I'm also assuming the Uncle Phil did his medical due diligence on Long just like he did the same mentally/emotionally on BMarsh last year at this time. He got a DEAL and raped Miami by taking a (reasonable and well-researched) RISK on a player considered "talented but a head-case". There was a lot of excitement but also nervousness about that trade last year. Remember the Marshall NYC incident? Would there be charges forthcoming? A suspension? Would this guy keep it together all year w/o getting into trouble off the field?

So I'm not sure I agree with you that Emery isn't a risk taker. I'd call him a careful, thoughtful risk taker who can be opportunistic when needed.

This could be (assuming the medical and contract pan out) another such opportunity. As Windy mentioned, the contract can be structured in such a way to give the Bears some protection against re-injury. When healthy, and Dr. Andrews gave him the thumbs up, we know Long is a top-5 LT. How often do you get a shot at one of those? And on a discount? We all know an upgrade at the LT position isn't coming in the draft and this move would solidly TWO positions by moving Webb over to compete with Carimi for RT.

If there's one move that I would hope breaks all our way today, this is it.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Whatever happens, I do believe Emery is sharp enough to not pay for damaged goods. IF he decides on Long, then he must be solid, and just a guy that had a run of injuries - but is healthy now. Long isn't that old. He's just had the injury bug in a big way.

Emery paid for "damaged goods" last year in Marshall. Plenty of analysts and posters here said "no way, he's a toxic head case" when the idea of getting Marshall came up in advance of FA. The naysayers are awfully quiet now. Just sayin'...

I don't know enough about Long's medical issues to make the call but I agree with the above. Every move is a calculated risk and Long when healthy has the potential to drastically improve our situation. There are no LTs in the draft that are coming our way but there are several tasty OG morsels. Imagine a healthy Long and Cooper added to our OLine! Escobar in the 2nd to shore up the TE position.