Bears Scoop

Warrick Dunn To The Bears?

Could veteran free agent running back Warrick Dunn be on his way to the Windy City?

Would he be a good fit with the Bears? Well lets take a look at what the Bears have right now behind Matt Forte.

The Bears recently lost backup running back Kevin Jones for the season with an ankle injury in their final preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.

The Bears currently have two year pro Garrett Wolfe, who is 5′7″ and has 154 career rushing yards behind Matt Forte on the depth chart.

They also have “The Other” Adrian Peterson, who has played in 92 games, rushing 304 times for 1232 yards for a 4.1 ypc average and eight touchdowns. His biggest season was in 2007, when he carried the ball 151 times for 510 yards and three touchdowns and he also had 51 receptions for 420 yards.

Are those two enough? I don’t know, but I’m a big fan of “The Other” Adrian Peterson, I think he’s an underrated running back, who is very good at catching the ball out of the backfield.

I think Warrick Dunn would be a solid addition to this years Bears roster. Dunn had 186 carries for 786 yards and two touchdowns rushing touchdowns and 47 receptions for 330 yards last season. In his 12 year career, Dunn has played in 181 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons rushing for about 11,000 yards for 49 yards, averaging 4.1 ypc and catching 510 balls for 4339 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Today Bears GM Jerry Angelo had this to say about the running back situation:

“If we need to go out and pick up another back, we have a short list where we can do that. But right now, nobody we would pick up would dress on Sunday. So we’re going to go with the hand that we have and we’re comfortable with, and then we’ll just go from there.”

What I think?

I don’t know if the Bears will add a running back soon, but I think they should keep Warrick Dunn on their list of running backs to add, if Matt Forte goes down (cross your fingers he doesn’t) or Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe struggle. Dunn would be a cheap veteran option that would fit in the Bears running game perfectly.

all quotes from chicagobears.com

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com.

Five Reasons Why The Bears Should Sign Michael Vick

If you didn’t know Michael Vick is officially a free man.

I feel that Michael Vick has done his time and deserves a second chance.

I think he should he be reinstated to the NFL very soon.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he will take care of Vick soon.

I think the Chicago Bears should consider adding Michael Vick.

Here are my five reasons why they should add Michael Vick:

1) Because he is a much better backup than either of the unproven quarterbacks the Bears have behind Jay Cutler.

2) Because the Bears could use more wildcat formations, with Vick, Forte and Hester, this offense could be unstoppable.

3) Because he could be used as a wide receiver for this offense. Hester and Vick could be the fastest duo the league has ever seen.

4) Because he is the NFL’s all time leading rusher among quarterbacks.

5) Because he is only 29 years old and was the number one overall pick in 2001, there’s a reason he was taken #1.

Check back tomorrow, when I list the five reasons why the Bears shouldn’t sign Michael Vick.

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com and www.Needforsports.com.

Rex Grossman One Of The Best Backup Quarterbacks In The NFL?

According to Clark Judge of Cbssports.com, Rex Grossman is one of the the top ten backup quarterbacks in the NFL.

This is what Judge had to say:

“I wasn’t sold on him as Chicago’s starter, either, but a couple of things here: 1) He was good enough to make it to the Super Bowl, and 2) he’s not a starter anymore. Granted, the Bears’ defense launched them to Super Bowl XLI, not Grossman, but he had to play a role … and he did, performing so well he was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Month in September. Grossman makes too many mistakes and takes too many chances, but he has big-game experience and a 19-12 record as a starter. There are 12 starting quarterbacks going into training camps later this month who haven’t won as many games. I don’t know if he beats out Dan Orlovsky as the Texans’ backup, but I know he should. He is out of the eye of the storm, which is where the starter in Chicago sits, and should be comfortable backing up . As a backup a year ago, he relieved an injured Kyle Orton and produced two TDs, including the winner on a quarterback sneak. Nevertheless, he still was booed by Bears’ fans. The change of scenery should do nothing but help.”

I agree with Clark Judge, I think Grossman is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. He definitely has one of the best arms out of all the backups.

Other quarterbacks on the list include:

Jeff Garcia, Derek Anderson, Jon Kitna, Tyler Thigpen, Sage Rosenfels, Tavaris Jackson, Matt Leinart, Charlie Batch and Todd Collins.

One guy I thought should be on the list was David Carr, he is a very improved QB with the Giants.

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com and www.Needforsports.com.

Chris Harris: The Trade The Bears Should Have Never Made

During the 2007-2008 off-season the Bears made a trade that now looks like a huge mistake.

They acquired former first round pick Adam Archuleta early in the off-season from the Washington Redskins.

Archuleta played for Lovie Smith’s former team the St. Louis Rams from 2001-2005.

Lovie likes guys that he is familiar with, so he decided to add some competition at the secondary position.

It turns out the Bears decided to go with underachiever Adam Archuleta instead of overachiever Chris Harris at free safety.

They disposed of Chris Harris by trading him to the Carolina Panthers for a measly fifth round pick.

Chris Harris came into the league in 2005 as a sixth round pick out of Louisiana-Monroe.

The Bears like drafting guys from little known schools.

But anyways Harris won the starting job in 2005 over veteran safety Mike Green.

You have to remember the Bears having Mike Green, Mike Brown and Bobby Grey, it sounded pretty cool.

So that season Harris played in 14 games, recording 58 tackles and three interceptions.

The next season he played in only eleven games, but recorded 54 tackles and two interceptions.

In four career playoff games with the Bears, Harris recorded two forced fumbles and one interception.

That interception came in Super Bowl 41 and it turned out to get the Bears no points, but still how do you trade a guy who made an interception in the Super Bowl.

The fifth round pick the Bears received from Carolina was used on injury prone cornerback Zackary Bowman out of Nebraska.

Bowman could turn out to be a good player if he stays healthy, but Chris Harris is exactly the safety the Bears need right now.

It made no sense at the time to deal him for an underachieving bum like Adam Archuleta and now it still makes no sense.

In two seasons with Carolina, Harris has recorded 167 tackles, two interceptions and 10 forced fumbles.

Harris is a fan favorite in Carolina.

It really is a shame the Bears traded away such a talented player like Chris Harris.

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com.

Craig Steltz: Is He The Next Mike Brown Or The Next Adam Archuleta?

Will safety Craig Steltz step up this season and become the next Mike Brown?

Will he be the leader the Bears need so much in the secondary?

I hope he will be, but what I saw out of him last season wasn’t so good.

In eleven games Craig Steltz made 17 tackles and one interception.

He was a solid contributor on special teams, but when he stepped into the Green Bay Packers game in week 16 for the injured Mike Brown, he scared me.

I was at that freezing cold game and I thought he was Adam Archuleta at times, not just because he had the same #20 jersey, but because he made one of the worst plays of the game. He let Ryan Grant truck him for about a 15 yard touchdown run into the end zone.

What I saw out of Craig Steltz on that play made me want to vomit, just like all the horrible plays I watched Adam Archuleta  make for one long season.

The Bears management hung with Archuleta for too long and I’m afraid they might do the same with, Steltz, the former fourth round pick out of LSU.

They have Steltz penciled in at FS and Kevin Payne at SS, but I really hope that the coaching staff goes with the real athlete in Corey Graham.

Graham made the switch from CB to FS this off-season and the coaches are really high on the guy.

The Bears also have safeties Glenn Earl, Josh Bullocks and Al Afalava, who are all fighting for a starting gig, but will probably be special team contributors at the most.

Don’t forget about the Bears possibly using Danieal Manning at FS, it’s unlikely because he has settled into the nickel-back position so well, but it could happen.

Back to Craig Steltz, I don’t see him as anything other than a special teams contributor for his entire NFL career.

He made an interception in a game against Detroit last season and also blocked a punt against Minnesota, but I don’t see him being the next Mike Brown or even anything resembling him.

He just might be the next Adam Archuleta, and that could be really bad.

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com.

It’s Official: Mike Brown a Chicago Bear No More

It’s a sad day for a Chicago Bear fan.

Former Pro Bowl safety and star of the Bears defense Mike Brown signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Bears showed no interest in bringing back the injury prone Mike Brown.

Brown is the Bears’ all-time leader in defensive touchdowns with seven.

Brown had 99 starts, 629 tackles, and 17 interceptions in his nine seasons with the Bears.

Last season he started 15 games last season the most he’s played in a long time before going on the injured reserve with a calf injury.

What will his role be with the Chiefs?

The nine year veteran will join the Chiefs facing some competition at the safety position.

Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page are the two Kansas City Cheifs safeties and Mike Brown will have to work hard to beat one of them out.

I know Brown, 31, has lost a step, but he is still a very good player.

He can win the job as long as he stays healthy.

I wish him nothing but luck this season.

I still think Bears fans wanted to see him back this season, but I’m glad to see Kansas City make this move.

"Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com  and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com"

Bears Player Preview: Zack Bowman

Usually on Bears Player Preview I only discuss rookies and free agent acquisitions, but today I am really excited to talk about second year cornerback Zack Bowman.

This kid could be something.

David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune said this about Bowman:

“I know cornerback Zack Bowman quietly has made one of the biggest impressions during off-season workouts and could be a sleeper that comes on strong during training camp. In the first 10 OTA practices, Bowman made seven interceptions, according to the team’s Web site.”

Bowman played in one game against Minnesota (week 7) last season.

He recorded two tackles, one interception and one touchdown off a blocked punt.

The reason he fell in the draft last season is because of his durability and we saw that last season.

But if he can stay healthy he could be weapon at the cornerback position.

Projected starters at cornerback: Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman

Backups at cornerback: Danieal Manning (NB), Corey Graham (Might be FS), Zackary Bowman, Trumaine McBride, and Marcus Hamilton

I really like Zackary Bowman he could be in lineup if Nathan Vasher screws up.

"Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com  and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com"

Speak Up: Jay Cutler On The Wide Receiver Situation

Jay Cutler was asked about the WR situation and this is what he said:

“I’m 100 percent comfortable [with the wide receivers], I think we added some depth with some younger guys and then some of the older veterans are stepping up and playing well. So I think we’ve got more than enough to compete.”

“I haven’t talked to Brandon Marshall, he’s a great player, Brandon is, and I played with him for three years, put up a lot big numbers with him, and wherever he ends up, obviously he’s going to be successful. Whether or not it’s here, that’s up to the guys upstairs, but as of right now, I’m 100 percent happy with what we’ve got.”

“If it [the Bears land Burress], it happens, I’m not going to speculate on whether or not we’re going to go get him or not. The guys we have right now, I’m 100 percent confident in and comfortable with. We’ll just have to wait down the road and see what happens with that.”

“I think we’ve got one, I think we’ve got one in Devin, and I think Earl is going to be dangerous on the back side as well.”

all quotes from chicagosuntimes.com

You can the rest of this article here.

"Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com  and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com"

Top Ten: Funniest Football Quotes Of All Time

Today, I present you with the top ten funniest football quotes of all time.

The quotes come from former coaches, players, commentators, and writers.

Check them out and tell me what you think.

1) John Madden, Former Coach/Player/Announcer: “Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they’re bigger than everybody else, and that’s what makes them the biggest guys on the field.”

2) Luke Salisbury, Writer: “Watching football is like watching pornography. There’s plenty of action, and I can’t take my eyes off it, but when it’s over, I wonder why the hell I spent an afternoon doing it.”

3) George Rogers, RB, New Orleans Saints: “I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first””

4) Merle Kessler, Writer: “Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers.”

5) Jerry Rice, WR, San Fransisco 49ers: “I feel like I’m the best, but you’re not going to get me to say that.”

6) Dave Barry, Humor Columnist: “Sharks are as tough as those football fans who take their shirts off during games in Chicago in January, only more intelligent.”

7) Bo Jackson, RB, Oalkand Raiders: “If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn’t the same as the one I was wearing, I’d run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.”

8) William “The Fridge Perry”, DL, Chicago Bears: “I’ve been big ever since I was little.”

9) Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: “I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.”

10) Paul Tagliabue, Former NFL Commissioner: “I’m a firm believer that all sports will eventually be global. Someday, we may have a quarterback from China named Yao Fling.”

What do you think about the top ten?

Which ones are really the funniest?

"Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com  and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com"

Speak Up: CBS Analyst Jim Nantz On Plaxico Burress

CBS analyst was on ESPN 1000 yesterday and this what he had to say about the Bears interest in troubled WR Plaxico Burress:

“If I was running a franchise, I don’t want him, so, do the Bears try to go out and get him? Why would you want that problem? I mean, look, Plaxico Burress, he put himself in this position. I mean, he’s a guy that left his family, his wife and kids at home and had to go to a nightclub and carry a loaded weapon with him in New York. And then shot himself. Is this a guy you want on your football team?’’

“I hate to guess, I’m not going to try to put that weight on him, but if I’m a team and I know Plaxico’s gifted—I get it, he’s a big target with speed and creates great separation, what a target; the Giants won a Super Bowl with him—but I don’t need all that, I don’t need all that in the papers all the time about every move he makes off the field. A total distraction. I think the Giants this year are going to find out, now that they’ve had time to regroup: he destroyed their season last year. His selfish act cost the Giants a chance at repeating. I would really be surprised if anybody was that anxious to get him if they had to deal with that hanging over their head the whole season long about what’s going to happen at the end of the year. It’s not worth it to me.’’

“I don’t see any conceivable way that he could be cleared of these charges, there will be an uproar in New York if they say, ‘Okay, we’re going to let him go.’ They’re not going to give him preferential treatment. You know what the outcome’s going to be on this deal … So why do you want this hanging over your team? Is it worth it for one year? I don’t want that. I wouldn’t want it.’’

My thoughts:

I think the Bears really need the veteran receiver to help out the younger receivers and Cutler, but Nantz has many good points.

You don’t want another distraction like Tank Johnson or Cedric Benson on your team.

Don’t get me wrong Plaxico Burress is a great player, but there’s a reason he is still a free-agent.

I’d prefer Brandon Marshall over Plaxico.

Marshall, who wants more money, asked to be traded yesterday.

Although Marshall made some stupid mistakes outside of football, he had great chemistry with Jay Cutler in Denver and really improved his game every year.

I would love to have Marshall as one of our receivers, he would bring the veteran presence that is just not there.

Trading for Brandon Marshall is a good move, but signing Plaxico Burress is a bad one.

all quotes from chicagotribune.com

"Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com  and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com"