The first of a few player cuts is upon us. All NFL teams must only have 80 players listed on the roster before the teams’ first minicamp.
The Chicago Bears currently have 81 players in house, with the imminent signings of top draft picks Major Wright, Corey Wootton and Dan LeFevour, the Bears will have to choose one guy out of 81 to pack up and vacate Halas Hall before this weekend’s minicamp.
So who will it be?
According to league sources, and this short paragraph at the bottom of the page by Brad Briggs, the Bears have been shopping around tight end Richard Angulo and safety Josh Bullocks. To the surprise of no one, there have been no takers. Teams know that these players will be cut soon enough and they could be scooped up for nothing more than a veteran minimum contract.
Angulo is a journey man player who was just brought in this off season to help in Mike Martz’s offense. He is a big, blocking tight end who is familiar with Martz’s scheme from their days together in St. Louis. With the addition of the same type of player in also newly acquired Brandon Manumaleuna, to go along with incumbents Desmond Clarke and Greg Olsen, plus the promise and draft pedigree of third year guy Kellen Davis, Angulo could be on the outside looking in.
We all know the Josh Bullocks story, thanks to YouTube, Bullocks is the proclaimed worst safety ever. He hasn’t done much in Chicago to refute that claim. Playing in 12 games and starting four last season, Bullocks did not help out a struggling secondary. Granted, we needed a lot more help than a third string safety stepping up, but when Bullock’s number was called he did not take advantage of the opportunity. With the additions of Chris Harris and Major Wright, the Bears could have two brand new starters at safety. Couple the two new additions with up and coming Al Afalava, the steady Craig Stelz and "play me at any position" Danieal Manning, the Bears seem to be able to let Bullocks take his YouTube fame to another team. There is also the little known, undrafted rookie out of Northern Iowa, Quentin Scott. At 6’5" and running a 4.4 second 40 yard dash, Scott looks like a player the Bears would like to take a chance on.
Other players that cold get the boot include, but not limited to, defensive end Henry Melton, quarterback Brett Basanez, cornerback D.J Moore and wide receiver Rashied Davis.
So I ask you, WCG; whom on the Bears list of current players will be kicking himself in February because he missed out on winning a World Championship?
UPDATE: Well, it seems the Bears did not want to waste any time in making a decision. At around 1:45pm EST, third string quarterback Brett Basanez was handed his walking papers.
For the sake of this post and me not having to write another one, do you feel this was the right decision to make? Does this open the door for a veteran quarterback to come to Chicago? Can we still get rid of Bullocks? Please