There is truth in that old “the truth hurts” cliche. And believe it stings a bit more when your rivals can twist the dagger:
Tom Crabtree played tight end for the Green Bay Packers from 2010 to 2012, but hasn’t played in the NFL since his seven-game stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013. And yet, Crabtree isn’t shy about getting a jab in at the Bears. And how can you blame him for taking the opportunity when the move is as unpopular as this one?
If you’re looking for a silver lining, Sanchez’s future with the Bears isn’t one that projects to be expensive or binding. The one-year deal features $1 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $4 million, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. He’s competing for a backup job. This probably not a move worth getting riled up about.
On that note, let’s move on to today’s Bullets.
With the buzz around Sanchez being what is is, it’s almost easy to forget Mike Glennon is the Bears’ starting quarterback. And while Sanchez is hanging on to life as an NFL quarterback by the thinnest of threads, Glennon is looking forward to capitalizing on a new start in Chicago. Chris Emma of CBS Chicago writes Glennon has a belief in his future with the Bears, citing positive reviews from game film he studied, as well as reviews from current and former Bears. After all his research, Glennon said it ultimately came down to joining a team he believed could win – and despite the Bears’ 9-23 record in John Fox’s two years at head coach, Glennon chose the Bears.
The noise around Sanchez’s signing shouldn’t distract you from the bigger picture things going on with the Bears this offseason. Over at CSN Chicago, John Mullin writes that GM Ryan Pace’s ability to follow through in addressing the quarterback situation via free agency should allow him to focus on building a defensive unit with the ability to carry a team no matter who is under center. It’s a tough task, but it’s a formula that worked in Chicago before. Jay Cutler quarterbacked the Bears to a NFC Championship game appearance, while Rex Grossman once engineered enough offense to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl berth. Both teams were driven by an unrivaled defensive prowess. Pace added some quality defensive pieces in his first two years with free agents (Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Akiem Hicks) and draft picks (Leonard Floyd, Eddie Goldman), but still has work to do on this front.
If Pace has truly turned his focus to defense, it’s possible defensive secondary will be a priority in the draft. Pro Football Focus’ Josh Liskiewitz ranks the 12 best safeties available in the draft. The position is loaded with talent, as LSU’s Jamal Adams, Ohio State’s Malik Hooker, and Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers are among the familiar names atop Liskiewitz’s list.
If the Bears can get their defense in order, and Glennon can take advantage of a fresh start, perhaps the team can avoid a comparison to the Cleveland Browns. SB Nation’s Ryan Van Bibber offers up the Bears as the new Browns in the comparison you’d least want your team to be a part of as far as NFL teams are concerned. With Cleveland stockpiling draft picks in an aggressive manner, Van Bibber writes the NFL needs a new foil, and suggests the Bears as a target. With instability at quarterback and a six-year playoff drought as the starting points, the evidence could start to build quickly if Pace and Fox don’t get it together quickly in Chicago.
Jay Cutler (the last quarterback to lead the Bears to a playoff berth and winning season) hasn’t had his market develop quite yet. In fact, there is no clear path for Cutler anywhere, especially with the Tony Romo situation still unanswered in Dallas. NFL analyst Chris Wesseling provides some information and background on Cutler’s potential path to a new gig, but the outlook is bleak as of right now. If interest in Cutler league wide is “zero” as Ian Rapoport reports, Cutler might be destined to land in retirement instead of an NFL roster.