Chris Wesserling at NFL.com listed his top twenty-five NFL free agents for this off-season. Here is that list, with all of the offensive players removed:

2. Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers defensive end
3. Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins linebacker
4. Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills safety
5. T.J. Ward, Cleveland Browns safety
6. Alterraun Verner, Tennessee Titans cornerback
8. Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end
9. Lamarr Houston, Oakland Raiders defensive end
10. Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins cornerback
12. Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts cornerback
13. Linval Joseph, New York Giants defensive tackle
14. Jason Hatcher, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle
16. Aqib Talib, New England Patriots cornerback
17. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Denver Broncos cornerback
20. Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks defensive end
21. B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle
22. Sam Shields, Green Bay Packers cornerback
23. Walter Thurmond, Seattle Seahawks cornerback
24. Donald Butler, San Diego Chargers linebacker
25. Randy Starks, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle

Today we are bringing back the Open Debates of yesteryear. Put yourselves in Phil Emery’s shoes. How would you approach this list? Would you target anyone specifically? Would you stay away from anyone specifically?

My answer…?

Read More …

CONGRATS TO MICHAEL SAM

Michael Sam coming out as gay prior to the NFL Combine and NFL Draft is a rare moment of human courage that deserves to be celebrated. If you don’t believe Sam’s decision will impact his draft status, you’re living on Mars. A large contingent of individuals inside NFL locker rooms – many of whom are greatly influenced by religious beliefs – deplore homosexuality. Teams will avoid drafting Sam to avoid the “drama” associated with his presence in the locker room. The young man does not have an easy road but heroism is rarely easy.

Read More …

I don’t really have a coherent column in my mind right so I decided to just lay out some Bears-related questions on my mind. Feel free to provide your own answers in the comments sections or by email: jeff@dabearsblog.com.

• What’s the point of bringing Adam Podlesh to Bourbonnais this summer? The Bears took a severe dip in Rick Gosselin’s wonderful special teams rankings for one reason: they possessed the worst punter statistically in the sport. And it wasn’t close. Couple that with Podlesh being the 12th highest paid punter in the sport and there doesn’t seem to be much of a decision here.

Read More …

Phil Emery opened the Bears season-ending press conference by announcing three contract extensions: Jay Cutler, Tim Jennings and Matt Slauson. The Bears have now inked their three most important potential unrestricted free agents.

“Whenever there’s nothing to do, yes there is. Throw it up to Alshon.”

-Michael Irvin, NFL Network

11:08 remaining in the 4th quarter. 24-17 Browns. After a pair of dud plays on first and second downs the Bears were facing third-and-eleven. If they fail to convert they’ll be punting the ball and the momentum to Cleveland. They might also be punting away their 2013 season. Cutler takes the snap, meanders in a pocket for a few seconds…

There’s nothing to do.

Yes there is!

Throw it up to Alshon!

Touchdown.

Read More …

Nothing ever happens at the NFL trade deadline but that doesn’t mean things SHOULDN’T happen. If the Giants aren’t planning to re-sign Hakeem Nicks, why wouldn’t they get what they can now? Same for the Vikings and Jared Allen. Tony Gonzalez is a good man and all but why does he want to finish his career on a dog team in Atlanta when Kansas City is desperate for a tight end?

So here is today’s debate topic. You’re Phil Emery and you can make one trade, one REALISTIC trade, what deal do you make? I will take the best answer from the comments and put it in the game preview later in the week.

Most would consider the eighth game the halfway point of a sixteen game season. Those people are what I refer to as math-dependent. The Bears have played seven games and now must wait fifteen days before playing again as they lick their injury wounds. Hell, the team is off this entire week. If ever there was a line of demarcation signally HALFWAY, this is it.

So what follows are responses to the first half, thoughts on the second half and the normal awards, predictions and general folly that have filled this space lo these eight years. You’re not going to see everything below but you’ll see the things on my mind. I’ll leave it to you from there.

Read More …

Enough With the 2014 Draft Stuff…

We say it here all the time but NFL fans are guaranteed sixteen games a season. That’s all. And I will never understand these fans that seemingly can’t wait to give up on a current season and plan for the next. It won’t be happening here.

This is all supposed to be fun, folks. We’re supposed to enjoy the games. And even though a team is injury-riddled and more than likely not a title contender doesn’t means the remaining 9 contests should be ignored. Some of my favorite modern Bears games were played when the team was completely out of it! Adewale Ogunleye’s safety against the Titans in overtime, 2004. Edinger knocks the Lions out of the playoffs in 2000.

The Bears have a tough road coming but they still have a road. And I’m going along for the ride.

Read More …