Bears Release Ricky Manning Jr.

by WCG on Aug 26, 2008 4:00 PM CDT Comment 22 comments

Well, the Bears certainly made quick work of my last post. The Bears have released CB Ricky Manning Jr.

Manning appeared in 31 games with 11 starts over the previous two seasons after the Bears signed him as a restricted free agent in 2006. The Fresno, Calif., native recorded 106 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions, six passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 13 special teams tackles during his time in Chicago.

We can't call it a surprise though judging from some reactions there are those who are against it, so lets put it to a vote.

Poll

Should the Bears have kept Ricky Manning Jr.?

Yes

93 votes

No

139 votes

232 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

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Comments

Wow.

What a waste of a good asset.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Aug 26, 2008 4:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If only the Bears listened to everything we said....

He would’ve been nice to keep as a backup, but not at his current salary level. He also didn’t do himself any favors with his comments, either.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Aug 26, 2008 4:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ricky's a good player

but the Bears had to get rid of a mid-profile player just to snap the rest of the defensive players out of their lethargy.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Aug 26, 2008 6:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yep

wait….what?

by mike b on Aug 26, 2008 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a common corporate strategy for dealing with underperformance.

You don’t axe your top producers, but to show you mean business you have to get rid of some mid-level producer, make room for a new guy on the rise…shake up the creeping complacency.

I think this move was as much about shifting the players’ consciousness—waking the defense out of its stupor—as it was about promoting DManning.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Aug 26, 2008 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

But do you overpay all of your top producers at once so then the complacency can grab a firmer hold?

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Aug 26, 2008 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...it seems they also may be trying to put together a package

to get Fred Miller back on the payroll—and the money’s got to come from somewhere.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1128798,CST-SPT-bear27.article

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Aug 27, 2008 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they have money...

… available. Ricky Manning wasn’t getting in the way of Fred Miller joining the team.

visit the mindful mission

by big_lowitzki on Aug 27, 2008 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apples and Oranges

RM was supposed to get around 4 million this year. Fred Miller got offered 830,000, the league minimum.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Aug 27, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

2.75 this year

close to 4 next.

I think prior to Manning the Bears had about 9 mil in cap money.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Aug 27, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Touche, read the article wrong

Regardless, we need Miller more than we need Manning. Maybe we should offer more than the league minimum.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Aug 27, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

What I don’t get is what happened with the offensive line between Seattle and SF?

Was that all Seattle blitzing an unprepared Bears O-line? Or did the Bears do something to fix it during the week?—because they both protected pretty well and opened some running lanes vs. SF.

Still, Miller would add some much-needed depth.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Aug 27, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fred Miller

was the worst right tackle in all of football last season. We most definitely do not need him.

by mikebdot on Aug 27, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with mikebdot on this one

I don’t think Miller brings us anything. Maybe some emergency depth, but I’d rather look through the castoffs after this Saturday for somebody a little bit better.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Aug 27, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that Miller isn't good, but...

…neither is the rest of our OL minus Kreutz. I don’t know who would be cut that is better than Miller.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Aug 27, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Garza is solid at the right guard

--Torch

by torch on Aug 27, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's possible Grossman might have been

a big part of the problem with the offensive line.

“They” (reporters and broadcasters) say that Orton is better than Grossman at making quick reads…also that he lacks Grossman’s deep arm.

This says to me that the Bears will focus on more short, quick-developing throws in their pasing game. The line won’t need to hold their blocks as long—and the linebackers will have to drop into short and medium coverage.

Put it all together, and maybe the O-line’s job will be enough easier that what we saw vs. SF will be this year’s norm.

Here’s hoping, anyway.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Aug 27, 2008 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

while miller was horrible last year

he apparently was playing hurt all season. not saying that explains the drop-off he had, but it might. he was quite good the year before.

by guy incognito on Aug 27, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manning fell out of favor because he freelanced on the field.

That’s his style of play… and his freelancing led to a HUGE 2006 season. But, that same style of play came back to bite him last season. Of course, Lovie and Babich punished him for a bad season, and wiped out the memory of how many big plays he made while freelancing in their defense in 2006.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Aug 26, 2008 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs