NFL: Bears Free Agent Decisions

[cigaretteman]

Kreutz is one of 14 Bears who will become unrestricted free agents when the collective-bargaining agreement is settled, whenever that might be. Despite his advanced age, retaining him for at least one more season to help ease the transition for the next center should be a priority — unless another veteran anchor can be acquired.
It’s not just the players with expiring contracts whom general manager Jerry Angelo must worry about, either. Players such as running back Matt Forte and safety Chris Harris, who tied for the team lead with five interceptions, will enter the final seasons of their contracts in 2011 and are deserving of extensions.
Caleb Hanie, meanwhile, will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Bears can match any offer for a backup quarterback whose stock is rising after he ignited the offense in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Bears have plenty of decisions to make as free agency nears - Chicago Sun-Times

 

[LindenCy]

I really think they should try to keep Hanie, but does anyone remember Scott Mitchell? He is coming to mind.

Really hope the keep Kreutz. It would be good for him to retire a Bear.

 

[RING4CY]

Matt Forte better get an extension. The fact that he made $470,000 this year while Chester Taylor made $7 million is horse ****.

 

[gocubs2118]

I would bring back Manning and Kreutz for sure. Don't know about the other guys.

 

[CykoAGR]

Good read on the Bears and Angelo's ability to evaluate talent.

Lovie Smith | Bears Headquarters

Angelo seems to be a bargain shopper and tends to do well with his later round picks. I mean he has quite a few starters that come from Rnds 3-6 from small schools. His misses are all in Rnds 1-2 and even in free agency.

Cutler has yet to get even close to the level that warrants what the Bears gave up to get him (some of this is likely to the offense that he is forced into with Martz) and lets be honest Mushin Muhammad, Orlando Pace, Chester Taylor (so far) Thomas Jones, Kordel Stewart and the list goes on have all been failures. TJ was great with the Bears but he was let go to make way for Benson who sucked in his time here and then goes to Cinci and had a great year last year.

The bottom line is that I seriously question Angelo and his staffs ability to evaluate talent and bring in and/or keep people who fit into the system.

 

[cycloneworld]

Forte will get his extension...no doubt about that. As for Kruetz, it would be nice for him to retire as a Bear but if his asking price is too high, I could see Chicago letting him go.

As for Hanie, he has said he would like to remain in Chicago but would go elsewhere if they were offering him a "step up". My guess (and hope) is that the Bears let Todd Collins go and give Hanie the backup QB role.

 

[mcblogerson]

I just hope they pick up some talent to improve the o-line. If they keep collins and let hanie go, angelo should be replaced.