Breaking News: Bears Sign LB Cato June
by Dane Noble on Dec 1, 2009 4:03 PM CST
in Breaking News
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PrintFirst reported by Adam Schefter, the Bears have signed LB Cato June to a contract. The 6'0, 225 pound linebacker was drafted in the 6th round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent 4 years with the Colts, and two years with the Buccaneers.
June was signed to a 1 year contract with the Texans in 2009, but placed on the IR in August after breaking his forearm. He was released with an injury settlement in September.
This news may signal that Lance Briggs may miss significant playing time after injuring his left knee in this past Sunday's loss to the Vikings.
If Briggs is going to be sidelined this week, or maybe for the remainder of the season, June seems like a logical candidate to contribute at weak-side linebacker. Jamar Williams filled in for the injured Briggs against the Vikings, and may also be in the mix if Briggs can’t go.
June certainly knows a thing or two about playing in a cover-2 defense. The linebacker spent four seasons in Tony Dungy’s system in Indianapolis, then moved on to Tampa Bay for two seasons, before breaking his forearm in Houston during the 2009 preseason.
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Great, another declining ex-pro bowler
Now Tommie Harris won’t feel lonely
------ TheRiot Squad ------
Furthermore, I don't really get this move
He’s on IR this year so won’t be eligible to play until next year…next year they’ll have plenty of LBs with Urlacher, Briggs, Tinoisamoa, and Roach….unless they’re planning on releasing Tinoisamoa
------ TheRiot Squad ------
That is incorrect.
If a player on IR is released, he is free to sign with and play for any other team in the league.
The Bears made a similar move last season when they signed Cameron Worrell prior to the last game of the season against the Houston Texans. Worrell had been placed on IR by the New York Jets, but was then released. He was therefore eligible to sign with and play for the Bears.
Roach will be a restricted FA after this year.
by boondock_saint812 on Dec 1, 2009 4:26 PM CST up reply actions
I have mixed emotions.
I think June is worth the risk. He’s still young enough to return to form.
But on the other hand, this probably means Briggs’ injury is more serious than initially thought. Crap.
is he eligible to play?
He broke his forearm in preseason and was put on IR. If a player is waived and re-signed, does their IR status return to normal?
------ TheRiot Squad ------
by RightFieldSucks on Dec 1, 2009 4:12 PM CST up reply actions
Since he was released,
he is no longer on their IR. Free agent status = free to play if I understand it correctly.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
I don't know if im right on this
But if an IR player gets released and pick up by another team he would be able to play with another team if he is healthy. If i’m wrong then i have no idea why the Bears made this move
Yep, I'm almost positive he can play.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
Well then I'm just about sure this move made sense.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
Phew!
This will help the Bears “run the table” for the rest of the year. Cato will just be another smallish LB to get run over by an opposing offensive linemen this year.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
Way to go Angelo
didn’t even have to give up draft picks for this smashing signing!
can’t wait to see how this turns out … probably like Gaines Adams.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
crap
looks like briggs is either
1) more injured than the team is letting on or
2) doesn’t want to play anymore this season he’s so embarassed. i don’t blame him, him and Afalava are the only ones really making impact plays
Not sure what you guys are seeing
AA hasn’t exactly lit the NFL on fire yet. D. Manning and Peanut have made more plays than him, but he’s a rookie I suppose.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
D. Manning
really isn’t that impressive either. he is like Roy Williams, but worse.
Peanut always plays hard, he’s just not the fastest guy in the league anymore. but still 20+ int, and 20+ FF, not bad.
agree about Afalava, plays a little better than his draft round, but i would be okay if we cut him for a better SS
"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what make them the biggest guys on the field." -Madden
by BearNecessities on Dec 2, 2009 5:10 AM CST up reply actions
The problem is he's...
really fast at getting to the wrong spot or running past a tackle. His speed would be useful if he had any idea of what to do with it. DM cannot cover or tackle, at least Williams can tackle. He’s just a coverage liability.
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
Manning
He’s made substantially more plays this season. Why? Because he’s been given a chance to stay at one position, rather than being shifted around so much. He’s got 77 of them, in which 60 are the solo variety.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
I actually disagree about Alfalfa...
he does have all of the physical and mental capabilities to be a great SS. This coaching staff is awful at developing DBs. John “the Joke” Hoke, simply sucks. The fact that Graham has languished on the bench for so long shows me how poorly this defensive staff judges talent. I believe there are about 6-7 other positions on defense that need upgrading before we look at SS. IMO, Payne and Alfalfa are a fine 1-2 tandem for SS.
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
I just wouldn't list SS as a solidly filled position
not say it’s a weakness, but we won’t ever be representing the NFC in the probowl with Payne/Afalava lining up back there
"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what make them the biggest guys on the field." -Madden
by BearNecessities on Dec 2, 2009 8:47 AM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't go that far
AA is still can be a starting quality SS; he has the speed and physical play needed for the position.
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
he should be - embarrassed
He’s just as much a part of this season as anyone else.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
Who cares...
he’s a stopgap for a few games in a meaningless season. Let’s get on with the Lovie firing already!
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
No forest fire?
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
LMAO
I told ya…
I’m picketing the forest fire.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
well.....
i just think its pretty late to be solving the linebacker issue….unless he has an immediate impact i really don’t see his signing as something to be excited for, hes a 7 year pro, maybe he’ll provide some veteran support or even a spark for the defense…he did dominate us in the super bowl, 7 tackles not too bad…
How exactly did Briggs hurt his knee?
I was only able to watch the replay of the game, and I never saw them show where Briggs was hurt at all, or even where he left the field.
He hurt it watching this team deteriorate.
It was more of a soul-crushing kind of injury. Or something like that…
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
From the Trib
“Pro Bowler Lance Briggs suffered a mild left knee sprain in Sunday’s loss. Briggs, who appeared to collide with teammate Danieal Manning in the first quarter, returned to the game twice but couldn’t finish.”
We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead
Since when..
have we had 10 guys on the field? it has looked like there have only been 2
by GtM on Dec 2, 2009 2:51 AM CST up reply actions
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