Archive for the ‘Chicago Bears’ Category

Sunday Recap of Transactions

Posted by Brad On July – 31 – 2011

The entire day for me was wrapped up at Cleveland Browns training camp and away from the computer and cell phone.  It was nice to catch up with some old faces in the Browns organization but the day away was busy in the NFL world.  Here’s a list of what we missed:

The Washington Redskins and T Jamaal Brown agreed to a 5-year contract.

Deuce Lutui showed up to his Cincinnati Bengal physical overweight and was promptly sent packing back to Arizona.  Lutui’s weight has been an issue in the past as he has topped the scales at near 400 lbs in the past.

Tim Hightower was sent to the Washington Redskins for a conditional pick and Vonnie Holliday.  Hightower could start in Washington and appears to be a good fit in Shanahan’s running game.

John Kuhn signed a 3-year deal to stay with the Packers.  Packer fans will be happy as he’s a favorite of the Pack.

Fresh off an assault charge Cedric Benson re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Justin Blalock agreed to a 6-year deal to stay with the Atlanta Falcons

The Detroit Lions were able to retain the services of Chris Houston on a 2-year deal.

The Chicago Bears will not be able to retain Olin Kreutz so they signed C Chris Spencer to a 2-year deal.

Nick Barnett agreed to a 3-year, $12 million deal, $6 million guaranteed with the Buffalo Bills.  He will replace Paul Posluszny at MLB who was lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in free agency.

Daniel Graham will join the Tennessee Titans on a 3-year deal.

Aaron Rodgers made a public plea for the Packers to keep James Jones and today they listened.  Jones agreed to a 3-year deal to stay with the Packers.

Vonta Leach and the Baltimore Ravens agreed to 3-year, $11 million deal with $6 million guaranteed.

The New Orleans Saints agreed to a 1-year deal with CB Fabian Washington

NFC Free Agency Notes

Posted by Brad On July – 30 – 2011
Newly-released DT Amobi Okoye has landed on his feet in the Windy City.
Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports that Okoye has agreed to a one-year deal with da Bears. Okoye, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, joins the 6th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, DE Vernon Gholston as low-risk/high-reward reclamation projects for fiery Chicago defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.
The Chicago tribune has also announced the signing of ex-Dallas RB Marion Barber to a 2-year, $5 million deal. He’ll join recently-acquired WR Roy Williams as former Cowboys looking to revive their careers under Mike Martz. Barber set career lows for yards (374) and yards per carry (3.3) in 2010. Chicago is hoping that Barber will provide the physical, hard-nosed complement to RB Matt Forte that free agent bust Chester Taylor never became.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that ex-Falcons WR Michael Jenkins has signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Jenkins will be reunited with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave in Minnesota.
Jenkins, a solid possession receiver and willing run-blocker, hasn’t evolved into the difference-maker the Falcons envisioned he’d become when they selected him in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He’s averaged 48 catches over the last five seasons.

Roy Williams Reunites with Martz in Chicago

Posted by Brad On July – 29 – 2011
MICHEAL PROFETTA
"Roy Williams signs with Bears"ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that WR Roy Williams, recently informed of his impending release by the Dallas Cowboys, has reached an agreement to join the Chicago Bears, where he’ll be reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Detroit, Mike Martz.
Williams is generally regarded as a disappointment since being selected 7th overall by the Lions in the 2004 NFL Draft, but it should be noted that he enjoyed by far his best two seasons under Martz in 2006 (82 catches, 1,310 yards, 7 TDs) and 2007 (64 catches, 838 yards, 5 TDs in 12 games). At 6-3/215, Williams addresses the need for a sizable WR in Chicago and could prove to be an economic alternative to Sidney Rice, who the Bears reportedly showed some interest in.
Rumors that Williams and QB Jay Cutler will become partners in a relationship counseling venture have yet to be substantiated.
EDIT:  This story wasn’t posted earlier when it was announced due to the confusion on whether both sides agreed to the contract.

Greg Olsen Dealt to Carolina

Posted by Brad On July – 28 – 2011

"Greg Olsen traded to Carolina"News broke this morning (at least for me) that Greg Olsen agent had contacted teams to let them know he was available for trade.  Well that didn’t take long for Carolina to jump on that opportunity.

The Panthers needed a TE and they went and got one.  The deal is said to involve a player and a draft pick for the rights to Greg Olsen.  The player is not believed to be Steve Smith.

Olsen is 26 and has posted 194 catches, 1,981 yards receiving, and 20 TD’s in his four year career.  His best season came in 2009 when he caught 60 balls and 8 TD’s.

This trade may go a little way in making up for the boatloads of cash that Carolina dropped off at Charles Johnson and DeAngelo Williams respective doorsteps this week.

EDIT:  The deal is said to just be for a 2012 3rd round pick

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