An Insightful Look at the Bears Cap Situation and Other Bullets

PhilEmeryConfusedIf you missed my late afternoon bullets from yesterday, you can find them here. They include thoughts on what Mel Tucker’s defense might look like, Corey Wootton having hip surgery, the Lions hiring Jim Caldwell, and more. (And if you did miss them, you’ll also find an explanation for my brief absence yesterday. Spoiler: I was sick.)

Early this afternoon, I’ll resume my offseason review with a look at the Bears offensive tackles. And now, your morning bullets:

  • CBS Chicago’s Dan Durkin is as plugged in as anyone with regards to the Bears salary cap situation, and his piece from last night is as good an outline as I’ve seen. We’ve discussed the Bears cap situation before, but considering how big a role it plays for the Bears offseason, I’m not sure it can be examined enough. Dan thinks that among a few other cost-cutting moves, the Bears might consider extending Brandon Marshall in order to lower his cap number for 2014. That’s something I can get behind. Marshall’s value is tremendous, and he seems like the kind of receiver who could remain effective even as he enters his 30’s. (His game is not based solely on speed.) He turns 30 in March, and I think a new deal would make sense for both sides, assuming everyone’s on the same page financially.
  • ESPN Insider Mike Sando had a list of 25 must-sign free agents; that is, impending free agents whose teams must bring back. It’s behind ESPN’s paywall, but ESPN Chicago’s Michael C. Wright has you covered in terms of Bears-related bits. Henry Melton comes in at #6, and Wright notes that on talent alone that’s true, but there are some character concerns involved with Melton that might make it a more difficult decision for the Bears. It’s up in the air for me, as well; I’d guess it depends on the extent to which Melton’s ACL injury depresses his market in free agency. As a bargain signing, I’d hope the Bears re-sign him. But I’m wary of him becoming Tommie Harris 2.0, and the Bears can’t afford to waste money on the defensive side of the ball.
  • Friend of the blog Matt Eurich had an interesting look at what the Bears might be able to do with Shea McClellin. In it, he looks at the Seahawks defense and how they use a hybrid DE/LB position for pass rushing purposes. Anything’s worth a shot, at this point. The one thing they can’t do is try exactly what they tried in 2013.
  • CBS Chicago’s Adam Hoge came out with his second offseason notebook, with a look at why Mel Tucker wasn’t fired. He also breaks down his college prospect of the week, and includes a link back to this article he wrote after the Rams loss. It was published before this blog came to life, but it features some great breakdowns of, well, breakdowns by the Bears defense. Not surprisingly, Shea McClellin and Chris Conte bear the brunt of the blame.
  • Grantland’s Bill Barnwell takes a long look at the NFL coaching carousel, and the path Ken Whisenhunt has taken to becoming the Titans head coach. He also touches on the Lions hiring of Jim Caldwell, and he seems lukewarm on both hires, noting that neither had any success without a great quarterback. (For Whisenhunt in Arizona, it was Kurt Warner; for Caldwell in Indianapolis, it was obviously Peyton Manning.) The Titans probably don’t have that player on their roster (unless you’re really bullish on Jake Locker) and it remains to be seen just how high Matthew Stafford’s ceiling truly is.
  • Matt Bowen published this film study breakdown of the Divisional round games. I always find his X’s and O’s fascinating.
  • Finally, remember the Bears fan who tasered his Packers fan wife after Chicago beat Green Bay on Monday Night Football? He was sentenced to a $250 fine, according to this Chicago Tribune article by Gregory Pratt. In a contender for the least surprising revelation of all time, the report notes that both had been drinking.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more bears news

    The Bears Are Expected to Ask For Some Public Money For New Stadium

    If you have followed pro sports stadium projects in the past, then you probably are aware that taxpayers tend to end up footing a hearty chunk of the bill. And while the Chicago Bears have not yet made public their...

    Bears GM Ryan Poles Isn’t Necessarily Looking to Trade For More Draft Picks

    Ryan Poles has done well in creating a bevy of picks in each of his first two NFL Draft classes as Chicago Bears general manager. And even though the Bears have a league-low four picks in this week's NFL Draft,...

    Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: 4.0

    We’re just over 24 hours from the NFL Draft, and all I can say is finally. Finally, we’re done with the speculation. I’ll never forget the Bears Twitter Civil War of 2024 centered around the Caleb Williams vs. Justin Fields...

    There is a Growing Consensus on How Bears Will Use the No. 9 Pick

    As part of his latest NFL Draft notebook, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones shares what he has heard about the Chicago Bears plan on doing with the No. 9 pick. "Sources around the league seem to believe the Chicago...

    Things You Love to See: Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams are Already Getting Along

    Caleb Williams will be the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears next season. We've known that for some time, and it will become official on Thursday. The only question that remains is who's joining him? There's a strong chance that...

    Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

    The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team's four picks (Nos....

    What Happened to Bears’ Arlington Move? Watch Out For Cards, New and Texans Unis, and Other Bears Bullets

    This afternoon's forecast in Chicago calls for afternoon rainstorms, which means I need to tweak my schedule to get my regularly scheduled walk in without getting soaked. Wish me luck! The Chicago Bears are reportedly set to announce lakefront stadium...

    You’re Gonna Want to Watch This Caleb Williams Hype Video

    Who needs coffee when this Caleb Williams hype video exists? The NFL Draft is in 2 days. Soon, the Chicago Bears will be on the clock with the first pick. At this point, Chicago choosing USC quarterback Caleb Williams with...

    REPORT: Bears to Announce Lakefront Stadium Plans on Wednesday

    The Chicago Bears stadium saga has as many plot twists as my abuela's favorite telenovelas. And the latest suggests that a move to Arlington Heights that once felt inevitable isn't in the cards as WGN reports that plans for the...

    The NFL Penalizing the Falcons For Tampering With Kirk Cousins Would Do the Bears a Favor

    At first, the NFL tampering case involving the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings got a "ha ha" out of me because former Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace and wide receiver Darnell Mooney were secondary characters in the story. But little...

    Latest News

    Celtics vs. Heat: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Boston Celtics will play the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.These two teams match up for the second straight game after the Celtics beat the Heat 114-94 on Sunday. Jayson Tatum paced...

    Orioles vs. Angels Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    The Baltimore Orioles (15-8) and the Los Angeles Angels (10-14) meet in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday at 4:07 PM ET. The Orioles are -132 favorites on the moneyline to win the series over the Angels...

    Giants vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    The New York Mets (12-11) will try to end their three-game losing streak when they visit the San Francisco Giants (12-13) on Wednesday at 3:45 PM ET on NBCS-BA. Bookmakers consider the Giants to be -133 favorites for the contest,...

    Giants vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

    The New York Mets (12-11) square off against the San Francisco Giants (12-13) on Wednesday at Oracle Park after a three-game losing streak. The game begins at 3:45 PM ET.The probable pitchers are Blake Snell (0-3) for the Giants and...

    Orioles vs. Angels Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

    The Baltimore Orioles (15-8) visit the Los Angeles Angels (10-14) for an away game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday. First pitch is at 4:07 PM ET.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Orioles will send Dean Kremer...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 24, 2024

    Today's MLB slate has lots in store. Among those 15 contests is the Boston Red Sox taking on the Cleveland Guardians.One of the most fun ways to wager on baseball is via MLB player prop bets. There are props for...

    Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    The Arizona Diamondbacks (12-13) and the St. Louis Cardinals (10-14) meet in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday at 1:15 PM ET. The Diamondbacks are -122 favorites on the moneyline to win the series over the Cardinals...

    Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals Probable Starting Pitchers – April 24

    The Arizona Diamondbacks (12-13) visit the St. Louis Cardinals (10-14). The game at Busch Stadium starts at 1:15 PM ET on Wednesday.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Diamondbacks will send Jordan Montgomery (1-0) to the mound, while Kyle...

    Pacers vs. Bucks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 3 – Friday, April 26, 2024

    The Indiana Pacers are 4-point favorites in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, beginning at 5:30 PM ET on ESPN. The series is tied 1-1. The over/under...

    Suns vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 3 – Friday, April 26, 2024

    The Minnesota Timberwolves are slight 3.5-point underdogs for Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on Friday, starting at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Timberwolves hold a 2-0 lead...

    more bears news