Bears Free Agent Signings

[heir_jordan22]

If we had about $30M in cap space to start, then cut Omiyale and Adams that should put us at about $33M, right?

$33M Start
-7.7 Forte
-1.2 Bell
-???? Jennings
-9.3 Marshall
-3?? Campbell
-1?? Costanzo
=11M

If my assumptions are accurate then we have about $11M in cap space left without factoring in Jennings. How can we possibly have enough money to get Mario Williams?

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

If we had about $30M in cap space to start, then cut Omiyale and Adams that should put us at about $33M, right?

$33M Start
-7.7 Forte
-1.2 Bell
-???? Jennings
-9.3 Marshall
-3?? Campbell
-1?? Costanzo
=11M

If my assumptions are accurate then we have about $11M in cap space left without factoring in Jennings. How can we possibly have enough money to get Mario Williams?

This was also in that Mario article that I most recently posted:

The three players the Bears acquired on Tuesday (wide receiver Brandon Marshall, quarterback Jason Campbell, linebacker Blake Costanzo) ate up a chunk of the club's salary cap space. But if the organization were to get creative, it could conceivably still make a run at Williams -- although he might have to agree to sign for a tad less to play in Chicago.

Your numbers sound correct. Maybe they plan on making another cut or two. Don't forget that they haven't cut Marion Barber yet.

[heir_jordan22]

If we had about $30M in cap space to start, then cut Omiyale and Adams that should put us at about $33M, right?

$33M Start
-7.7 Forte
-1.2 Bell
-???? Jennings
-9.3 Marshall
-3?? Campbell
-1?? Costanzo
=11M

If my assumptions are accurate then we have about $11M in cap space left without factoring in Jennings. How can we possibly have enough money to get Mario Williams?

This was also in that Mario article that I most recently posted:

The three players the Bears acquired on Tuesday (wide receiver Brandon Marshall, quarterback Jason Campbell, linebacker Blake Costanzo) ate up a chunk of the club's salary cap space. But if the organization were to get creative, it could conceivably still make a run at Williams -- although he might have to agree to sign for a tad less to play in Chicago.

Your numbers sound correct. Maybe they plan on making another cut or two. Don't forget that they haven't cut Marion Barber yet.

True. But I don't think they can offer him anything that can compete with the Bills if they really want to make him the highest paid defensive end in the game.

The Bears have have shown interest in Hawthorne, Landry and Carlson. They also could add some much needed talent to the OL. So With $11M left, (not even including whatever Jennings makes) and the fact that the Bears seem to be looking at filling more holes makes it seem highly unlikely they get Williams. Of course Mario could take a pay cut, the Bears could address OL, LB, TE, WR, S depth and CB depth in the draft, and everything I typed will have been pointless

[fleet]

If we had about $30M in cap space to start, then cut Omiyale and Adams that should put us at about $33M, right?

$33M Start
-7.7 Forte
-1.2 Bell
-???? Jennings
-9.3 Marshall
-3?? Campbell
-1?? Costanzo
=11M

If my assumptions are accurate then we have about $11M in cap space left without factoring in Jennings. How can we possibly have enough money to get Mario Williams?

whatever they have left, Williams would get all of it. How do the Bears field a team with no money left to spend? Where does the money come from to sign the draft picks? The draft can't fill all the roster spots can it? How many guys to the Bears have now?

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

If we had about $30M in cap space to start, then cut Omiyale and Adams that should put us at about $33M, right?

$33M Start
-7.7 Forte
-1.2 Bell
-???? Jennings
-9.3 Marshall
-3?? Campbell
-1?? Costanzo
=11M

If my assumptions are accurate then we have about $11M in cap space left without factoring in Jennings. How can we possibly have enough money to get Mario Williams?

This was also in that Mario article that I most recently posted:

The three players the Bears acquired on Tuesday (wide receiver Brandon Marshall, quarterback Jason Campbell, linebacker Blake Costanzo) ate up a chunk of the club's salary cap space. But if the organization were to get creative, it could conceivably still make a run at Williams -- although he might have to agree to sign for a tad less to play in Chicago.

Your numbers sound correct. Maybe they plan on making another cut or two. Don't forget that they haven't cut Marion Barber yet.

True. But I don't think they can offer him anything that can compete with the Bills if they really want to make him the highest paid defensive end in the game.

The Bears have have shown interest in Hawthorne, Landry and Carlson. They also could add some much needed talent to the OL. So With $11M left, (not even including whatever Jennings makes) and the fact that the Bears seem to be looking at filling more holes makes it seem highly unlikely they get Williams. Of course Mario could take a pay cut, the Bears could address OL, LB, TE, WR, S depth and CB depth in the draft, and everything I typed will have been pointless

Not pointless. I feel your pain, heir. If the reports were true that Peppers (the man that Mario admires) is part of the recruitment, I wouldn't be surprised if Peppers tells him that he's offering to restructure his contract in order to put this dream team of DEs on the same DL. That gesture would at least give us a chance to sign him for less money than others are offering.

Yes, these athletes are about money, but our vets on defense (including Peppers) want to win a Superbowl before they retire. They know that this is their best shot.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

We're bringing in Herrera & Hayden in for talks. Mario Williams informs the Bills that he wants to visit more teams.

Adam Schefter ‏ @AdamSchefter Reply Retweet Favorite · Open

Vikings starting free-agent guard Anthony Herrera is visiting the Chicago Bears today.

http://twitter.com/#!/AdamSchefter

Josina Anderson ‏ @JosinaAnderson Reply Retweet Favorite · Open

Agent Fletcher Smith tells me that CB Kelvin Hayden has a scheduled visit with the Bears Wednesday.

http://twitter.com/#!/JosinaAnderson

Regarding Mario Williams.

The Buffalo Bills were hoping to wrap up a deal with defensive end Mario Williams quickly, but he informed them Tuesday night that he will visit other teams, two sources told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/76846 ... ources-say

[blumeany]

Still holding out Hopes for Williams.

Didn't we pass on Hayden last year?

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Still holding out Hopes for Williams.

Didn't we pass on Hayden last year?

Mario! Mario! Mario!

I'm not sure what's the situation with Hayden. I thought that when we re-signed Jennings, it meant that we were done with CBs?

[blumeany]

Still holding out Hopes for Williams.

Didn't we pass on Hayden last year?

Mario! Mario! Mario!

I'm not sure what's the situation with Hayden. I thought that when we re-signed Jennings, it meant that we were done with CBs?

I think the Bears like Jennings' hustle, but know he's not the answer. I'm also pretty sure the Bears were looking at Hayden last year and just flat-out passed on him, which doesn't make me feel real good about getting him now.

[blumeany]

Nice little list of PFT's top 100 free agents and their status:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... t-hot-100/

Hadn't heard much about Gaither and the Bears. He'd be a nice pickup.

[Cliff Levingston]

ICLO, the fact that re-signed Jennings is a nice indicator that we're thinking Mario Williams big on the D line. Why re-sign a mediocre corner if you're not expecting to have an improved pass rush?

Also, will Lance Briggs bring up his contract demands again like he did mid-season last year? That could be a nice headache to deal with in addition to the Marshall stuff.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Still holding out Hopes for Williams.

Didn't we pass on Hayden last year?

Mario! Mario! Mario!

I'm not sure what's the situation with Hayden. I thought that when we re-signed Jennings, it meant that we were done with CBs?

I think the Bears like Jennings' hustle, but know he's not the answer. I'm also pretty sure the Bears were looking at Hayden last year and just flat-out passed on him, which doesn't make me feel real good about getting him now.

Maybe they whiffed on Hayden last year because Angelo was in charge .

[Icness]

Hayden has no knees. The Lions tried to sign him last year but he didn't pass a physical...and they were desperate to have him.

I love the Campbell signing. I had heard they were interested in Drew Stanton but Campbell is better than that.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

ICLO, the fact that re-signed Jennings is a nice indicator that we're thinking Mario Williams big on the D line. Why re-sign a mediocre corner if you're not expecting to have an improved pass rush?

Also, will Lance Briggs bring up his contract demands again like he did mid-season last year? That could be a nice headache to deal with in addition to the Marshall stuff.

Good points about Jennings.

Regarding Briggs, he found out the hard way last time that his perceived value of himself is not as high as the GMs around the league. Remember the last time he bitched at the Bears offer & shopped around, he eventually had to come crawling back to the Bears original offer.

Keep in mind that the last time he was a free-agent on the right side of 30yrs old. He's now under contract on the wrong side of 30yrs old with more mileage. I don't see him having too much leverage.

[Chewie]

What? Bears sign WR/KR Eric Weems to a 3yr deal. I use the term WR lightly as he's mostly a special teams guy. Made the pro bowl as a returner in 2010. Tells me we can't count on Knox in 2012 and now I wonder about our plans for Hester.

[blumeany]

What? Bears sign WR/KR Eric Weems to a 3yr deal. I use the term WR lightly as he's mostly a special teams guy. Tells me we can't count on Knox in 2012 and now I wonder about our plans for Hester.

I wouldn't say that. I think a lot of the Bears' free agents this year are special teamers. So, the fact that the Bears are loading up on special teamers likely means that they aren't planning on re-signing a bunch of their own free agents.

[blumeany]

ProFootballTalk ‏ @ProFootballTalk Close
Buccaneers reel in Carl Nicks for five years, $47.5 million

Damn Bucs. At least they're not in our division anymore.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

What? Bears sign WR/KR Eric Weems to a 3yr deal. I use the term WR lightly as he's mostly a special teams guy. Made the pro bowl as a returner in 2010. Tells me we can't count on Knox in 2012 and now I wonder about our plans for Hester.

Maybe we had a plan to grab two WRs via trade & free-agency regardless. I wasn't really expecting Knox back, but how does this tie into Hester?

Does this signal that we're not going WR in the first round of the draft?

[Chewie]

What? Bears sign WR/KR Eric Weems to a 3yr deal. I use the term WR lightly as he's mostly a special teams guy. Tells me we can't count on Knox in 2012 and now I wonder about our plans for Hester.

I wouldn't say that. I think a lot of the Bears' free agents this year are special teamers. So, the fact that the Bears are loading up on special teamers likely means that they aren't planning on re-signing a bunch of their own free agents.

I suppose I make a distinction between a return guy and other special teamers, though.

EDIT: Trib article suggesting they could ask him to replace Graham as a gunner so it makes more sense now.

[Chewie]

What? Bears sign WR/KR Eric Weems to a 3yr deal. I use the term WR lightly as he's mostly a special teams guy. Made the pro bowl as a returner in 2010. Tells me we can't count on Knox in 2012 and now I wonder about our plans for Hester.

Maybe we had a plan to grab two WRs via trade & free-agency regardless. I wasn't really expecting Knox back, but how does this tie into Hester?

Does this signal that we're not going WR in the first round of the draft?

Probably speaks more about Knox than Hester but it does provide some flexibility.