Chicago Bears Offseason (Written Jan 12. 2008)

Chicago Bears - No team can be more disappointed with their season than the Chicago
Bears. After a loss in last years Super bowl, the Bears failed to make the playoffs. This continues a seven-year streak of the team losing the Super bowl not making the playoffs the next year. I am sure that company doesn’t make the Bears any happier to join that club.
After a bitter off-season standoff with Lance Briggs, the Bears will lose his services this season as one of the stipulations of his actually opting to play for them in 2007. This, after he had threatened to not play another down for the Bears. The rumor mill has min heading west to join Defensive ROY Patrick Willis in San Francisco. But all that matters to Lovie Smith is that new found hole at Linebacker.
I am all for character, and for standing your ground as a franchise. But that ground became a slippery slope, when they released Tank Johnson. Johnson was stopped for a speeding ticket in Arizona shortly after being released from Jail. He had been sentenced to 120 days for violating probation, in relation to gun charges. His blood was taken because he appeared to be “the slightest bit impaired”, it would come back later as under the legal limit. At that point the Bears had already released him. This is the point where the Bears season began to unravel.
The Bears linebackers are not the biggest core in the league. The success they have had previously had a lot to do with the fact that Johnson was in the middle taking up two blockers. I also think that this has led to trouble on the other side of the ball. With that weak front seven the Bears have gotten behind in several games, which has forced them to be in passing situations more often than they would like. Rex Grossman did not get worse, at least not that much worse than he was. No quarterback though can have success when the other team knows he must pass. Between Grossman not being able to pass successfully and fewer opportunities to play ball control and run the clock out. The running game suffered as well.
I believe that their two largest needs are at qb (yes I know I just said that Grossman didn’t get that much worse, but he wasn’t that good to start with) and a run-stuffing interior D lineman. To replace Johnson. They also have some need at WR with fan favorite Muhsin Muhammed, entering free agency.
The Bears would love to get Andre Woodson at the 14th spot. With Brian Brohm and Matt Ryan going to the Falcons and Ravens, this is very likely. I do however have a hunch that Carolina may take Woodson on, as a project considering what a wheel of misfortune their QB spot was this season. If they can’t get a QB they could consider reaching a few spots for Malcolm Kelly, though I don’t think it would be smart to reach for your third position. It would be ideal if Sedrick Ellis dropped to this spot but that is about 5 spots deeper than the 9 he is being projected right now. If the Bears could trade to get Miami’s pick it would be great to get Dorsey to shore up that D line. They also could trade to deeper spot in the first round to get D line help but there really isn’t much help where they are at in the draft.

Tomorrows team - Carolina Panthers

Outside Shot
Ok when you say, “I’m a true fan” I think we should change it to “I ‘m a 200K fan”I mean it gives new meaning to “never let em question your fanhood”

Philidelhia Eagles Offseason

Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles 2007 season is now over. Having ended up with a 8-8 record, they just missed the playoffs. The bridge from 2006 to 2007 was awkward from the moment Roger Goodell walked to the stadium and uttered the words “With the 36th pick the Philadelphia Eagles select Kevin Kolb, Quarterback from the University of Houston”. In any other city this would have cause a small ripple, the actual Quarterback controversy would have taken at least half a season of bad play or at least a quarter season worth of games missed to injury. Not in Philly, the city that boo’d Santa Clause. No they were questioning McNabb’s Job before that rehabbed knee saw it’s first real snap. The questions now continue, McNabb is under contract through 2010. They almost have to extend him for a year or two. Kolb may very well be the QB of the future but that isn’t this year and probably won’t be next. Sign McNabb up for those extra few years. Keep him on to lead the team and mentor Kolb. Of course McNabb could push for a trade, but why? I mean I can only see two real reasons why he would leave. He could leave to chase a championship or he could leave to go for the long extension. Possible openings include Atlanta, Baltimore, Minnesota, and the Bears. Atlanta just isn’t anywhere near pushing for a ring. Baltimore would have right up until Billick got the axe now it is unlikely with their assortment of problems and a new coach trying to fix them that they are real contenders. Minnesota is a consideration but them seem to feel Tarvaris Jackson is a viable starter in the NFL. That leaves us the Bears who actually fit both the Championship hunt requirement as well as the likelihood that they would give him a long contract. They do not have a Quarterback of the future waiting in the wings. The only problem with the Bears scenario is that he would definitely be looking at giving a home town discount. Chicago is one of the franchises that is a little tight with the purse strings. I would not consider this out of the question he seems to be a lot more hung up on being wanted than on more tangible issues.
The entire Eagles defense is pretty well locked up, all the starters are under contract, and only a few non-key reserves are up for free agency, all of whom are expendable. Most notable of the expendables is Jevon Kearse who you shouldn’t expect to see in Eagles green next season.
On the offensive side there is some concern with their tight end LJ Smith, he is currently up for free agency, if they are unable or unwilling(if the competing offers in a shallow TE market, get to high) to re-sign him they have a possible solution at hand in rookie Brent Celek. While obviously this would be an initial downgrade it is not as if Smith set the world on fir especially in the Red Zone.
The main concern, as it has been other than the cup of coffee shared with Terell Owens is the primary receiver spot. For the majority of recent memory the Eagles have carried 2nd or 3rd tier receivers but no real primary game breaker target. They will have to address this in the draft Where they will likely be looking at Desean Jackson, Early Doucet, Malcom Kelly, Limas Sweed. (Note:I like them in this order I think Doucet and Kelly are a toss up)

Next update - Houston Texans