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The Den will be taking a look at one of the Chicago Bears' 2017 unrestricted free agents (UFA's) and restricted free agents (RFA's) each day until we have knocked out the list.
I will be talking about the player, whether I personally would sign the player and to what contract, and what my best guess the Bears will do with him.
Today, let's take a look at Restricted Free Agent (RFA) David Fales.
First, let's remind everybody what a RFA is, exactly. Wikipedia's RFA entry puts it this way: "In the National Football League, a restricted free agent (RFA) is one with three accrued seasons (six or more regular season games with a team)[1] of service, who has received a "qualifying" offer (a salary level predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players, known as a "tender") from his current club. He can negotiate with any club through a certain date. If the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club has "right of first refusal," a five-day period in which it may match the offer and retain him, or choose not to match the offer, in which case it may receive one or more draft picks for the upcoming draft from the player's new club. If an offer sheet is not executed, the player's rights revert to his old club the day after negotiations must end."
Fales was drafted out of San Diego Jose State by the Bears in the sixth round in 2014. Little used in the 2014 pre-season, he got a chance to make an impression in the last game against Cleveland. He went 13 of 24 for 146 yards and a touchdown, but that wasn't enough to let him survive the 53-man roster cut. Chicago signed him to the practice squad, where he remained until December 13 when the club moved him to the 53-man roster after New England attempted to sign him to their 53-man roster.
Fales ended up back on the Bears practice squad in 2015, and again was brought back onto the 53-man roster after Chicago released Jimmy Clausen on November 23, 2015. Fales competed in camp for Chicago in 2016, but ultimately was released when Chicago cut down to the 53-man limit.
It appeared that Fales days as a Bear were over when Baltimore (and then Ravens offensive coordinator Mark Trestman) scooped him up for the Ravens practice squad. Most of the 2016 season saw Fales on the Baltimore PS (minus one two-day release) until November 23, 2016 when Chicago plucked him off the Ravens PS and brought him in when Jay Cutler went down with his season-ending injury.
Fales made his NFL debut in the final quarter of the final game of the season against Minnesota in relief of a dreadful Matt Barkley. Fales went 2-5 for 22 yards, no TD's or INT's.
Would I bring back David Fales if I were in charge of the Bears? Absolutely not. I'd rather develop somebody like tomorrow's subject, Connor Shaw or a rookie prospect. Chicago knows what David Fales is, what he can and cannot do.
Do I think Chicago brings back David Fales? No, I think the Bears would rather spend the resources developing one of their own late round or UDFA quarterback picks on the practice squad than Fales. Fales was brought back to Chicago after the Cutler injury not because they love the guy's game, but rather because he was familiar with the offense and they needed a body out there in case Barkley went down or blew up who at least knew the playbook.
There you have it. Now, on with the links:
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!
BEARRRSSSS
Mayer: Jordan Howard added to Pro Bowl - ChicagoBears.com - Bears running back Jordan Howard will cap his breakout rookie season by playing for the NFC squad in the Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Hazlet: All Aboard the S.S. Salary Cap (Who Should the Bears Fish For?) - Da Bears Brothers - Brandon Hazlett's first look at the 2017 free agency class analyzes the early (and important) decisions ahead for Ryan Pace.
Alcaraz: Ranking the Chicago Bears' 5 Biggest Needs - NFL Spin Zone - If the Chicago Bears have any hope of bouncing back from their miserable 2016 season, they must address these areas of need during the 2017 NFL Draft.
Fishbain: Reviewing the 2016 Chicago Bears on defense and special teams - Pro Football Weekly - Injuries and a low number of impact plays hurt the Bears' 'D' in 2016
Cox: Jordan Howard overshadows Jeremy Langford’s disappointing season - Bears Wire - Jordan Howard's record-breaking season for the Chicago Bears largely overshadowed what was a disappointing year for Jeremy Langford.
LeGere: Quarterback 'critical' decision for Pace, Chicago Bears - Daily Herald - Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace knows how critical his decisions on the quarterback position will be this off-season. I recognize that the decision that we make on that quarterback is going to be significant for all of us for the direction that this organization is going to head," Pace said.
About time.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 11, 2017
Congrats @JHowardx24 on making the 2017 #ProBowl! pic.twitter.com/HJqvVD2IIy
Mayer: List of 2017 important offseason dates - ChicagoBears.com - The NFL’s busy offseason includes free agency, the draft and training camp. Grab a calendar and mark down these key dates that impact the Bears leading up to the 2017 season.
Finley's podcast: What did Clemson QB Deshaun Watson show Bears? - Chicago Sun-Times - The Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley examines what Deshaun Watson showed the Bears in Monday night's national title game
Emma: Bears Must Be Wary Of What Kevin White Can Still Be - CBS Chicago - After two surgeries to the same left leg, it's uncertain how White can rebound.
Mullin: Bears signing of Rueben Randle has some curious elements - CSN Chicago - The signing of Rueben Randle to a reserve/futures contract is a small tell that the Bears indeed will pull just about any lever to effect a roster upgrade.
Perez: Bears have gone 13 years without drafting a QB in the first round - Bears Wire - If the Bears draft a QB in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, it will be the first time they've done so in 13 years
DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY
Is Deshaun Watson really worth the Bears' No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft?-| CSN Chicago - Should the Bears draft Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson with the No. 3 pick? The SportsTalk Live team debates.
Rotoworld NFL mock draft: At No. 3, the Bears select... CSN Chicago - Rotoworld's NFL Draft expert Josh Norris released his first 2017 NFL mock draft. Check out who Norris has the Bears selecting at No. 3 overall.
Marino: 92nd East-West Shrine Game Primer - Draft Breakdown - Listen to the latest episode of the Locked on NFL Draft Podcast where hosts Joe Marino and Kyle Crabbs talk at length about some of the lower profile Draft prospects on the roster for the East/West Shrine Game. Joe and Kyle also spend a few minutes recapping the National Championship Game. The Locked on NFL Draft Podcast is powered by Draft Breakdown.
POLISH SAUSAGE
Florio: As seats fill, who’ll be out of luck? - ProFootballTalk - After more than a week of nothing, half of the open jobs already have filled up. And with three jobs now claimed and three left, it's clear that plenty of viable candidates will be waiting for at least a full year.
KNOW THY ENEMY
Gates: Pro Football Focus Says There Were Worse Offensive Lines Than Minnesota’s - Daily Norseman - Yeah, I don’t believe it either.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Sunderbruch: The Bears’ 2015 Draft Class: Midterms - Windy City Gridiron - Two years is not too early to grade a draft class, and evaluating Ryan Pace’s first class offers at least some insight into the team moving forward.
Sunderbruch: Jordan Howard makes the Pro Bowl! - Windy City Gridiron - Howard gets some respect!
FANPOSTS
FanPosts - Recent - Windy City Gridiron - Here's a link to our FanPost section, where YOU have the opportunity to contribute to Windy City Gridiron. Take a few minutes and write a post about what you are thinking about regarding the Chicago Bears, and there'a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.
THE RULES
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