Built to Last

by Adam T on Dec 28, 2005 8:05 AM CST in News

Here is a story also from The Chicago Sun-Times speaking on how the Bears unlike most other playoff teams have a chance to be good for a long time to come. Here is the bit on the contract situation for key players.

Still, the Bears are in an enviable position compared with a lot of other teams because they shouldn't be a one-year wonder. Unlike 2001, when they had 11 starters heading to some form of free agency after a 13-3 ride, this year's model is built to last.

Right guard Terrence Metcalf is the only starter who will be an unrestricted free agent. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Bears can match any offer he might receive. Two key reserves, guard Roberto Garza and cornerback/kick returner Jerry Azumah, also are headed to unrestricted free agency.

But the majority of the team will be around as long as the Bears want them. The defense is young, dangerous and under contract. Linebacker Lance Briggs and tackle Ian Scott hit the unrestricted market in 2007, and cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher are up in 2008. Tackle Tommie Harris and safeties Mike Brown and Chris Harris don't hit the market until 2009. Ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown will be available to the highest bidder in 2010, with linebacker Brian Urlacher under contract until the 2011 season.

The option for stability is also available on offense, with left guard Ruben Brown and wide receiver Justin Gage signed through next season and Rex Grossman, Thomas Jones, Bryan Johnson, Olin Kreutz and Kyle Orton all up in 2008.

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very good point

The core of that defense will be around for awhile. I believe that they will only get better over time. Who knows what that group will be capable of in a few years?

Say it with me now "The first place Chicago Bears." Now doesn't that just make you feel warm all over.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 28, 2005 4:06 PM CST reply actions

it also helps

that most of them are young guys. Urlacher and Brown are the oldest and they are still in their 20s.

by Adam T on Dec 28, 2005 10:49 PM CST reply actions

Maybe...

Just maybe, this could be the dynasty that we were robbed of by one Mike "Jackass" McCasky.

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 28, 2005 11:00 PM CST reply actions

i was thinking of that

When I made my post.

granted I was wee lad during that, but that's beside the point.

Say it with me now "The first place Chicago Bears." Now doesn't that just make you feel warm all over.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

easy, fellas, easy...

the bears did have a dynasty. the tragedy was winning only one super bowl. the 86 team came back complete from 85, plus neal anderson as well as todd bell and al harris, who had actually HELD OUT the entire 85 season.
it was not until after 87 that there were defections or trades of major impact: marshall and mcmahon, plus the retirements of fencik and walter.
the biggest stumbling blocks to multiple super bowls were:

the perpetual absence of mc mahon; his style of play was heroic and demented all at the same time, but he was not there when his club needed him most.
the complete inability of buddy ryan and ditka to peacefully co-exist; bringing vince tobin in to run the defense beginning in 1986 took away the aggressiveness that had made them so ferocious.
the loss of jim finks to the world of baseball put personnel selection into other hands (ditka? bill tobin? vainisi? mc caskey? don't entirely recall). finks was the real acrhitect of the dynasty; too bad he has been lost in the mists of time, he deserves better.

just one man's opinion/recollection. thanks for reading.

by dc60123 @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

I see what you're sayin...

BUT:

Look at the HORRIBLE drafts we had after the Super Bowl. Granted, we were drafting really high. But c'mon! Ditka basically got fired cause he couldn't play with the players forced on him. Remember Stan Thoms and Alonzo Spellman? Remember how McCasky let Wilbur Marshall go? Remeber JIM FREAKING HARBAUGH!

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

no argument from me...

spellman. dumb.
arlington park race track and w-g-n radio co-hosted a couple of annual events in the early 90's on the "day-of-the-draft", where w-g-n would broadcast from the (newly at that time) refurbished main concourse, the opening 2 rounds of the nfl draft. my father, my son, and myself were there the day the bears chose spellman number 1. a roomful of "w-t-f" looks surrounded me. the 90's were a verrrrry long decade.

by dc60123 @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 1:48 PM CST up reply actions

Great website..

http://www.bearshistory.com/seasons/index.html

I went through each year from 80 to 2005 one day. I think you can get a great idea of where it all went wrong. I really blame McCasky. In 1986, sure, we had almost every returning player. And McMahon's injuries were devestating. But how about developing a decent backup. With the offensive line we had and the running of Sir Walter and Neal Anderson, we would have been fine.

Let us also remember that we let Willie Gault walk away for peanuts and never had a good wide receiver after that.

We didn't need Buddy Ryan anyway. 1. Our defense was ON PAPER better in 86. 2. The 46 defense was explpoited and offenses adapted.

I feel bad for Mike Ditka. I really do. I think he left with some real hard feelings for this team because of managment. We were robbed of our dynasty and the 49ers took the 'Team of the 80's' when it should have been us!

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

woulda, coulda, shoulda...

the difference between mc mahon and montana was the difference between 1 super bowl and 4. maybe the 2005 bears will begin a new run with 2 battle-tested quarterbacks in rex and k.o. here's hopin' !!!

by dc60123 @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

woulda, coulda, shoulda..

That was my point. My point is that it should have been us and it could of been us, but it was taken away from us.

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

still hopin'

for a new dynasty ! kinda like the bulls- 6 in 8 years.
:D

by dc60123 @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 4:48 PM CST up reply actions

i'd be happy with

two in ten years!!!

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

just give me one

I had a blast with the Bulls in the 90's, but basketball isn't what I truly care about. The Cubs and the Bears are very important to me. I obviously haven't seen the Cubs win the WS, and I was 2 years old when the Bears won the Super Bowl. Just give me a single championship and we can go from there.

Say it with me now "The first place Chicago Bears." Now doesn't that just make you feel warm all over.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 9:04 PM CST up reply actions

I am not

greedy. I would love a 3 in 5 years deal, but if they can hook me up with 1 or 2 every 10 to 12 years that is fine with me.

by Adam T on Dec 29, 2005 10:45 PM CST up reply actions

an important addition...

would be to keep rivera around for a few years as well. his name has already surfaced, at least on the talk radio blab-fests, as the next hot commodity to interview for coaching vacancies. my opinion only, but leaving after this year would be bad for both the bears and rivera.

by dc60123 @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2005 8:04 AM CST reply actions

It's great

the number of players locked up for some time and most on defense. The team can go offense heavy next draft. A real TIGHT END and good recievers who can CATCH and linemen etc... They should be good for a while. Thats all good and great yet I want to win now too! We can whip em all!

hit him in his earhole

by draftday on Dec 29, 2005 4:27 PM CST reply actions