Emery says Okoye likely gone

[Chewie]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0405-emery-bears-chicago--20120405,0,5358776.story

The Bears have hoped to re-sign Amobi Okoye but speaking on a conference call with season-ticket holders, the general manager said the defensive tackle likely is headed elsewhere.

"Right now, Amobi is trying to decide which direction he is going," Emery said. "We've had conversations with him. So far, we have not been able to work out a deal. Amobi is probably going in a different direction."

Time for a DL head count....

Leaves us with Melton, Paea, and Toeaina at DT and Peppers, Idonije, Wootton at DE. Not sure I'd count anyone else and I'm not sure I should even count Wootton. With the imminent loss of Okoye and the release of Adams, I'm leaning DE more than ever early in the draft.

Frankly starting to worry about DT now as well. As good as Melton was in rushing the passer he was weak in run support and I can count the # of plays I saw Paea show up on one hand but that could be because he wasn't 100% all year.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

I'm almost certain that the FO had a backup plan, considering that we were bound to lose him if we had landed Mario Williams anyway.

I know that the Williams signing would've lessened the blow of losing Okoye, but it doesn't seem that Okoye was a top priority to the FO. Keep in mind that they targeted the players that they wanted to re-sign & went after them immediately & aggressively. If Okoye was a huge priority, we would have let McCown walk & just threw a cheap 3rd string QB on the roster.

I'm starting to think that fans valued Okoye more than the FO.

[Chewie]

I'm almost certain that the FO had a backup plan, considering that we were bound to lose him if we had landed Mario Williams anyway.

I know that the Williams signing would've lessened the blow of losing Okoye, but it doesn't seem that Okoye was a top priority to the FO. Keep in mind that they targeted the players that they wanted to re-sign & went after them immediately & aggressively. If Okoye was a huge priority, we would have let McCown walk & just threw a cheap 3rd string QB on the roster.

I'm starting to think that fans valued Okoye more than the FO.

I think we wanted Okoye but he's priced himself out of our budget. Would've felt better heading into the draft if we had Mincey under our belt but lets see what the draft yields.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

That stinks. I want as many good bodies as possible on the DL. Maybe there another Okoye out there this off season. Guys can still be let go before camps, especially after the draft is sorted out.


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[heir_jordan22]

Wow we really need to add some talent on the DL now. Keeping Okoye would have given us a damn good DT rotation.

[Chewie]

That stinks. I want as many good bodies as possible on the DL. Maybe there another Okoye out there this off season. Guys can still be let go before camps, especially after the draft is sorted out.


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Tommie Harris has his hand on the phone right now......

[Cliff Levingston]

That sucks.

Cliff Levingston has been seeing mocks that have us taking a DT in the first. That might not be a stretch right now.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

If the best player available is a DT, you do it. See if Melton can play some DE and get by with what we have.


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[bulletbill]

Wow we really need to add some talent on the DL now. Keeping Okoye would have given us a damn good DT rotation.

I loved Okoye as well. But again, Idonije has gained & lost weight throughout his career like a true pro, so if the Bears want him back inside (most likely) he will make that adjustment easily. Izzy is a physical monster, who is better at 3 technique than end anyway. After failing to land any FA DEs, Bears have to make sure to get the best prospect available, hopefully with the 1st pick (barring some miracle that Floyd falls to 19)

[heir_jordan22]

I agree. I think Idonije will play wherever the Bears need. If they draft a DE, then he will play DT. If they draft a DT, then he will play DE. If they draft both he will be like Tuck and play different spots in different situations while taking the 3rd DE role.

[Chewie]

Goes to Bucs on 1yr deal for just $1.3m.

Really ? Emery must not have had a high grade on him after watching the tape. We could've matched this.

[emperorjones]

Goes to Bucs on 1yr deal for just $1.3m.

Really ? Emery must not have had a high grade on him after watching the tape. We could've matched this.

That's slightly LESS than we paid him last year ($1.38). How does he not get the same deal with the Bears after Lovie says he played great and he got 54% of the reps at his DT spot??

Very surprising that he's on another 1 year deal with the production he had last season and given that he's only 24. No one would give the guy a 2 year deal AND he took a pay cut? Something doesn't smell right here.

[heir_jordan22]

I agree this doesn't make very much sense at all.

[NW7]

Looks like his deal ends up being 1yr for 2mil.

https://twitter.com/#!/caplannfl/status ... 4649762816

I guess that makes a little more sense now. Still would of liked to see him back, even at that price.

[Chewie]

Paea best be ready. Okoye took more snaps @ DT last year other than Melton.

[heir_jordan22]

Maybe they couldn't spend that much because they need to use the rest of the cap space to try to re-sign Forte?