New and Improved Free Agency Discussion and News Mega-Thread

[ChiFan24]

Just floating this out there - Tim Jennings has one year left on his contract. 29 years old, coming off a Pro Bowl season. It was a little fluky, but he's been very solid for three years now and I think PFF gave him a top 10 grade. What could he fetch in a trade?

[Monomach]

Originally Posted by ChiFan24

Just floating this out there - Tim Jennings has one year left on his contract. 29 years old, coming off a Pro Bowl season. It was a little fluky, but he's been very solid for three years now and I think PFF gave him a top 10 grade. What could he fetch in a trade?

It wasn't really fluky. He was just as good in coverage in 2011 as he was last season. The only fluky thing was the INTs, which are flashy enough to grab the attention of people who don't really know who the good players are, so he got those pro bowl votes.

I don't think he'd bring back enough to replace him, unfortunately. We're not going to have the cap space to re-sign him, either. Bad situation for the Bears.

[brat316]

who have the bears sunk all there money into?

Cutler, Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers, Marshall, Forte?

[Scotty D]

I thought Briggs was on a reasonable deal. Cutler needs a new deal after the season. They need to sign Henry Melton this year.

[Monomach]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

who have the bears sunk all there money into?

Cutler, Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers, Marshall, Forte?

Urlacher's off the books now. It's Cutler (10M cap), Marshall (9.3M cap), Tillman (8M cap), Peppers (16M cap), Forte (7.3M cap), Briggs (7.4M cap), Jennings (5.1M cap). We have a crapton of guys in the 1-4M range because there are so many veterans.

Melton's about to get paid BIG. Roach is about to get paid. Idonije will get paid if there's any cap room left. Our #3, 4, and 5 CBs are all free agents right now.

Cutler's a FA after this season. Both pro bowl corners are free agents after this season. Briggs will be entering the last year of his contract after this season. So far for him, that has always meant holding out for a new deal. Wootton (starting DE) is a FA after this season. Major Wright (starting SS) is a FA after this season.

We reeeeealllllly need to get some defensive starters on rookie deals. One corner, one MLB, and one DE are pretty imperative.

[ChiFan24]

I'd be a little more concerned if guys like Roach and D.J. Moore were good. I'm totally fine with losing players like that. Davis will come off the books around 2.5 mill, and Peanut could probably sign an extension and lower that cap number a bit. I still have plenty of faith in Shea becoming a cheap, productive starter (not so much with Jeffery, but whatever). I don't think it's such a dire situation.

I'm still pretty bitter we gave Forte that contract, though. A guy like Bernard Pierce or Robert Turbin probably could have given us similar production for none of he cost. We absolutely have to start crushing these drafts.

[Monomach]

It's all well and good to say "player x is coming off the books and average-to-above-average guys are ok to walk," but we're still going to have to spend to replace them. We're not getting 5 or 6 starters in one draft, especially when we only have 5 picks. If Roach goes, we have one starting LB. He's very expensive and will hold out next year. If DJ Moore walks, we have to re-sign someone worse like Kelvin Hayden for the same money. Our best DE's contract is reaching critical mass. The second-best DEs contract is over after this season. The heir apparent showed nothing in his rookie season.

Our cap situation over the next two seasons is really bad. Too many vets making too much money. It's extremely likely that the defense will be broken up. The spin the Bears put on it will be "the young guy's just as good as the old guy," and a lot of homers are going to step right into line like they always do, but no...it's going to be a rebuild.

The only way we're gonna be ok is if the cap makes a big jump like we're used to, but so far, word is that the new TV contracts are only going to increase at a rate of 6-7% per year, which means more cap stagnation like this year.

But yeah...giving a running back a giant contract is dumb. I'm mad about Forte, too. I'd much rather just draft one running back every season somewhere in the 4th-7th rounds and continually have training camp battles where our RBs are always young, low-mileage, and working for peanuts.

[jrdrylie]

Some of the big numbers I saw were Robertto Garza at 3.291, Kellen Davis at 3.85, Matt Spaeth at 2.433, Earl Bennett at 3.55, and Devin Hester at 2.857. The Bears could find guys to replace the first three for cheap, possibly saving 6.5 or 7 million dollars which could go to signing Melton.A lot of people aren't too keen on cutting Hester, but he is a terrible receiver and he is not the Hall of Fame calibre return man he once was. We could find a replacement for him and save a million or more.

[bigbluedefense]

I think the salary floor is gonna result in a lot of bad contracts being given out to mediocre talent. Just a guess of mine.

[fenikz]

maybe on 1 year deals

[SuperMcGee]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

I think the salary floor is gonna result in a lot of bad contracts being given out to mediocre talent. Just a guess of mine.

This was pretty fun when at least one bottom team in the NHL had to pay a bunch of second-tier players like top guys. Of course in hockey, as long as you have decent coaching, you can just plug in enough second-tier guys and end up winning a crappy division, as they did. In the NFL, the guys getting these bad contracts just are not likely to have much of an impact.

[regoob2]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

Some of the big numbers I saw were Robertto Garza at 3.291, Kellen Davis at 3.85, Matt Spaeth at 2.433, Earl Bennett at 3.55, and Devin Hester at 2.857. The Bears could find guys to replace the first three for cheap, possibly saving 6.5 or 7 million dollars which could go to signing Melton.A lot of people aren't too keen on cutting Hester, but he is a terrible receiver and he is not the Hall of Fame calibre return man he once was. We could find a replacement for him and save a million or more.

Getting rid of Davis and Hester are needs. They're bad players and definitely not worth there money.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by regoob2

Getting rid of Davis and Hester are needs. They're bad players and definitely not worth there money.

I'd love to see you cut Hester. Mostly because I know BB would jizz all over himself if he gets a chance to sign him.

[Monomach]

Originally Posted by Razor

I'd love to see you cut Hester. Mostly because I know BB would jizz all over himself if he gets a chance to sign him.

Why does he want a guy who can't run routes, catch footballs, stay on his feet when making cuts, memorize plays, line up in the right place, or return effectively?

I'd happily trade him straight-up for Ted Ginn.

[bigbluedefense]

Devin Hester could have been one of the best WRs ever. But he's so damn stupid he could only return kicks.

Such a waste of talent. The greatest kick/punt returner of all time, but his god given ability should have made him so much more than that.

But the dude probably can't spell offense let alone memorize a playbook.

[Matthew Jones]

I'm not sure Belichick would even be that interested in Hester. He clearly doesn't value kick returners, the Patriots have some options at punt returner, and intelligence/route running/quickness are much more important than speed at wide receiver. He'd be worth the investment at some price, but I think he could fetch more elsewhere.

[bigbluedefense]

Hester in a choice route offense as complex as the one in NE would be hilarious. The Patriots run a very complex route tree. That's why not every WR is built to thrive there. It's more important to be smart than athletic in that offense. (Of course you need to be athletic to but you get the point)

[Caulibflower]

Originally Posted by ChiFan24

Just floating this out there - Tim Jennings has one year left on his contract. 29 years old, coming off a Pro Bowl season. It was a little fluky, but he's been very solid for three years now and I think PFF gave him a top 10 grade. What could he fetch in a trade?

4th or 5th rounder sounds about right.

Originally Posted by Monomach

Why does he want a guy who can't run routes, catch footballs, stay on his feet when making cuts, memorize plays, line up in the right place, or return effectively?

I'd happily trade him straight-up for Ted Ginn.

This just doesn't make any sense, dude. You're going to trade a poor wide receiver/godly return man for a poor wide receiver/good return man?

Why?

(By the way, at this point in his career I think it's time to forget about using Hester on offense and just let him do his anytime thing. But I'm not going to use Ginn as a receiver, either. even if you're going to point to Hester's 2012 season and say it was his worst year... this was probably Ginn's least productive year, too.)

[Monomach]

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

This just doesn't make any sense, dude. You're going to trade a poor wide receiver/godly return man for a poor wide receiver/good return man?

Why?

Devin Hester is living on reputation with people who don't watch him each week. He's far from a godly return man nowadays.

He's no longer decisively taking the holes his blockers provide for him. He used to hit those holes to take the safe yards and then take advantage of blocks/breakdowns in coverage afterward to break off big runs.

Now he dances around laterally trying to do everything himself and the result is a completely average returner.

We want him gone. That's because he's average, not because he's so godly that we feel we don't deserve him, lol.

(By the way, at this point in his career I think it's time to forget about using Hester on offense and just let him do his anytime thing. But I'm not going to use Ginn as a receiver, either. even if you're going to point to Hester's 2012 season and say it was his worst year... this was probably Ginn's least productive year, too.)

Trust me, none of us view him as an offensive player. He's so bad that Cutler flat-out refuses to throw it to him.

[Caulibflower]

Originally Posted by Monomach

Devin Hester is living on reputation with people who don't watch him each week. He's far from a godly return man nowadays.

He's no longer decisively taking the holes his blockers provide for him. He used to hit those holes to take the safe yards and then take advantage of blocks/breakdowns in coverage afterward to break off big runs.

He had three return TDs the year before, right? He can't have an off year? It's more that I find it odd you'd prefer Ted Ginn.

[nobodyinparticular]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

I think the salary floor is gonna result in a lot of bad contracts being given out to mediocre talent. Just a guess of mine.

In the NBA, if you don't reach the salary floor, the difference between your existing contracts and the salary floor is divided evenly amongst the players currently on your roster almost like a bonus at the end of the year.

Is there a similar clause in the NFL's rules?

[Monomach]

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

He had three return TDs the year before, right? He can't have an off year? It's more that I find it odd you'd prefer Ted Ginn.

And Ted Ginn had two. When it comes to returners, you shouldn't be as concerned with a few big plays as much as consistently good returning. :shrug:

If you watch some Chicago games, you'll just plain see a player that you won't want. Until then, your judgement's going to be clouded by visions of the past.

[SuperMcGee]

Bills are not bringing back Donald Jones. Nothing more than a #4 type, but he's been our acting #2 for a couple years now, so this should just further illustrate that we will be attacking that position.

[Caulibflower]

Originally Posted by Monomach

And Ted Ginn had two. When it comes to returners, you shouldn't be as concerned with a few big plays as much as consistently good returning. :shrug:

If you watch some Chicago games, you'll just plain see a player that you won't want. Until then, your judgement's going to be clouded by visions of the past.

I dunno, 3 return TD's is pretty rare and it was only the year before last. But I'll be honest and admit I didn't watch Chicago at all this year. On the other hand, have you watched much Ted Ginn? If there's a seam for him to hit he can be gone, but creating plays on his own is not his forte. I see the 9ers at least twice a year, and Ginn has just never scared me, even though he returned a TD against us. I feel like he's fast enough to take advantage of poor coverage, but that's about it. When he scores I'm never shaking my head in amazement like I remember with Hester, but more often thinking, "Man, that gunner got run clear out of the play."

[brat316]

Just take a look at Hester punt avg, it took a dive.

It is also hard to keep the same ST guys together.