Bears Cut Rod Hood

SportsWorld · Post #1 » by **SportsWorld** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 3:08 am

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribu ... it-is.html

It is evident the Bears need help at cornerback. Maybe a former Super Bowl starter could give them a boost.

Veteran cornerback Rod Hood, who was released by Cleveland Monday, will sign a one-year contract with the Bears as early as Tuesday, according to multiple NFL sources. Hood took a free-agent visit to Halas Hall in May but opted to sign with the Browns.

In order to add Hood, the Bears would have to release a player to remain under the 75-player limit.

Hood, 27, entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles out of Auburn in 2003. After the 2006 season, he left the Eagles via free agency and signed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Cardinals. The 5-foot-11-inch, 196-pound Hood started 16 games in the '07 season then 14 in '08 as a member of the Super Bowl runner-up Cardinals.

Hood's arrival could affect the status of Trumaine McBride, who struggled in Sunday's exhibition at Denver. But the Bears need depth at cornerback regardless, with Charles Tillman (back surgery) and Zack Bowman (hamstring) recovering from injuries. Bowman should be back for Thursday's final exhibition against Cleveland. It was originally reported that Tillman would be back for the exhibition finale as well.

CjayC · Post #2 » by **CjayC** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 5:20 am

Good depth move.

Bye bye, Trumaine McBride

Post #3 » by **emperorjones** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 10:17 am

Bye bye Nate Vasher me thinks.

CjayC · Post #4 » by **CjayC** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 1:41 pm

No way would they get rid of Vasher over McBride.

They probably aren't getting rid of Vasher. At least this year at least...

Chewie · Post #5 » by **Chewie** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 2:20 pm

emperorjones wrote:Bye bye Nate Vasher me thinks.

You could be right. Might depend on what both show in the practices and final game leading up to the final cuts. Vasher carries a high price tag.

Cliff Levingston · Post #6 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 3:06 pm

The Bears aren't up against the salary cap though; not even close. It'd be tough to see them bailing on Vasher so quickly after giving him that big contract, but we'll see. Either way, Hood > McBride at CB... hopefully.

Chewie · Post #7 » by **Chewie** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 3:32 pm

Cliff Levingston wrote:The Bears aren't up against the salary cap though; not even close. It'd be tough to see them bailing on Vasher so quickly after giving him that big contract, but we'll see. Either way, Hood > McBride at CB... hopefully.

Wasn't even thinking of Vasher being a salary cap casualty - just saved money. The McCaskeys are still in charge here.

Cliff Levingston · Post #8 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 3:47 pm

Chewie wrote:
Cliff Levingston wrote:The Bears aren't up against the salary cap though; not even close. It'd be tough to see them bailing on Vasher so quickly after giving him that big contract, but we'll see. Either way, Hood > McBride at CB... hopefully.

Wasn't even thinking of Vasher being a salary cap casualty - just saved money. The McCaskeys are still in charge here.

Yea, but still. Do you think they'll be that quick to admit a mistake? They gave him that contract for a reason and he was hurt most of the year last season. Cliff Levingston thinks they'll at least give him a chance to prove himself this year, and then if he doesn't perform as needed, he'll be gone.

Post #9 » by **emperorjones** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 11:04 pm

Money saved from Vasher reduces money given to Cutler. Are you guys forgetting Graham? Why would we need Vasher & Graham? I wouldn't mind seeing:

Tillman>>>Graham>>>Moore
Bowman>>Hood>>>McBride

Or another rookie instead of McBride.

With Graham playing backup or starting Nickle as well.

I think thats a solid group if they decide to keep 6 CBs.

Maybe we could even get a bowl of soup for Vasher in a trade??

Post #10 » by **fleet** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 11:11 pm

emperorjones wrote:Money saved from Vasher reduces money given to Cutler. Are you guys forgetting Graham? Why would we need Vasher & Graham? I wouldn't mind seeing:

Tillman>>>Graham>>>Moore
Bowman>>Hood>>>McBride

Or another rookie instead of McBride.

With Graham playing backup or starting Nickle as well.

I think thats a solid group if they decide to keep 6 CBs.

Maybe we could even get a bowl of soup for Vasher in a trade??

Hood's arrival probably gives you an idea of how the Bears were/are:

-commited to playing Graham more @ safety at some point. Seems they weren't kidding around. Depth @ safety wasn't all that awesome either.

-worried about Bowman and Tillman

Post #11 » by **fleet** » Tue Sep 1, 2009 11:16 pm

Cliff Levingston wrote:
Chewie wrote:
Cliff Levingston wrote:The Bears aren't up against the salary cap though; not even close. It'd be tough to see them bailing on Vasher so quickly after giving him that big contract, but we'll see. Either way, Hood > McBride at CB... hopefully.

Wasn't even thinking of Vasher being a salary cap casualty - just saved money. The McCaskeys are still in charge here.

Yea, but still. Do you think they'll be that quick to admit a mistake? They gave him that contract for a reason and he was hurt most of the year last season. Cliff Levingston thinks they'll at least give him a chance to prove himself this year, and then if he doesn't perform as needed, he'll be gone.

I don't know what Hood is making, or what the Bears cap responsibilities are once Vasher makes the team officially, but you have to think Vasher lasts no longer than it takes to aquire and pay the right wide receiver.

WEFFPIM · Post #12 » by **WEFFPIM** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 12:41 am

I hope this means the end of McBride

SpinninHouse · Post #13 » by **SpinninHouse** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 2:28 am

McBride is done. if you can't tackle, you have no business being on the field. he won't make the team. i am gravely concerned about the health of our corners. why was Hood cut by the browns?

Post #14 » by **Icness** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 12:25 pm

SpinninHouse wrote:McBride is done. if you can't tackle, you have no business being on the field. he won't make the team. i am gravely concerned about the health of our corners. why was Hood cut by the browns?

I agree it's McBride that is the odd man out. Although the way Lovie gushed praise on Vasher it sure seems like they're posturing to deal him for a late-round pick, so maybe McBride sticks if they can get something for Vasher.

Hood got cut in Cleveland for two reasons:
1. He lost the nickel corner job to rookie Coye Francies, and the Browns were not planning on Francies being more than their 5th corner when camp started. No sense paying Hood $1.8M to be a dime back.
2. In the TEN preseason game Hood got beat on a crossing pattern where he had inside duty, then failed to give chase after the receiver caught the ball. This came not long after he completely whiffed on an open-field tackle. That's not the Rod Hood I know him to be, but Eric Mangini absolutely does not tolerate those types of mistakes.

ChronicKerr · Post #15 » by **ChronicKerr** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 3:29 pm

With BOTH our starting corners being HUGE injury concerns I don't see how we would just let Vasher leave for nothing. What has Bowman even done to earn the starting corner position? I haven't seen anything.

I think this means the end of McBride more than anything and agree with Cliff that we'll give Vasher one last shot.

Cliff Levingston · Post #16 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 3:48 pm

ChronicKerr wrote:With BOTH our starting corners being HUGE injury concerns I don't see how we would just let Vasher leave for nothing. What has Bowman even done to earn the starting corner position? I haven't seen anything.

I think this means the end of McBride more than anything and agree with Cliff that we'll give Vasher one last shot.

Bowman had big talent at Nebraska and was looking like a first round prospect until he had tons of injuries. He obviously hasn't done much to bely those concerns getting hurt last year and now early in the preseason. Cliff Levingston figured they'd go with Tillman and Graham/Vasher as the starters, than Bowman as the first backup primarily to Tillman. We'll see if they plan on using both Tillman and Bowman as the starters; that'd probably be one of the biggest starting CB tandems in the league.

ChronicKerr · Post #17 » by **ChronicKerr** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 3:57 pm

I personally think Graham would work out the best to start opposite Tillman but it appears they have other plans for him as the nickel back. I thought we could leave Manning there otherwise he'll never see the field anyways, at least I hope not bc he can't play FS.

Post #18 » by **emperorjones** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 6:45 pm

SpinninHouse wrote:McBride is done. if you can't tackle, you have no business being on the field. he won't make the team. i am gravely concerned about the health of our corners. why was Hood cut by the browns?

Should be true, but I'm think that if Hood was brought in because McBride played so poorly and was going to get cut that we would have cut Mcbride instead of a WR when Hood signed. McBride has played well in the past and had a bad game. I don't recall him being called out in OTAs or camp.

My thought is that Hood can play some Nickle which is where Graham was being groomed as a backup and McBride stays as a 5th CB and Vasher gets traded or cut.

Chewie · Post #19 » by **Chewie** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 7:53 pm

emperorjones wrote:
SpinninHouse wrote:McBride is done. if you can't tackle, you have no business being on the field. he won't make the team. i am gravely concerned about the health of our corners. why was Hood cut by the browns?

Should be true, but I'm think that if Hood was brought in because McBride played so poorly and was going to get cut that we would have cut Mcbride instead of a WR when Hood signed. McBride has played well in the past and had a bad game. I don't recall him being called out in OTAs or camp.

My thought is that Hood can play some Nickle which is where Graham was being groomed as a backup and McBride stays as a 5th CB and Vasher gets traded or cut.

McBride sucked in the 1st preseason game vs the Bills, too, emperor. Bad enough to make my con list:

- Trumaine McBride. Wow - you can't tackle for shiz.

If I noticed, I'm guessing the trained eyes of the Bears staff noticed. I don't think it has to be a matter of McBride OR Vasher leaving, either. They could both be gone.

ChronicKerr · Post #20 » by **ChronicKerr** » Wed Sep 2, 2009 8:32 pm

Kinder was cut because he had stinks and had no chance of making the team anyways (Marcus Monk V2). We still don't know if Hood is any good anyways, I mean he just got cut by the Browns after some poor play. You can't count on him being any better than McBride at this point. If Hood proves he's better than McBride then he'll probably be gone. I would be surprised if Vasher goes unless we can get Reggie Brown for him or something.