Bears
- Mike Tanier at the New York Times says that there’s some needs a draft prospect just can’t fill. Here’s what he says about the Bears:
“A Jay Cutler image makeover by the guys at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Next time you see Cutler on the sideline during a playoff game, he will be wearing a tailored suit and holding a martini shaker.”
- Wes Bunting at the National Football Post speculates about five potential first round trades. He includes the Bears in his analysis:
“Chicago Bears: Pick 29
“The Bears love to look offensive and defensive line in round one and if one of the top offensive tackles in the class falls to them here at 29 I definitely think they would pull the trigger. However, if not, I have a hard time seeing Chicago going D-line late in round one, especially if forced into pulling the trigger on a character concern guy like Marvin Austin. Cornerback and wideout are both possibilities at 29 as well, but if there isn’t an OL on the board, I could definitely see the Bears dealing back into round two.”
- Its a good year for offensive tackles in the early rounds of the draft. Few people will argue with Dan Pompei at the Chicago Tribune when he says the Bears need one.
- Both Peter King at SI.com and Sam Farmer writing for the Tribune News Services have the Bears taking offensive tackle Derek Sherrod. Here’s what King had to say:
“Offensive line coach Mike Tice would have pulled calf muscles in both legs jumping for joy if Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi were still on the board here. The word on Carimi is he’d have been able to start early at tackle for the line-starved Bears. Sherrod — more of a technician than a brawler — isn’t really Tice’s type, but he is the best available lineman, and the Bears simply have to address this position of major need.”
I’m not so sure his comment is on point as Carimi is really a right tackle. The Bears already have guys who can fill that role, I think.
- The Bears are on the clock at FOXSports.com:
Elsewhere
- Miami Dolphin’s wide reciever Brandon Marshall is in trouble again. This time he “fell on a broken vase” instead of a McDonald’s wrapper. Via several contributors at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- Mel Kiper at ESPN thinks those good offensive tackles in the draft are still overrated.
- It might be a good draft to find a cover corner, something I think the Bears have a need for. Todd McShay at ESPN’s Scouts Inc. says that there could be as many as seven in this year’s draft who could develop into quality NFL starters.
- Kiper and McShay debate as they talk over the likely top picks. There’s some reasonably good information here. There’s some doubt about offensive tackle Nate Solder who might fall to the Bears.
- The Bears have a very definite need at a three technique defensive tackle and Steve Muench at ESPN sees some good ones beyond the first round.
- Pompei, this time writing for the National Football Post had this truth to say about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton:
“If there are questions about Newton from a character perspective, they have arisen from the way Newton has handled things, and from his actions prior to landing at Auburn.”
- Omar Kelly at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel doesn’t think Florida center Mike Pouncey is as good as I do. It doesn’t really matter because he’ll be long gone by the time the Bears pick.
- Pompei also really thinks the first round quarterback derby is going to be hot:
“It’s now starting to look like the second tier of quarterbacks – Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton and maybe Ryan Mallett – could start flying off the board as early as the tenth pick, with the Redskins (they allegedly have a thing for Locker), Dolphins and Jaguars being candidates to start the ball rolling.”
I say go get ‘em, baby. Make those linemen drop.
- McShay lists the five contenders who most need to hit on their first round picks. The Bears aren’t on it and I assume its because McShay doesn’t really think they’re a “contender”.
- Looking at this picture, you can understand where Pompei is coming from:
“If I were the agent of Andy Dalton, I would have advised him to confound evaluators by shaving his ginger hair before showing up at the combine. Or better yet, I would have given him a Tom Brady wig. He might have been the first pick in the draft.”
One Final Thought
The Sports Pickle talks about sporty license plate slogans. Here’s one that touches close to my heart:
