The Bear's Den: January 10, 2017 - Should the Bears re-sign Matt Barkley?

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. Thanks to reader Chi-Hoo-Lou for inspiring the idea. 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.

I'm going to start with the quarterbacks. Today's UFA Bear is Matt Barkley. Barkley certainly made a lot of impressions with the Bears this year, both good and bad. The four-year veteran was thrust into the starting ranks by injuries to Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Connor Shaw, and for a while it looked like Barkley may be a guy that the Bears would DEFINITELY want to keep around. Then the turnover binge hit, and things got ugly.

Completion Percentage, 59.7; 1,611 yards; 8 TD's; 14 INT's; PR of 68.3

There is just NO WAY to parse that into good.

Lester took a good long look into Barkely's chances of making a 2017 impact in a recent edition of his T-Formation Conversation podcast published before Barkley's final turnover-laced double-header meltdowns to end the season, and it's worth a listen even though we know what lateer happened in those last two games.

Barkley was signed onto the Bears Practice Squad after he was released after camp by Arizona last summer. Barkley appeared in four games with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-2015. With Philly, he had 300 passing yards, was 30 of 50 with no touchdowns and four interceptions. The USC alum originally entered the NFL as a 4th round pick (98th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Would I bring Barkley back? No. I've seen enough of Barkley in a Bears uniform.

Do I think Chicago will bring him back? Yes, at a minimum contract, on the 90-man off-season roster, while they sort out the QB position. I don't think, without MASSIVE off season improvement, that he has a realistic shot at the 53-man roster. If he does, God help us.

Tomorrow's UFA? Brian Hoyer.

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Over The Cap Projects No 2017 Compensatory Draft Picks For Bears - Over the Cap - Projecting The 2017 Compensatory Draft Picks

Fishbain: Reviewing the 2016 Chicago Bears on offense - Pro Football Weekly - Offensive side of the ball had young stars for the Bears, but way too many injuries

Mayer: GM Pace 'Sky is the limit' for Floyd - ChicagoBears.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace was pleased with how Leonard Floyd performed as a rookie and is excited about the outside linebacker’s potential to get even better.

Cox: Jordan Howard not included as finalist for Rookie of the Year - Bears Wire - Despite a franchise record-setting season, Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard was not a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award.

Kwiecinski: LSU’s Jamal Adams could be in play for the Bears at No. 3 overall - Bears Wire - LSU safety Jamal Adams is one of the premier players in the 2017 NFL draft

Cox: National championship game loaded with potential Bears draft targets - Bears Wire - The national championship game between Alabama and Clemson will feature a lot of draft prospects the Chicago Bears could target.

Perez: Ryan Pace’s best and worst free-agent decisions as Bears GM - Bears Wire - A look at some of Ryan Pace's best and worst free-agent signings as Bears GM so far

Jahns: Final thoughts on Bears' 2016 season - Chicago Sun-Times - A look back at 2016 and what's ahead for the Bears.

Finley: Final thoughts on Bears’ 2016 season - Chicago Sun-Times - With a 3-13 team, general manager Ryan Pace knew he didn’t have much to sell Bears fans. So with coach John Fox at his side, Pace made a promise:

Perez: Bears LB coach leaves team for similar position with Jets - Bears Wire - Clint Hurtt left the Chicago Bears for a similar position with the New York Jets to serve as the Jets' outside linebackers coach

Potash: Final thoughts on the Bears 2016 season - Chicago Sun-Times - With a 3-13 team, general manager Ryan Pace knew he didn’t have much to sell Bears fans. So with coach John Fox at his side, Pace made a promise:

Finley: Final thoughts on Bears’ 2016 season - Chicago Sun-Times - With a 3-13 team, general manager Ryan Pace knew he didn’t have much to sell Bears fans. So with coach John Fox at his side, Pace made a promise:

Cox: Why injuries are not an excuse for the Bears’ 3-13 season - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears had 19 players on injured reserve, but that doesn't justify why they only won three games this season.

Perez: Chicago Bears could get up-close look at Clemson QB Deshaun Watson at the Senior Bowl - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears might get a chance to scout Deshaun Watson at the Senior Bowl if the Clemson QB decides to participate in the game

Emma: QB Mitch Trubisky Declares For NFL Draft, Could Be Target For Bears - CBS Chicago - Trubisky is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL Draft.

Mullin: Bears coaching changes trickling out, for different reasons - CSN Chicago - In the day since the Bears' final loss, four coaches have exited, for different reasons, but coming with interesting possible implications.

Finley: Brian Urlacher one of two former Bears named to college HOF - Chicago Sun-Times - Former linebacker Brian Urlacher was one of two former Bears players announced Monday as a member of the 10-player College Football Hall of Fame class

LeGere: Breaking down the Chicago Bears' offensive line - Daily Herald - The criticism of the Bears' offensive line, and specifically the tackles, was unwarranted given their play in 2016. The O-line could turn out to be a team strength next season.

Wiederer, Campbell & Biggs: Bears face daunting task of sorting through 2016 wreckage - Chicago Tribune - After three consecutive last-place seasons, the Bears' climb back toward relevance remains ultra-steep.

Mullin: What the Bears can learn from NFL wild-card weekend - CSN Chicago - As the NFL wrapped up the first week of playoff action, John "Moon" Mullin breaks down the main takeaways for the Bears.

Biggs: North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky headed to NFL draft - Chicago Tribune - The quarterback-needy Bears will have another arm to consider as Mitch Trubisky announced he’s foregoing his final year of eligibility to head to the NFL.

DeWitt: From One Bears Fan to Another, Thank You - Da Bears Brothers - If you're like me and still a loyal Bears fan after another disappointing season, I want to say "Thank You." Your patience is about to pay off.

Lambert: Chicago Bears Seven-Round 2017 Mock Draft: Going Deep - FOX Sports - The Chicago Bears brass did not sound happy when they spoke in their press conference about how the 2016 season ended.Not surprising given it was a 3-13 finish. At the same time they offered plenty of optimism about the future. Namely in regards to their advantageous position in the 2017 NFL draft...

POLISH SAUSAGE

Rosenthal: Doug Marrone will accept Jaguars' head coaching job - NFL.com - The Jacksonville Jaguars have offered interim head coach Doug Marrone the full-time head coaching job and he is accepting it, Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

Alper: Chiefs say Justin Houston, Spencer Ware back this week - ProFootballTalk - The Chiefs closed out the regular season without having linebacker Justin Houston or running back Spencer Ware on the field because of injuries, but the week off that came with the AFC West title and No. 2 seed in the conference has treated them well.

Smith: NFL reviewing application of concussion protocol on Matt Moore hit - ProFootballTalk - After questions were raised about why Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore was cleared to return to Sunday's game just minutes after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit, the league has decided to review the matter.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Reisman: List of Detroit Lions 2017 free agents - Pride Of Detroit - Here’s a look at the Lions that will be free agents once the 2016 season is officially over.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Josh Shirley waived - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears made a roster move today so let’s take a look where their 90 man offseason roster stands so far.

Silverstein: Brian Urlacher and Adrian Peterson named to College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017 - Windy City Gridiron - The legendary Bears linebacker and unheralded running back were among 13 honorees who will join the College Football Hall of Fame this year.

FANPOSTS

Dave Wannstash: Book Review The Perfect Pass, by S.C. Qwyne - Windy City Gridiron - One of my favorite writers is a man named S.C. Gwynne, an Austin based author with a love for history, the west, and men with astounding conviction. His previous two books are about an obscure...

Danymite: Should the Bear's trade out of the #3 pick - Windy City Gridiron - It is just a trade gadget idea that I was looking at on a draft site, but would it be worth considering. They could trade with the Brown's, get the #12(1200), #33(580), #50(400) for a draft value...

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.

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