Free Agents Visit Halas Hall

Along with hosting a slew of players who are about to enter the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears are also still looking at the free agency market to fill any holes left in the roster. Yesterday, the Bears hosted offensive tackle Orlando Pace and cornerback Ken Lucas. Both made their way to Halas Hall after being cut by their respective teams to make room in the salary cap.

Orlando Pace was recently cut from the St. Louis Rams. The 33-year-old tackle started 14 games last season for the Rams, but has missed 25 games in the last three years because of injuries. The offensive tackle position is one that the Bears could go after in the draft, but the addition of Pace would mean they could focus on other positions.

Ken Lucas was cut by the Carolina Panthers, where he was at for the past four seasons. Before that, he spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He hasn’t had to struggle with injuries as much as other players, starting 49 out of the 50 games he played with Carolina. Last season, Lucas started every game, tallying 60 tackles, 10 passes defended and two interceptions. See all the new players with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 31, 2009 - Post a comment

Bears Bring in Prospects for Private Workouts

A hint at who the Chicago Bears will be looking at come draft day is the players the Bears offer private workouts to in the weeks leading up to the draft. In the past week, the Bears have given workouts to linebacker Russell Allen and wide receiver Kenny Britt and are also set to host guard Rich Ohrnberger. Allen hails from San Diego State and measures in at 230 pounds at 6-foot-3-inches. Allen finished last season with 107 tackles and 9 ½ sacks and is likely to be picked up in one of the later rounds of the draft.

Kenny Britt spent his college career with Rutgers and drew much interest during Rutgers’ Pro Day. The 6-foot-3-inch 210 pounder finished last season with 87 catches, 1,371 yards and nine touchdowns. He is a possible first-round pick for the Bears, but other analysts are predicting that the Bear will pick Maryland receiver Darrius Hayward-Bay.

Penn State’s Rich Ohrnberger stands at 6-foot-2-inches and weighs in at 301 pounds and could also be a late pick for the Bears in the draft. The time is closing in for April’s draft, and fans can make sure to catch all of the new rookies in action with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 30, 2009 - Post a comment

Lovie Comments on Vick Possibility

Forget Jay Cutler, the Chicago Bears may be going for a proven quarterback that isn’t in such massive demand: Michael Vick. Vick isn’t recently finishing up a 23 month sentence for facilitating and paying for a dog fighting ring. While many teams seem unwilling to bring in a prickly PR situation like Vick, the Bears haven’t ruled it out.

When asked about Vick, head coach Lovie Smith said, “I would look at Michael like I look at every other prospect that’s available: He goes back into the pool. That’s what everyone in society does. Martha Stewart went to prison. She paid her time. Now she’s back in society. Mike made a mistake, and he’s paying the price for that mistake. Once you’ve paid your debt to society, you have to say, ‘OK, let’s go on from there.’”

Once Vick finds a team to call home, that won’t mean an immediate re-entrance into the league. He also has to be reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell so far has stated that Vick needs to prove himself in order to be reinstated in the league. Although his contract is still owned by the Atlanta Falcons, the Falcons have already said they will not take Vick back. See how the quarterback situation shapes up with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 27, 2009 - Post a comment

Shaffer Joins Bears’ Roster

The Chicago Bears have added depth in the tackle position by signing Kevin Shaffer, who comes from the same team that signed former Bears tackle John St. Clair, the Cleveland Browns. He has been a starter for the past three seasons with the Browns, most at right tackle and some at left tackle.

He commented on the deal, saying, “I talked to a lot of people, and from everybody I talked to, I didn’t hear one negative thing about Chicago and the Bears. Then I prayed about it. … I just got to the point that it was time to go make a deal with Chicago.” He later talked about his chance of starting and said, “But I know I have to go in there and compete. They don’t know me at all. It’s fair for me to have to come in and show what I can do. I just hope to win the job.”

The deal he signed with the Bears is worth $8 million over three years with $2 million in guaranteed money. He will be competing with Frank Omilyale for the starting position, and the Bears could also add another tackle through the draft. Get your Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 26, 2009 - Post a comment

Special Teams Navigates New Rule

The new roles handed down by the Competition Committee may be confusing, but chances are the biggest change won’t change the Chicago Bears’ game plan very much. The rule outlaws wedges on kickoffs.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said, “Some teams run a zone-wedge scheme and some teams run a man scheme, and we’re a man scheme. We don’t hold hands or anything like that to form a wedge. In a zone scheme, you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with a guy sometimes holding hands or linking arms, and you’ll block whoever’s in your path. We really don’t form a tight wedge like some teams do, so it shouldn’t really affect us.”

The new rules were put in place to protect players, stating that no more than two players can make a wedge. The problem with the rule is that it isn’t very clear about some gray areas. Luckily, the Bears will not have to navigate the new rules by themselves. During training camp, the Bears will be brining in officials to explain the rules further. The Bears’ special teams did well last season, led by Danieal Manning. See how well the team does during this season by getting Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 25, 2009 - Post a comment

Bears Start 2009 With Familiar Foe

If Chicago Bears fans weren’t already excited for the start of the 2009 season, recent news should put a fire under fans. The opening day of the regular season will be against none other than the Bears’ biggest rivals: the Green Bay Packers. The game will be at Sunday, September 13 at Lambeau Field. Although starting the game on the road may sound tough, the Bears have excelled in away openers in the last few years, including last year’s 29-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the first game ever at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It seemed like the 2008 season would be easier for the Bears against the Packers because of the departure of quarterback Brett Favre, but they had an embarrassing 37-3 loss to the Packers during week 11 of the season. On the second to last game of the season, the Bears came back to beat the Packers 20-17. Lovie Smith has fared better against the Packers than the last two Bears coaches, Dick Jauron and Dave Wannstedt. This is sure to be an exciting way to start the 2009 season. Make sure that you are there to see it by reserving your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 24, 2009 - Post a comment

Earl Becomes Newest Bear

Many knew there would be big shifts for the Chicago Bears in the safety position this offseason. The Bears recently added another name, Glenn Earl, in this position in order to give the Bears some depth. Although Earl is only 27 years old, he hasn’t played in the NFL in two years. He signed a one-year deal with the Bears after he was with the team for the three-day mini camp.

Earl had a positive outlook on his new team, saying, “I’m just happy to be back out here after being out the last couple of years. I didn’t even expect this opportunity. I was in survival mode.”

Earl started his career with the Houston Texans as their fourth-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. That first year, he started nine out of 12 games and finished with 44 tackles. By 2006, he had worked his way to starting all 15 games he played in, tallying 74 tackles, two sacks, three passes defended and one interception. He suffered a foot injury that kept him out of the entire 2007 season and was released before 2008. He is now completely healthy and will likely add needed depth for the Bears. Get your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 23, 2009 - Post a comment

Bennett Increases Threat with Knowledge of Plays

Sometimes it takes rookies awhile to get in the groove of the NFL because of physical limitations that need to be trained out of them. Wide receiver Earl Bennett’s slow entrance into the league had more to do with education than speed or catching ability. Bennett recently admitted that learning the Bears’ plays was a tough task, but he has since soaked up all the knowledge.

He commented on his experience, saying, “When I first got [the playbook], it was a challenge I must say. It was by far the most plays I’ve seen in my life. But right now I feel like I’ve got a good grasp on it. I feel real comfortable with the playbook. I could just about play any position on the field.”

The difference in Bennett from last season to this one hasn’t gone unnoticed by the coaching staff. Head coach Lovie Smith spoke about Bennett’s progress. Bennett has a great opportunity to find a spot on the offense, since the Bears are reportedly looking for a better target for Orton. Analysts are predicting that the Bears will also be going after a receiver with one of their earlier draft picks. Get your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 20, 2009 - Post a comment

Omiyale Shifted With St. Clair Loss

After the Chicago Bears lost free agent tackle John St. Clair to the Cleveland Browns, they are starting to shift around their roster to compensate for the loss. Frank Omiyale, who was previously the second-team left guard, was moved to starting at right tackle. Omiyale is new with the Bears as he signed a four-year deal with the Bears earlier in free agency.

Head coach Lovie Smith commented on the move, saying, “We’re trying to lock guys in. He’ll play right tackle now. It’s hard enough learning a new system playing one position, so we’ll lock him in there for a while and go… We knew we had flexibility with Frank. He’s an athletic guy. He’s eager to learn, and of course [offensive line coach] Harry [Hiestand] will do a great job with him.”

The tackle position isn’t new for Omiyale, as he played left tackle with the Carolina Panthers last season. The loss of St. Clair also adds even more of an expectation for last year’s first round draft pick Chris Williams. Williams will take the field at left tackle after sitting out most of last season because of a pre-season surgery on his back. Get your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 19, 2009 - Post a comment

Orton Unaware of Cutler Talk

The talk has been escalating about the possibility of quarterback Jay Cutler leaving the Denver Broncos, but the push from fans and analysts to have the Chicago Bears pursue him has apparently gone unnoticed by current Bears quarterback Kyle Orton. Despite the fact that this story has been hitting the headlines of every major Chicago paper, Orton told reporters, “I haven’t heard that to be honest with you… There are rumors every single year, if it’s him or somebody else. I think the organization is behind me, and I know my teammates are.”

The news about Cutler comes at the same time that the Bears lost the fight for free agent right tackle John St. Clair, who signed a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns worth $9.1 million. The Bears have been relatively quiet in free agency, especially when it comes to the biggest names out there. The Bears have some documented needs on both sides of the ball, making their lack of movement questionable at best. There is still a chance that the Bears could make a deal with Cutler, but other teams are also in the running. Be there to cheer on the team this season with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on March 18, 2009 - Post a comment


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