Griese Gone?

by big_lowitzki on Feb 26, 2008 11:01 AM CST

Brian Griese ticked off the wrong people at Halas Hall, but we may never know whom or how.
It hasn't happened yet, but sources indicate it would take a major upset for the Bears not to cut Griese before he is due a $300,000 roster bonus next week. This is the thanks Griese will get for biding his time during 2006, providing a serviceable effort in six starts in '07 and never going off publicly after losing his job to a phantom injury. Griese was never expected to be a guy to get the Bears through more than four or five games at a time. He played that role well. It would still be smart to keep him for 2008, thought that seems unlikely now with the Bears looking to draft a quarterback to hold a clipboard.

I won't miss him, that's for sure.

And of course, it is not official yet. But it doesn't look like we will see Griese again.

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Woohoo

indeed...

Well the Bears are cutting most of the right people it seems like, hopefully they'll add the right people as well.

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by thecubreporter on Feb 26, 2008 12:07 PM CST reply actions

Good News!!!

Still waiting to hear Archuleta's name.

GO BEARS!!!!!

by McRipper on Feb 26, 2008 12:45 PM CST reply actions

My guess

is they'll wait on Archuleta until camp and see how he does.. Don't think he's due any bonuses and there aren't a lot of safeties out there.

If the Bears don't get this Phillips guy, the draft is supposedly pretty bare in safeties.

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by thecubreporter on Feb 26, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

That is correct

the Bears have said that both Arch and Mike Brown still in the mix, but neither are promised anything. They are both still at risk of being let go with bad off seasons.

The Bears are drafting a QB. We are not carrying 4. That means Griese has to be gone.

by Adam T on Feb 26, 2008 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

By that same

logic wouldn't one of the running backs be gone as well? They have said they're going to bring another back in, and I don't see them keeping 4.

It seems like Benson would be the guy to go, since AP brings a lot of special teams value and Wolfe is still pretty new (though I am close to thinking he's not worth keeping--what a bad pick imo).

Here's a scenario I would enjoy. Trade Benson to the Raiders for Huff, then cut Archuletta. The cap savings by dumping Arch would offset much of the hit from trading Benson.

by tomas21 on Feb 26, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

if the Bears are not going to keep 4 RBs then somebody has to go. If Benson and AP are locks than whoever we draft or Wolfe would go to the practice squad unless whichever isn't in the mix has high special teams value, then maybe you run with 4, but one technically isn't.

by Adam T on Feb 26, 2008 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

Benson goes nowhere

too expensive to cut...or deal.

AP would be the odd man out imo.

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by thecubreporter on Feb 26, 2008 3:57 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree

that Benson is too expensive to cut or trade. He has, by accounts, a $1.7 mil cap hit if cut or traded. You don't want to make a habit of taking cap hits, but that one is certainly doable.

Plus don't forget there is cap cost and a dollars cost, and while cutting or trading Benson would result in a cap hit (because of accelerated bonus money), the organization would save budget money (because they wouldn't have to pay his salary this year or next, and they wouldn't be on the hook for any incentives), something probably not lost on the McCaskeys. In particular, Benson gets close to $2 mil in bonus money if he runs for over about 700 yards next year.

by tomas21 on Feb 26, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

We'll see

they're not going to cut the 4th pick of the draft quite yet. I'm not a big fan of his, but he hasn't been a total bust to warrant just cutting.

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by thecubreporter on Feb 26, 2008 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

You're forgetting...

...that RB's can contribute greatly right away if they're good enough and AP can be moved to ST.

by tyger1147 on Feb 26, 2008 4:51 PM CST up reply actions

This QB

group is going to rival the Bills for NFL worst. Rex, Orton and whoever they draft (Henne, Flacco, etc) is going to scare noone, especially if they are thowing the Bradley and Rashied Davis behind a crappy O-line.

Does anyone else feel the Bears have been the most poorly run organization since the day after the Super Bowl? From the public mishandling of Lovie's contract, firing Rivera, trading Thomas Jones, not getting anything done early with Berrian, keeping Tommy Harris active while hurt in a lost season, not trying out Beekman or Hass in a lost season, and now the big plan is to stay away from "name free agents" according the the paper.

What hope is there? We could have a historically bad offense this year unless the Bears are major players in free agency, and it sounds like they will stick to lesser tier guys. If a week into free agency the Bears aren't looking a lot better I will be depressed.

by tomas21 on Feb 26, 2008 1:46 PM CST reply actions

Regarding Archuleta

I've heard they're going to keep him for special teams....

by Peoria Matt on Feb 26, 2008 10:00 PM CST reply actions

espn article

I recently read an article on espn. com by john clayton, where he reported that many players on the offense urged management to resign rex. And I wouldnt be suprised if one of those guys was cedric benson. His best running games have come when rex was under center, dating back to 06.

Lets be serious about this qb situation. Kyle is going to be a nice backup in this league. By signing that contract extension Angelo stabilized the backup role and nothing more. If Rex plays like he did after he got benched, there is no way he doesnt get a long term deal.

Lovie wants to run the football and there is no way he can do that with any success when defenses are stacking 8 guys in the box. If they resign bernard and continue to develop bradley and hester, the vision would not be to throw them 5 yard slants. Lovie and Ron want to be a deep play threat offense via play action and Rex gives them the best chance to do so.

by rahulsriram on Feb 27, 2008 4:12 PM CST reply actions