In an offseason when all these so called experts have the Bears regressing from last season despite returning all 22 of our starters and having our starting QB back and a decent backup, it is nice to see somebody actually recognize what the Bears have been able to do this off season. I just didn't think it would come from a Dallas newspaper.
The Cowboys collared the biggest and best name in free agency when they signed flamboyant Terrell Owens. He helped deliver Philadelphia an NFC championship in his first year (2004) with the Eagles, and the Cowboys are hoping he can repeat that trick in Dallas.
The Bears were neither busy nor bold. But they didn't need to be. Chicago won 11 games and an NFC North title in 2005 with one of the youngest teams in the league. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo managed to keep that team intact this off-season.
That's an amazing feat in a salary-cap world. There are 704 starters in the NFL, and 120 left their teams since last season ended. That's 17 percent of the primary starters.
Sixty-one starters departed in free agency, 44 were released as salary-cap casualties, 13 more were traded and two retired. Four departures were Pro Bowlers: center LeCharles Bentley, guard Steve Hutchinson and running back Edgerrin James left in free agency, and cornerback Ty Law became a salary-cap casualty.
Seven teams must replace their starting quarterbacks. Five teams must replace their leading receivers, four must replace their leading scorers, three must replace their leading rushers and two must replace their leading tacklers.
Change is not always welcome. And that's why the Bears had such a great off-season - there was no change.
The article goes a little more into what the Bears did, nothing you are not familar with, but still worth the read.