Summer Time Bears Talk

How about a little football talk in the middle of the dog days of summer for our favorite baseball team (notice I won’t even use their name anymore until they give me a reason to). But there’s been a lot of Bears talk on the radio and in the papers in recent weeks, and I thought I’d recap a few things for everyone, and predict a few more possible moves.

We all the know the hysteria of the Jay Cutler mania seems to have died down, however if you read the papers apparently Cutler’s teammates are even more excited about him being their QB than the fans are, what does that say?

Despite a former football radio personality believing that the QB makes your WRs better, the Bears are still on the lookout for a veteran wide receiver presence, and right now, the market is choke full of them, let’s review the last few days in a special segment I like to call, As the Wide Receivers Turn.

Anquan Boldin
We all know the situation with Anquan Boldin, out there for a possible trade. He’s fired his agent Drew Rosenhaus as he was unable to get him out of Arizona, and still remains in a place he in no way wants to be.

Likelihood of a Bears Trade: 5%-10%.

My Outlook: This would be my first choice for the Bears at WR. However the Bears made the Cards an offer around draft day and the Cards rejected the offer. Nothing has been discussed since then, with the Bears or with any other team.

Plaxico Burress
Probably the most intriguing of all possibilities. Major talent could be facing a 4 game suspension for shooting himself at a NY Nightclub, and could possibly still serve jail time, however most likely not anything that would affect this season. He is a free agent, so no trade is required, just a whole lot of money, for a guy with a lot of issues on and off the field. However the Bears are interested, and recent reports say that QB Jay Cutler has been lobbying for Burress as well.

Likelihood of a Bears Signing: 60%-70%.

My Outlook: If the Bears can get Burress on a one year deal, do it. It’s worth it even if he serves the 4 game suspension, I’d rather have Boldin, Marshall or Edwards, but this is just a money deal, do trade needed.

Brandon Marshall
Another outstanding Broncos pro bowler who wants out. What the hell is going on in Denver? Pro Bowl offensive players can’t wait to get out of town. I think the thin mountain air has finally gotten to Bronco management, but hey if helps the Bears get a pro bowl WR to go with the pro bowl QB, then I’m all for it. To be fair Marshall is coming off hip surgery, has some pending legal matters for a domestic dispute, and has been labeled as immature as a player, but then again what WR isn’t considered that? Marshall will cost the Bears a bundle, and probably Devin Hester as part of that bundle. The Broncos already have the Bears 1st rounder next year, do they want our 2011 1st rounder as well?

Likelihood of a Bears Trade: 20%-25%.

My Outlook: Marshall is going to cost a lot, and I just don’t think the Bears have the draft picks the Broncos will be looking for. I can’t see this deal happening, but then again I thought that about Cutler.

Braylon Edwards
There was talk a few months ago that Edwards could be available for the right price. He’s scheduled to make a ton of money, and the Browns would like to not take that cap hit. There has not been much talk of this for a while, but a report this morning suggests the Browns could swing a deal for Brandon Marshall, and Cribbs would be part of that deal. If that were to happen, I can see a scenario that gives the Bears the opportunity to deal Devin Hester and a draft pick or two to the Browns for Edwards.

Likelihood of a Bears Deal: 1%-3%.

My Outlook: There’s been little to no talk of Edwards winding up on the Bears, however if the dominoes fall the right way, this could be a real possibility.

In the end, the Bears realize they need a better corps of wide receivers, and they are out to make that happen for themselves, but there are some chips that do need to fall in the right place, so right now the chance of the Bears upgrading with a better WR is 50-50 right now.