Chicago Bears Undrafted Free Agents

by Adam T on Apr 27, 2009 7:32 AM CDT Comment 26 comments

A Bears Den will perhaps be up later today, but I wanted to get a current list of the players that the Bears have picked up since the draft ended.

Eric Peterman, WR, Northwestern

Peterman had a terrific pro day back in March and ran himself into an opportunity with a 40-yard dash time under 4.5 seconds. He'll look to punch his ticket by proving he can make a difference on special teams.

Mike Rivera, LB, Kansas

Rivera didn't perform as well during his senior year at Kansas as he did in previous seasons but he had a good showing at his pro day when Bears scout Teddy Monago was in attendance. At 6-2, 245 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds and his 38 1/2 inch vertical jump was eye opening. Rivera had interest from other teams but chose the Bears for the opportunity. Perhaps he could get in the mix on the strong side if he really excels.

Will Taufoou, FB, Cal

The Bears landed one of the better fullbacks that was in this draft. Taufoou had interest from more than half of the teams in the league, including some with money offers, but chose the Bears because he liked the opportunity on the roster.

Others:

Dahna Deleston, SS, UConn

Dennis Conley, G, Hampton

Johan Asiata, G, UNLV

Kevin Malast, LB, Rutgers

Tyrell Fenroy, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

Chase Patton, QB, Missouri

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Nothing too Much Here

Just the usual assortment of UDFAs to try and fill a void on the PS or ST.

by GallopingGhost on Apr 27, 2009 7:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

just a bunch of scrubs. I do know the Bears are high on peterman.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on Apr 27, 2009 7:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another small school player in Louisiana

Our Louisiana area scout sure has a lot of pull on this team.

"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)
.

by SackMan on Apr 27, 2009 7:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

not as much as the

vandy guy

by tim815 on Apr 27, 2009 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

no kidding…..

Any pro prospects from Vandy next year might as well put them on the Bears and tell him to get an apartment in Chicago….

by CloudyFuture on Apr 27, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You just never know

A lot of all-pros have come out of UDFA’s.

If one guy sticks, then it is worth the effort.

by sabbath999 on Apr 27, 2009 8:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

goodbye to McKie (I hope)

Now, if they’d only scrap that ridiculous short yardage 3rd Down dive.

by Waylon on Apr 27, 2009 8:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Or at least...

At least get the personell to actually run it for positive yardage.

by sabbath999 on Apr 27, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With the FB and Louis

Hopefully it does mean the end of McKie….but you know Turner hates rooks from previous comments hes made on the score and comcast…

by CloudyFuture on Apr 27, 2009 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Fenroy...

I don’t really know much about him, but his numbers are quite impressive when he plays against bigger schools than his….

He put up 183 yards on Kansas State, 128 yards against Arkansas State….

He got stuffed by Illinois (20 yards on 14 carries but his like looked like ants compared to the Illini’s D) but ran well against Southern Miss. Schools his own size he basically owned, except Troy (who were a MUCH better team than L-L).

Very little production as a receiver.

He’s really fast, 5-10, 205, had 4 1000 plus seasons in yardage.

Hope for his sake that he like playing special teams.

by sabbath999 on Apr 27, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone scooped up Rashad Jennings??

by tfrabotta on Apr 27, 2009 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Drafted

one pick before Louis was….think jax picked him up….

by CloudyFuture on Apr 27, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was a seond round pick

to the Panthers or Jags, I can’t remember which.

by Sklz711 on Apr 27, 2009 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone have stats on the FB

Like HT WT and 40 time.

by luckie815 on Apr 27, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE8yb4mT2Wc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uEh8JoB7oQ

and from what I understand hes 5’11" 255 pounds and ran a 4.78 40 time…

by CloudyFuture on Apr 27, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting player

He doesn’t seem to be a pile-driver, so I dont know if he can help much on the goalline. But he blocks well in space and takes proper angles. Shows good quickness and looks like a decent all around FB.

by gillrowdy on Apr 28, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Rivera...

I handle all the football writing for Rock Chalk Talk which is the Kansas football blog and I’ll say that I think Mike Rivera does have the potential to fit in very well with the Bears defense.

In the offseason based on his Junior year Rivera was considered a 3-5th round pick by many with some saying he could squeak into the 2nd round if he had a great year.

A combination of things probably hurt that stock. First the Kansas program does not disclose injuries and while it was never reported Rivera was severely limited his senior season by a knee injury. This season didn’t do him justice and he was hardly the same player from an athletic standpoint. Pro day would seem to indicate he has regained much of that explosion and athleticism that made him an attractive prospect after his junior season.

Another thing that hurts is he is a more typical linebacker in the sense that the spread offenses that took over the Big 12 this year certainly played to his weaknesses. He is a downhill attacking type backer and forcing him to play coverage against a slot receiver proved difficult at times especially given his injury. Combine these two things and I think you see why he dropped out of the draft but why the Bears are willing to give him a shot as a FA.

Don’t get me wrong he’s not going to supplant Lance Briggs or Brian Urlacher, but this is a good fit for Rivera and while it’s always an uphill battle for undrafted FA’s I see this as a place where Rivera could fit very well, make the team and down the line he could surprise some folks.

If nothing else he’s a very stand up guy, model citizen and a solid special teams player at the least.

Here’s a link to a fanshot covering his pro day…the guy competes

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Denverjhawk on Apr 27, 2009 11:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks fella

I was just about to email you to get your take on him. Thanks for the great writeup!

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Apr 27, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks! Not to mention, it warms a Bears fan’s heart to think there could be a Rivera linked to the team once again :)

by Spongie on Apr 27, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Add Missouri QB Chase Patton to the list.

No… not Chase Daniels… that’s right, his backup Chase Patton.

Transaction link

Awesome ESPN Magazine feature on Patton

"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)
.

by SackMan on Apr 27, 2009 12:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's fine

Better than Chase Daniel….

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Apr 27, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

6'4" 230

Patton is being talked about as the next potential Matt Cassel .

"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)
.

by SackMan on Apr 27, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Im sorry but Ron Turner turning anyone into the next “cassel” just made me laugh…

by CloudyFuture on Apr 27, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he did alright for kurt kittner at Illinois

just saying…

by tempchad on Apr 27, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Added a safety, Texas Tech’s Daniel Charbonnet (on a tryout basis). He’s a SS, though.

by Spongie on Apr 27, 2009 1:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Duh

The Bears don’t pick up true free-safeties; they’re all SS-types without a clue on how to cover the pass.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on Apr 27, 2009 4:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs