Nick Roach, Danieal Manning, & Corey Graham may be UFA

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 23, 2011 3:00 PM CDT in Roster Analysis

As Pete brought to our attention in the Den this morning, one of the proposals for the new CBA is that players receive unrestricted free agency after four years instead of the previous six. The Bears currently have three players on their roster that fall into this category, and two have recent starting experience. Starting strong safety Danieal Manning and possible starting strong side linebacker Nick Roach will both become free agents under this scenario. My personal feelings on them are that they should both be brought back, but if either prices themselves out of market value I'm OK with both walking.

I thought Manning played an exceptional strong safety after years of position switching, and he deserves a new contract. But by Chicago not working out a long term deal with him last offseason he might want to test the open market. I think the Bears should pay him a salary comparable to other good safeties with some incentives, but not some All Pro type money. If a team throws that kind of cash at him, say sayonara.

A Roach deal may be a bit more complicated. Pisa Tinoisamoa is also a free agent, and he was the starter at the Sam last year. The Bears will have to weigh the cost vs. play vs. age of each and decide which would make the most football sense to retain. I don't think they'll bring them both back unless the market isn't very hot for either.

The 3rd guy that falls into this category is reserve corner and special teams standout Corey Graham. I think the Bears were already prepared to allow him to walk away, even though they tendered him an offer. Graham had success when he did start and is a physical corner, so my guess is some team will offer him close to starter money, and the Bears won't match. I'd love to see him return, but it's unlikely.

Bears fans, what do you think about potentially losing one, or two, or all three of these players?

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Hate seeing guys who are improving go

Would still feel good to see Graham have success somewhere else. I agree about Mannings play last year … a really welcome surprise (not that I didn’t think he was capable, I just didn’t know what to think after he was shifted around so much). Maybe it would be best to just start Roach and let Pisa walk? With Pisa’s injury history, it might result in greater stability in the lb corps.

by Sound_Automatic on Jun 23, 2011 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

Keep Roach, he can play backup to the other 2 spots as well.

Pisa could slide into Briggs spot, but not Urlacher’s. Even though he played poorly in the middle before, if push came to shove, Roach could play MLB.

Manning will probably cost too much. Harris and Wright are your starters now.

by Mike Mueller on Jun 23, 2011 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

If it’s a choice between Roach and Pisa, gotta keep Roach.

by oripunk3485 on Jun 23, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Pisa is a better lb though

by Sound_Automatic on Jun 23, 2011 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

i wouldn't say better...

probably more instinctive…but Roach is a more versatile guy

by BOBdaBEAR on Jun 23, 2011 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Pisa keeps getting hurt though.

And he’s older than Roach I think. To me, that says keep Roach and see if Pisa will take another 1-year moderate deal.

by oripunk3485 on Jun 23, 2011 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Manning should always have been a SS,

The reason (I think) that Manning played better last year is that he isn’t very good at scanning the whole field which is fairly mandatory for a FS when asked to play single high. He also doesn’t seem to be able to line up the defense which doesn’t help. At SS he is either in man coverage, a deep half or a short zone, it limits how much of the field he has to read and allows him to play faster. Anyone with eyes can tell he is a great athlete so when he heads in the right direction he gets the job done. he was a decent nickel back before he got shifted to safety so if Major Wright supplanted him in the starting lineup he could still be a good reserve SS, FS, NB and KR. He is also a great special teamer even when not handling the ball. I really want the Bears to keep this guy.

by weepingbear on Jun 23, 2011 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

Also (forgot to add)...

What is the point in the Bears keeping drafting developmental players from small colleges if they then let them leave when they actually start to develop?

by weepingbear on Jun 23, 2011 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

For better Bears trivia questions, of course.

As in, “Name the player from _______________ University who was originally drafted by the Bears and went on to flourish at ____________________.”

by oripunk3485 on Jun 23, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

good point

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 23, 2011 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Where it would be nice to see us keep all these players especially both Roach and Manning

Outside of Roach we really don’t need Manning nor Graham that much to be a better team.

First and foremost with Manning he was a great SS last season and would really help to provide what the Bears haven’t had in a very long time, a stabalized and consistant Safety tandem with Chris Harris at FS. But, we also have a great prospect in Major Wright and if we lose Manning then Wright IMO would be a great player to immediately step in. Only concern is his health and he hasn’t suffered anything real serious up to this point.

As for Graham we could use the roster space as well as the money and use it on a good CB to start adjacent from Charles Tillman. We could easily find someone else to step in on special teams.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Jun 23, 2011 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

Manning brings great athleticism to this D though...

we pride ourselves on being a “fast team,” and Manning fits that to the t…remember the play where he ran down Jahvid Best? I doubt anyone else on the defense coulda made that play.
im not doubting Wright’s ability here…I believe he’s a great young player, but Manning gives the defense a whole nother dimension

by BOBdaBEAR on Jun 23, 2011 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Thats true in that aspect

And Im pretty sure we still want to keep him as an additional kick returner

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Jun 23, 2011 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I like Major Wright, but Manning will be the next

Chris Harris. As in why did we not keep this guy? AND Lets bring this guy back!
I like what I have seen from the Major, but there is just not a volume of work to ensure that he is a proven replacement.

by Eggerbet on Jun 23, 2011 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think it's a matter of not wanting Manning

It’s more of the fact that we probably won’t be willing to spend the kind of money that he wants, and that some desperate team will no doubt spend on him.

by saterpstra on Jun 24, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Personally,

I say keep Roach and Manning as long as the price isn’t exorbitant…and Graham as well if he’s willing to play backup/ST…

by BOBdaBEAR on Jun 23, 2011 4:13 PM CDT reply actions

resigning Roach and Adams are the only must do resignings

sign Pisa we are not real deep at LB and bring back Manning if possible.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Jun 23, 2011 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

Manning will be out of our reach.

He obviously wants more money than the Bears were willing to give him at the end of last year. Even with the new special teams rules, someone will pay the man.
Roach should be resigned.
Graham is out the door. I like special teams, but you put your money where the multiple down players are. Not to mention with our CBs being who they are, if he isn’t on track to break into a starting position, then he won’t.

by Eggerbet on Jun 23, 2011 10:35 PM CDT reply actions

Sign Adams

I’m only concerned with Adams. I like him at nose. Otherwise, all three of these guys have been on the edge with the Bears. I can’t imagine Manning wanting to stay if he has options, given the way he’s been treated. Same for Graham. I like them both as players, but they’ve both had trouble with the Bears. I like Roach, but I’m fine if he wants to go. All these guys should get the best deal they can for themselves. I expect that’s the Bears for Roach, but if not, well someone else is in the same spot.

by Th3T1ck on Jun 24, 2011 1:52 AM CDT reply actions