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A Distraction No More: Bears Ink Forte to a Long-Term Deal

16th July 2012 by under Bears News     

The Chicago Bears and running back Matt Forte have reportedly come to terms on a four-year deal worth $32 million, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The deal came this afternoon roughly three hours before the deadline to reach long-term deals with players.

The franchise tag would have paid Forte $7.74 million for the season.

Persistence with the organization and Forte’s agent Adisa Bakari helped this deal happen.

Forte was considering a holdout from training camp, but over this past week leading up to the deadline, optimism was in the air.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen believed they would reach a deal. Forte was hoping it would happen. The Bears were quietly putting together a contract offer that made sense for both sides.

It’s a relief to everyone involved that this has been resolved. Contracts are open in this day and age in professional sports—especially in football, considering it’s all about guaranteed money.

So, here we are on Monday, July 16, and the Bears have finally resolved the Forte contract issues.

It has been a hot topic in the NFL since the 2011 season.

The contract runs through the 2015 season and pushes Forte’s 2011 salary of $600,000 to $8 million in 2012.

According to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times, the deal comes with $18 million in guarantees, roughly $4 million more than the Bears originally offered Forte in the beginning of the negotiations.

Bears new GM Phil Emery has done a good job so far of taking care of his players and adding some nice pieces to the puzzle.

Forte has over 900 rushing yards and 400 receiving in each of his four seasons in the league, making him the first player in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

It was vital to extend Forte’s contract just for the sake of the team. Distractions are bad, and the Bears have dealt with too many in the past.

The running back position is definitely an area of strength for the Bears this season. The pairing of Forte with Michael Bush could be very dangerous. Also, Kahlil Bell is a dangerous weapon out of the backfield.

In 60 games in his career, the former second-round pick out of Tulane has rushed 1,104 times for 4,233 yards (4.2 YPC) and 21 touchdowns. He has also brought in 223 receptions for 1,985 yards (8.9 YPR) and eight touchdowns.

Forte has been the focal point since arriving to the team in 2008 because of the lack of talent within the Bears’ receiving core.

With the addition of WR Brandon Marshall and RB Michael Bush, this team could take it to the next level with their offense.

Watch out for the 2012 Bears.

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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ESPN’s Chris Mortensen Believes Bears Will Get Deal Done With Forte

12th July 2012 by under Bears News     

The Bears can ink a long-term deal with running back Matt Forte until Monday July 16th.

If no deal is reached, Forte will earn $7.7 million under the franchise tag.

Obviously that’s a good chunk of cash, but Forte is looking for a commitment from the team that selected him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Forte ran for 997 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games last season, while adding 490 yards and one touchdown through the air.

He could become the first Bears running back to be selected to two straight Pro Bowl’s since Neal Anderson after being voted in this past season.

The Chicago Sun-Times says the Bears “could offer him guaranteed money in the $14 million range.”  Forte wants in the area of $20 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s John Clayton (h/t Evan Silva of PFT).

Forte wants in the area of $18-20 million guaranteed.

I don’t blame him for looking for a commitment from the Bears, but he will be making almost $8 million next season. I think that’s enough money for one season of work.

The situation could turn into a distraction if he doesn’t report to training camp.

Forte and the Bears faithful are very displeased. The last thing the Bears want is a distraction to hold them back heading into a very important 2012 campaign.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen took to Twitter to weigh in on the hot topic in the NFL world.

A Chicago sports fan, Jesse Mayes (@fishandgrits122) asked Mortensen if he thinks the Bears will get a deal done with Forte before Monday’s deadline.

Mortensen could be completely guessing on the deal, or maybe he has a legitimate source. No one really knows.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the deal is highly unlikely.

I suspect Forte ends up sitting out a good chunk of camp, if not all of it, before eventually signing the franchise tender.

So, with time running out for a deal to get done, the less likely it will actually happen.

Will a deal get done before Monday’s deadline?

Thoughts?

 

Forte Interview

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Fantasy Football 2012: Other Than Brandon Marshall Bears WR’s Could Be Shaky

11th July 2012 by under Bears News     

Besides WR Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears receivers might not produce this fantasy football season.

Marshall ranks 12th according to FantasyPros.com which ranks each player based off of a consensus of 69 experts.

The next best Bears receiver is rookie Alshon Jeffery at #56, then Earl Bennett at #79.

Devin Hester comes in at #94 and Dane Sanzenbacher sits at #154 out of 159 wide receivers ranked.

Marshall is clearly a guy who will be selected in the second or third round of a standard fantasy football draft.

But no one besides him is really worth taking until maybe late in the draft. Earl Bennett had his weeks last year as well as Dane Sanzenbacher.

Am I saying draft them both? Certainly not.

I’m saying stay away from Bears receivers not named Brandon Marshall come draft time. They will disappoint more than please you in the fantasy football world.

Alshon Jeffery: The rookie from South Carolina left college after his junior year. The second-round pick could develop nicely into the offense, but it might take sometime. Not too many rookies perform at a high level during their first season. He might be someone you want to stash on your roster as a fifth or sixth receiver come draft day. His potential is through the roof, but its the question of consistency with him. He could emerge late in the season.

Earl Bennett: He is the most consistent receiver on the team when healthy. Jay Cutler and him have a special connection that dates back to their Vanderbilt days. He isn’t one to score a lot, but can have big games. He added 14 receptions for 251 yards and one touchdown in a three-week span (Week 9-Week 11) last season. Look for him to battle for the number two receiver spot with Devin Hester. You could do a lot worse than Bennett with your last receiver pick. At the worst, he could be a fill in during a bye week.

Devin Hester: It’s always hard to predict what he will on the offensive end. He will focus on kickoffs and punts for the most part, but the Bears have said they want to make a package for Hester. He had three games a season ago with 60+ yards. He might not be fantasy relevant anymore because of Marshall, Bennett and tight end Kellen Davis likely emerging as a weapon this season. Like Bennett, he could be a fill in during a bye week.

Dane Sanzenbacher: The undrafted rookie out of Ohio State led all Bears receivers in touchdowns with three a year ago. He has been compared to Wes Welker often. He might not be consistent enough to be fantasy relevant, but as a fourth or fifth receiver the Bears might have a gem for years to come. Don’t be shocked to see him improve in his second season in the windy city.

Final Thoughts

The potential is there for all these receivers to have big games. The Bears definitely upgraded their receiving core this season by adding two receivers over 6’3″ in Marshall and Jefferey. Bennett, Hester and Sanzenbacher are all smaller targets with solid speed out the gate. It’s certainly going to be hard to predict which receiver will perform well on a week-to-week basis besides Marshall.

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

 

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ESPN’s Ron Jaworski Ranks Bears’ Cutler No. 8 In His QB Countdown

3rd July 2012 by under Bears News     

ESPN’s NFL analyst Ron Jaworski has ranked the top 30 quarterbacks in the league in his “QB Countdown Series.”

Last week, he ranked Detroit Lion Matthew Stafford as the No. 14th best QB and Minnesota Viking Christian Ponder as the No. 28th best QB a couple of weeks ago.

The NFC North is arguably the best division of quarterbacks in the league. The NFC East and NFC South are very talented as well.

He ranked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as No. 8 in his rankings on Tuesday.

Cutler has many haters and many fans out there. Clearly Jaworski is one of his fans.

Here’s what he had to say on SportsCenter today about Cutler.

Physically, Cutler is as talented as any quarterback in the NFL. He’s a power thrower with good accuracy. He has deceptive athleticism and movement. Not many bring the skill that Cutler has.

 

Cutler is a big-time arm talent. One part of his game that I really like is his ability to step up in the pocket and drive the ball at the intermediate and deeper levels. He’s an aggressive and confident downfield thrower. There’s no hesitation at all. He turns it loose. He intuitively understands the NFL passing game. He knows when you get man coverage it’s on the receivers to win. Cutler’s going to throw the ball.

 

Overall, I’m absolutely wowed by Cutler’s ability to throw the football, even going back to his college career at Vanderbilt. Sure, he’s exhibited some inconsistency in his six years in the NFL. He must clean up some poor decision-making tendencies. Of course he has to do that. But, if he can he will move into my top five.

What do you think about the list so far? Do you think Cutler is ranked in the right spot?

Many believe he isn’t a top 10 quarterback, but with the moves the Bears have made this off-season its hard to argue he won’t be one this season right?

Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Michael Bush, Evan Rodriguez, Mike Tice (OC) will be big help on the field for Cutler.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Could The NFC North Be The Best Division Of Quarterbacks?

29th June 2012 by under Bears News     

The NFC North has vastly improved its quarterback play as a whole over the years.

With Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler and Christian Ponder atop the depth chart of their respective teams, could they be the best group in the league?

The other divisions that could have the best group of quarterbacks are the NFC South, NFC East and AFC West.

The NFC North has to be on top of the list, with the NFC South being a very close second.

Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton and Josh Freeman have a lot of talent. But does the NFC South scare you as much as the NFC North does?

Aaron Rodgers is just as good as Drew Brees, if not better, considering where he is at in his career. Matthew Stafford proved he can stay healthy last season and performed on the same level as Matt Ryan.

Jay Cutler has always had talent, he just needs weapons around him. He is a more elite passer than Cam Newton at this point of his career. Lastly, Christian Ponder has added 20 lbs of muscle this off-season and has more potential in my mind than Josh Freeman.

Lets go in depth now at comparing the quarterbacks from the NFC North and NFC South head to head.

Aaron Rodgers (Packers) vs. Drew Brees (Saints)

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Rodgers’ 2011 stats: 15 starts, 122.5 QB Rating, 68.3 completion percentage, 4,643 yards passing, 45 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and three rushing touchdowns.

Brees’ 2011 stats: 16 starts, 110.6 QB Rating, 71.2 completion percentage, 5.476 yards passing, 46 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and one rushing touchdown.

Both have won Super Bowls in the past three years. They are the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks in fantasy football. Both have elite receivers and passing-minded coaches surrounding them.

Rodgers gets the nod over Brees in matchup No. 1.

Rodgers > Brees

Matthew Stafford (Lions) vs. Matt Ryan (Falcons)

Stafford’s 2011 stats: 16 starts, 97.2 QB Rating, 63.5 completion percentage, 5,038 yards passing, 41 touchdowns, 16 interceptions.

Ryan’s 2011 stats: 16 starts, 92.2 QB Rating, 61.3 completion percentage, 4,177 yards passing, 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, two rushing touchdowns.

Stafford finally had a breakout season last year with stud WR Calvin Johnson putting up ridiculous numbers. It remains to be seen if he can stay healthy from year to year.

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Ryan, on the other hand, has been as steady as they come since arriving in the NFL in 2008 out of Boston College. He is only going to get better, and his arm is actually stronger this offseason according to reports from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Based on the consistency of Ryan and his early success in the league, he gets the edge in matchup No. 2.

Ryan > Stafford

Jay Cutler (Bears) vs. Cam Newton (Panthers)

Cutler’s 2011 stats: 10 starts, 85.7 QB Rating, 58.0 completion percentage, 2,319 yards passing, 13 touchdowns, seven interceptions, one rushing touchdown.

Newton’s 2011 stats: 16 starts, 84.5 QB Rating, 60.0 completion percentage, 4,051 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 14 rushing touchdowns.

Cutler was on fire during the Bears’ five-game winning streak that spanned from Week 6 in Minnesota to Week 11 in San Diego. Unfortunately, Cutler suffered a season-ending thumb injury in the win over San Diego.

Newton took over under center from day one in Carolina. He did a solid job for a rookie quarterback with a below-average receiving corps. Look for Newton to take that next step this year.

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Cutler gets the edge here because he has shown more ability as a passer. Also, the fact that Brandon Marshall is reunited with him could propel him into the top-10 list of quarterbacks.

Cutler > Newton

Christian Ponder (Vikings) vs. Josh Freeman (Bucs)

Ponder’s 2011 stats: 11 starts, 70.3 QB Rating, 54.3 completion percentage, 1,853 yards passing, 13 touchdowns, 13 interceptions.

Freeman’s 2011 stats: 15 starts, 74.6 QB Rating, 62.8 completion percentage, 3,592 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, four rushing touchdowns.

Ponder took over the reigns in Week 7 after Donovan McNabb showed he couldn’t lead the Vikings anymore. Ponder posted a QB rating of 70.3 while throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions (13) in 11 starts. Can Ponder take that next step heading into his second season as Minnesota’s quarterback?

Freeman had a great sophomore season, but he really struggled last season. He needs to relax in the pocket and take his time with throws. He’s lost some weight and is looking to regain his 2010 form. The Bucs might not have enough weapons for him to help him overcome his issues.

Ponder gets the edge over Freeman simply because the Vikings have a better offense and Ponder could play better with a full offseason under his belt.

Ponder > Freeman

Thoughts?

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Don’t Expect WR Johnny Knox On the Field For the Bears Anytime Soon

23rd June 2012 by under Bears News     

Nike’s North Side-South Side Softball Challenge took place in Lincoln Park on Thursday and the two coaches of the teams were Johnny Knox (North Side) and A.J. Pierzynski (South Side).

The game was filled with players that were chosen through Twitter.

Pierzynski constantly bashed the opposing team for being North Siders. Knox and Pierzynski pretended to trash talk for the Nike film crew.

Knox threw out the first pitch and actually pinch hit for his team. He blasted a single to the outfield and jogged to first base.

He clearly doesn’t have the same speed that he once had, but he is taking his time when it comes to recovery.

“Just get stronger, that’s my main goal right now,” he told reporters at the Nike event in Lincoln Park. “No rush. I’m going by what the trainers and the doctors say and that’s what I’m going to go by.”

Bears fans are aware of the severity of his injury that he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.

He’s been jogging, but hasn’t begun running six months after his vertebra surgery. Don’t expect to see him suited up anytime for the Bears.

There is absolutely no rush with an injury like that. To be honest if it was a person like you or me we would clearly be in critical condition. Possibly paralyzed.

Luckily, Knox was in good shape at the time, but now he is at a reported 170 lbs.

At 25 years old, Knox had all the potential in the world to really thrive in the Bears offense.

In 45 career games he’s reeled in 133 receptions for 2,214 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also an asset on special teams returning a kickoff for a touchdown in his rookie season (09-10) in Week Four against Detroit.

It was good to see Knox out and about doing something for the community. He just has to stay positive mentally because that could help him in his physical recovery.

Being cautious is the best thing the Bears and Knox can do. The trainers can help him gain his speed back slowly, but the 2012 season isn’t one destined to have Knox as part of it.

A fan favorite and speed demon, the Bears should be aiming for a Knox return after the 2012 season.

One thing is for sure Johnny Knox is a pretty solid baseball player. He made good contact at bat, despite White Sox’s catcher AJ Pierzynski complaining that Knox was allowed to bat at all.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

 

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Can Bears TE Kellen Davis Join The Elite This Season?

7th June 2012 by under Bears News     

Kellen Davis didn’t get many chances to shine in Mike Martz’s offense last season.

Davis took over as the starting tight end after the Bears decided to trade away former first-round pick Greg Olsen during the off-season.

Davis started 15 games while reeling in 18 balls for 206 yards and five touchdowns.

At 6’7″, Davis is a real threat in the red zone due to his big frame. He causes matchup problems for many defenses.

A fifth-round draft pick in 2008 out of Michigan State, Davis was drafted as a defensive end. The Bears quickly moved him to tight end where he spent a lot of his collegiate career playing.

In 48 career games Davis has caught 28 passes for 300 yards and nine touchdowns.

He averaged 12.9 yards per game and 11.4 yards per catch last season.

Davis should be excited for the upcoming season under Coach Mike Tice and Coach Jeremy Bates. Also, with the addition of Brandon Marshall it could open up more down the field for the tight ends.

In 2008, Bates helped lead a pass-happy attack in Denver that saw Jay Cutler excel at throwing the ball to Brandon Marshall and the two tight ends Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham.

Scheffler and Graham combined for 72 catches and over 1,000 yards receiving that season.

Davis should feel comfortable that his workload will increase with former TE Mike Tice running the offense and former Broncos coach Jeremy Bates doing well with Cutler in the past.

Davis missed most of the OTAs with a back injury, but returned on Wednesday and should be back to full strength by the start of veteran mini-camp next Tuesday.

Matt Spaeth, Kyle Adams and Evan Rodriguez are the other tight ends vying for playing time this season.

Spaeth was signed mainly as a blocking tight end and should see a similar role. Adams is a second-year player, who was impressive as undrafted free agent last pre-season. Rodriguez is a fourth-round pick, who should get his opportunity as a tight end and H-back.

Davis would “like to have between 40 and 60 catches at least” this upcoming season. The Chicago Tribune reports he turned down an initial offer from the Dallas Cowboys at the start of free agency because the Bears “came through with the offer.”

Can Kellen Davis join the likes of Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis or Antonio Gates this season? Can he even crack the top 10 list of tight ends?

We’ll just have to wait and see. The sky is the limit for the fifth-year player, who is surrounded by some great talent on offense this upcoming season.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Bears OTA’s Coming To An End On Thursday

6th June 2012 by under Bears News     

The Chicago Bears held their second to last voluntary OTA practice today at Halas Hall. Thursday marks the 10th practice of OTA’s and concludes the practices.

Next Tueday through Thursday a three-day minicamp will take place at Halas Hall.

Cornerbacks Tim Jennings and Kelvin Hayden lined up with the first-team with Charles Tillman absent and Jonathan Wilhite injured.

Hayden seems to be 100% now after spending the past couple of months in a walking boot according to the Bears.

He will likely be the fourth corner behind Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and D.J. Moore this season.

Gabe Carimi is back and healthy and has lined up at right tackle with the first team alongside RG Lance Louis, C Roberto Garza, LB Chris Spencer and LT Chris Williams and J’Marcus Webb.

Webb and Williams have split the reps at left tackle and likely will until the end of the pre-season.

Undrafted safety Jeremy Jones is listed at safety as of now, but he has lined up at nickelback behind D.J. Moore during practice.

Other undrafted free agent news:

Right tackle James Brown from Troy has taken reps at that position with the second team.

Safety Trevor Coston deflected a Jay Cutler pass intended for WR Earl Bennett. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, the play was very “acrobatic” as Coston “came out of nowhere” to knock the ball down.

More news to come about Bears practices and much more.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Can Jay Cutler Lead Chicago To The Super Bowl Under Mike Tice’s Offense?

15th May 2012 by under Bears News     

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had his team sitting pretty with a 7-3 record 10 games into the 2011 season.

Then a broken thumb against the San Diego Chargers in Week 11 ended Cutler’s season. He had the Bears on a five-game winning streak.

The No. 6 scoring offense was succeeding under the simplification of Mike Martz’s offense. A lot of the credit for the success has to go Mike Tice, who was the offensive line coach last season.

Martz wasn’t brought back this offseason. Tice was promoted to offensive coordinator and formerBroncos quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates was added as the quarterbacks coach.

Cutler’s familiarity with Bates and offseason acquisition WR Brandon Marshall certainly helps. It’s not an instant solution just yet.

The offensive line still has some issues, Matt Forte‘s absence could loom far into training camp and Mike Tice is taking over the offensive reigns for the first time in his career.

With all that being said, the Bears have certainly improved their offense drastically since last season ended.

QB Jason Campbell was brought in to back up Cutler, RB Michael Bush was signed to provide a solid goal-line option.

WRs Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Devin Thomas offer plenty of height to a corps that was among the shortest in the league a year ago.

TE/halfback Evan Rodriguez was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s draft. He could provide an intriguing option for Cutler and Tice.

Cutler was sacked 23 times during his 10 starts, but only in Week 1 (five sacks) and Week 2 (six sacks) did the offensive line really struggle to protect him.

Tice will still have plenty of say with the offensive line. The Bears believe they have plenty of depth on the offensive line—it’s just a matter of putting the pieces in the right place.

QB coach Jeremy Bates has a lot of familiarity with Cutler. He knows his strengths and weaknesses very well. Cutler, Marshall and Bates being on the same team once again will only help the Bears’ chances.

The Cutler-Marshall duo was almost unstoppable at times in Denver, and with the potential one-two punch looming with Matt Forte and Michael Bush, this team could shine. Jeffery, Bennett, Hester and Thomas will see lots of time on offense behind Marshall. Kellen Davis and Evan Rodriguez are more offensive weapons Cutler will have in his arsenal.

Cutler has to be excited with the talent around him for the upcoming season. It all comes down to putting it all together. It won’t come together overnight, but with familiarity with many players and coaches, it could come quickly.

The Bears defense has played at a high level for a while now. With the addition of Shea McClellin to the defensive line, it could propel them to the elite.

This team certainly has what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl in New Orleans this upcoming season. The offense will be the spotlight, considering all the moves that have been made this offseason.

Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli continue to do a solid job with the defense. It’s up to Tice and Bates to put Cutler in the best situations week in and week out on offense

Cutler doesn’t seem to be worried with the absence of Matt Forte. He thinks he will be back sooner than later, and I completely agree.

On paper, the Bears are a top-10 team in the NFL and a top-three team in the NFC. They have enough firepower to compete with NFC North rivals Green Bay and Detroit.

Chicago Bears fans should be excited with these improvements. Many of them are constantly down on the team until the season starts, and then they change their tune.

With all the bad luck that has struck Chicago sports this past season, Chicago fans are certainly upset. But they should be looking forward to what could be a historic 2012 Bears run.

It’s a make-or-break year for the Chicago Bears this upcoming season. GM Phil Emery has made the right moves to better the club. Now it’s time to make it all work.

Can Cutler lead the 2012 Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl under Mike Tice’s lead this upcoming season? Thoughts?

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Sporting News Writer Iyer Believes WR Jeffery Will Make An Immediate Impact

30th April 2012 by under Bears News     

The Bears landed a real talent with the selection of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

GM Phil Emery had Jeffery ranked as his third receiver behind Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd.

Sporting News writer Vinnie Iyer believes Jeffery can make an immediate impact. Here’s what he had to say via (Sportingnews.com).

“The five wide receivers drafted ahead of him—Justin Blackmon (Jacksonville), Michael Floyd (Arizona), Kendall Wright (Tennessee), A.J. Jenkins (San Francisco), Stephen Hill (New York Jets)—all step into quarterback situations that may hamper them. With the Bears, Jeffery will catch passes from a surefire gunslinger in Jay Cutler.

Jeffery’s production at South Carolina last year took a hit partly because of some QB turnover. Chicago just got a dominant No. 1 in Brandon Marshall, and have some speedy, quick options in Johnny Knox and Devin Hester. Concerns about Jeffery’s speed and burst won’t be an issue working against No. 2 and No. 3 corners in the red zone.”

Thoughts?

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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