The "How's your off-season going?" thread!
Beings we're in the thick of free agency now after the rich guys finally got done squabbling over their billions of dollars I figured I would start this thread to see how you Bear fans are enjoying this new flavored off-season.
The Packers, as expected, coming off of our Super Bowl win with a gargantuan $62,000 in cap space, have other teams circling overhead like buzzards waiting for fresh roadkill.
So far we've lost:
Brandon Jackson (HB) - Fairly surprised we let him go but he wanted to be somewhere he would get more touches, which wouldn't happen while he was 3rd on our depth chart. Very good pass blocker which I think we'll miss. Left with Grant and totally unproven talent behind him.
Jason Spitz (C/G) - Was a good guard and played very well at center until he injured his back and had surgery. He wasn't the same after that.
Daryn Colledge (G) - Good but definitely not great guard. He wanted more money than TT was willing to pay for him. He was a terrible run blocker though. I don't think we'll miss him too much.
Nick Barnett (MLB) - Was a very good LB but is getting old and looked lost in our new defensive schemes at times. I won't miss his karate chops after making tackles 80 yards from the line of scrimmage or his tweets.
Brady Poppinga (OLB) - Decent LB with more heart than talent. He's on the wrong side of 30, which combined with his play makes him expendable
Justin Harrell (DT) - I was actually shocked we finally let him walk. So many times he's shown flashes of his talent only for a part of his body to fail a second later and wind up spending the rest of the season on the bench. I heard he broke his leg while cleaning out his locker.
Brandon Chillar (OLB) - He isn't cut yet, but somehow is INJURED already (a severe hamstring injury which is apparently so bad it might cost him the entire season?) He's never healthy and doesn't warrant a roster spot.
Donald Lee (TE) - Cut before the offseason. His age combined with the young and talented TEs we have behind him made this a fairly obvious cut.
Derrick Martin (S) - Also cut before the offseason. Not a great player, just signed due to injuries.
When all is said and done, we're also likely to lose at least 2-3 of the following:
James Jones (WR) - Good receiver, has shown many flashes of talent. Just when you think he's got a good grasp of it, however, it bounces off of his hands.... Wouldn't mind us trying to re-sign him, but another younger player that catches balls more consistently would help to offset his loss (not to mention he wants to be a #1 somewhere as well as get PAID like one).
Cullen Jenkins (DE) - Probably would be our biggest loss on defense in a DL that's already thin on talent from the loss of Harrell and Jolly. He is, however, another guy on the wrong side of 30 and will want to get paid as it's likely his last shot at a good contract.
Mark Tauscher (T) - Was one of the leagues best tackles, played like shit last season. His age and injuries are catching up to him fast. I seriously think he needs to retire to retain what health he has left.
John Kuhn (FB) - Would be our biggest loss on offense. He's a battering ram and a good blocker in both the pass and run games.
So far we've gained/signed:
Mason Crosby (K) - Not an amazing kicker but not definitely not terrible. There were no other options available that would have been better so all in all a good signing.
and....
15 no name UDFA's.
I should be used to us signing no FA's by now, but it sucks sitting here every off-season and watching everyone else sign big name players while we stand pat. I'm then reminded why we do it the following season watching us have success while the teams that throw fat cash at players go belly-up. Our young guys will need to step up big time this season for us to get back to another Super Bowl.
So how's your off-season going so far? :badmood:
