The Bears Den: February 21, 2012

by Pete Dixon on Feb 21, 2012 7:01 AM CST in The Bears Den

"...where apparently adding a receiver under 6' 2" is frowned upon in this establishment!"

Bears free agency outlook Lynn: Which of their own free agents will the Bears keep and who will likely be searching for a new home?

Cutler 'very happy' with hire of Bates In an interview Monday, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler displayed how excited he is to be working with Jeremy Bates again. Video: Jay Speaks

Absent a long-term deal, Matt Forte will get franchise tag Brad Biggs says if the Bears are unable to work out a long-term extension for Forte before the March 5 deadline, you can bet the Bears running back will be tagged.

Follow WCG on Twitter: Size doesn't matter but size 7, or smaller, and female, would be great.

Coaching staffs finally take shape Czarnecki: There will be seven new NFL head coaches at the start of the 2012 season — which begins next week at the scouting combine. But there were several late-season moves that were bigger than just the huge change at the top.

Cut or Keep: Youngsters on Defense Hendricks: With free agency starting soon, new Bears general manager Phil Emery has hard decisions to make. Grizzly Detail wants to help out.

Any interest in Stevie Johnson? Lynn: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson could be available in free agency. Should the Bears sign him?

Falcons had right idea in trading for Jones The Falcons' bold gamble for Julio Jones doesn't look so unwise now, writes PFW's Mike Wilkening.

Pre Combine: Top 15 prospect rankings Bunting: Who makes the NFP top 15 before the start of the 2012 NFL combine?

Andrew Luck, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson top prospects for 2012 NFL Draft Pauline: Here are the top 50 players on SI.com's big board as we get ready for a busy week ahead.

LG Optimus Hyper Facade in Berlin:

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I want Stevie Johnson.

he is probably my favorite out of the potential FA’s. I loved his Plaxico celebration. That was one of the few Bills games I watched last year but I seen a bunch the year before and am impressed with him.

by Ryan21 on Feb 21, 2012 7:18 AM CST via Android app reply actions

Yep

The Bears can get a 6’2" 210lb, 25 year old receiver, with no injury history and back-to-back 1000 yard seasons, without having to give up anything in a trade… and very few news reports mentioning him as a top FA target. I don’t get it.

by YaoPau on Feb 21, 2012 7:50 AM CST up reply actions

I like Stevie

He has good size and he’s a playmaker at the position. Two things we desperately lack.

WILDCARD BITCHES!!! YEEEEHHHAAAAA!!!!!

by Acreman20 on Feb 21, 2012 8:06 AM CST via Android app up reply actions

Well the Bears may not be too thrilled about him because of his constant fines for being a jackass, a funny jackass, but a jackass nonetheless.

I don’t know how he is in the locker room and I haven’t heard anything overtly negative about him but I would think that his penchant for acting a fool during celebrations wouldn’t sit well with the guys in the locker room nor the coaching staff.

by frenchbears113 on Feb 21, 2012 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

This isn't 1947

I think guys in the locker room can probably handle it, unless he’s just and outright assbag to his teammates.

by Jim Ribs on Feb 21, 2012 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

an*

by Jim Ribs on Feb 21, 2012 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

Or a distraction. I'm not saying I wouldn't want him but just because you have no qualms with it doesn't mean his teammates will feel the same.

He kept bringing so much unwanted attention to himself and when your team is losing game after game those sort of antics will start to bug people sooner or later. If you think that didn’t rub people the wrong way in the locker room then you must be the most positive person on the planet because many people wouldn’t stand for it.

by frenchbears113 on Feb 21, 2012 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

you're looking for this gentleman

Happy Guy

by Jim Ribs on Feb 21, 2012 9:47 AM CST up reply actions

Ahahahaha! Nice! That's a great episode.....

“And if you really tick me off, I’m gonna run you down with my car”.

by frenchbears113 on Feb 21, 2012 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

"And I don't know you but you're probably a jerk"

I feel like that Ned quote pretty much sums up the internet.

by Jim Ribs on Feb 21, 2012 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

like it or not

his antics have cooled a lot of the buzz that should be around him… I think he’d be a fine acquisition for the Bears

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends. | @wiltfongjr

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 21, 2012 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

If he's not a head case...

which he still might be considering he was pulling these stunts in a year where he was going into UFA.

You pull crazy end zone celebration….lose 50.000 from your UFA contract. Surely his agent explained that to him….

Cacti are prickly.

by crackedcactus on Feb 21, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

What was so bad about his Plax imitation?

He made fun of a guy who tucked a gun into some sweatpants and shot himself in the leg. A guy who makes millions a year and doesn’t bother to buy a holster is a guy who deserves to be made fun of.

by oripunk3485 on Feb 21, 2012 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

Plaxico got lucky as hell...

shooting his leg was the best possible scenario for discharging a firearm in a club full of people. Very easily could killed someone there.

by Ryan21 on Feb 21, 2012 5:00 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

yea what "stunts"

give me a break

by TR MacReady on Feb 21, 2012 10:28 PM CST up reply actions

Yes

I’ve vouched for this, dude could beast in Chicago.

by chicagocity on Feb 21, 2012 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

Nice E-Trade baby reference

by frenchbears113 on Feb 21, 2012 7:23 AM CST reply actions

Dunno about his locker room presence, Cutty was still able to handle Marshall, who is not the most stable people on this planet. VJ is still my favorite, so far.

by transylvanian bear on Feb 21, 2012 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah that baby's locker room presence is awful

always offering b.s. stock tips. Shut up already.

@mike992

by Mike Mueller on Feb 21, 2012 9:35 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Saw a report a day or two ago claiming VJax dislikes playing in the cold

Not sure if there is any fact behind this claim, if true it would preclude him from looking at a team like the Bears. I want to say pro football talk is where I saw that claim.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Feb 21, 2012 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

For the Bears , the best option would be Bowe, he is not as flashy, or problematic off the field like VJ or Stevie J’s antics , but from the preliminary assessments ( of others, not mine ), Bowe will be tagged by the Chiefs. So, without assuming that , he should be a solid pick-up.

by transylvanian bear on Feb 21, 2012 9:54 AM CST reply actions

weren't the 85 Bears a little flashy?

it’s not always a bad thing.

by ChicagoBearOfAnaheim on Feb 21, 2012 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

The SB shuffle took a few people by suprise

I was worried that it was a bit too early the day the single dropped but the boys backed it up with the best playoff run in history and a 46-10 drubbing so history vindicated us. Imagine the embarrassment if they hadn’t won it all……….

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Feb 21, 2012 11:10 AM CST up reply actions

Strange that CSN's new reporter

is named Jeremy Lynn, I kept having to look him up because I assumed it was a joke or pseudo name.

by Jim Ribs on Feb 21, 2012 11:35 AM CST reply actions

Wallace is available for the taking

Rotoworld. I think the Bears would be wise to target someone without giving up their first, but it’s definitely intriguing.

"I'm sore and I'm pissed off. I'm a baller. I want to feel the leather. I love thumb wars. 6-8 weeks? 6. follow me for healing, Jay Cutler does" - Jaysthumb twitter acct

by propheteer on Feb 21, 2012 11:54 AM CST reply actions

Saw that on Yahoo this morning too.

Definitely interesting… Mike Wallace is young, blazing fast, and a damn good WR.

by oripunk3485 on Feb 21, 2012 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

d bowe

I have lived in kc for the past six years and I can tell you that bowe is vastly overrated. He has shown limited desire to run routes over the middle and has, at least, 10 aggregious drops a season(I’m being conservative in this estimation). His effort level and motor are questioned every season, and he is not that fast. Just think we could do better

by NathanF on Feb 21, 2012 12:22 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I haven't watched as much Chiefs as you

but I see a little alligator arms in him too

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends. | @wiltfongjr

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 21, 2012 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah the more I read on Bowe the more .....

….. I don’t like him as much . My preference would be Colston , Stevie Johnson or V Jackson in that order .

" Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. " ~
Mike Tyson

by MidWayMonster54 on Feb 21, 2012 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

I always find this funny.....

Wes Welker, Roddy White and Brandon Marshall all dropped more balls over the past three years and yet Bowe has the alligator arms rep and none of them do.

I just find that intriguing.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Feb 21, 2012 8:35 PM CST up reply actions

Very cool stat

I looked it up, and you’re right about the # of drops. You’re comparing Bowe to the league’s 3 elite receptions guys though. Here’s the ranking in terms of drops as a % of catchable balls (drops + receptions):

11.9% <- Bowe
11.6% <- Marshall
9.1% <- Roddy
8.8% <- Welker

Bowe also had the 2nd most drops in 2008 (15.7% of catchable balls), so I think the alligator arms label is on point. I think you’re right that at least Marshall deserves the same label though…

by YaoPau on Feb 21, 2012 9:15 PM CST up reply actions

I think all of them record a high percentage of drops.

Honestly, dropping 1 in every 11.4 catchable passes (Welker) thrown your way is a lot.

My point being that I find it interesting that it is widely pubicized with some and others catch “that ball 100 times out of a 100” (thank you for the lovely example Mr Collinsworth, and in the Super Bowl, no less)

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Feb 22, 2012 8:31 PM CST up reply actions

Having alligator arms has nothing to do with dropping the ball

It has to do with the fear of stretching out for a ball knowing a big hit may be coming.

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends. | @wiltfongjr

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 22, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

I understand that. I also understand that this leads to drops.

But i also haven’t seen it, at least not any more so that from most. All recievers are subject to that a bit after taking a good pop from a safety or corner. We’ve seen the Bears live on that concept in the past, especially guys like Mike Brown, Chris Harris and Danieal Manning.

I just find it interesting that some receivers gain this reputation, usually based off a few isolated incidents, and it takes off like wildfire but usually is largely over-exaggerated.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Feb 22, 2012 8:21 PM CST up reply actions

Steve Johnson

Definitely would be a good pickup good pickup…would definitely free up possible options for that first round pick. Too bad they couldn’t find a way to trade down a bit(pick up a super late first or early 2nd pick), pull a possible LT out of there somewhere and pick up Konz as well..a long term(all but guaranteed good) center would lock up that line nicely instead of banking on the two we have who aren’t getting any younger(or particularly better.)

by Pretender85 on Feb 21, 2012 1:44 PM CST reply actions 1 recs