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Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Fri May 15, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

Offseason progress reports: Chicago Bears

By MJD

It's too early for '09 season previews, and too late for '08 season reviews. What's an NFL blog to do in the never-ending quest to overcover the bejeezus out of the NFL? Offseason progress reports. Let's go in alphabetical order. Today, the Chicago Bears.

Free agents lost: WR Marty Booker(notes), S Brandon McGowan(notes), QB Rex Grossman(notes), WR Brandon Lloyd(notes), OT Terrence Metcalf(notes), OT John St. Clair(notes)

Free agents gained: S Josh Bullocks(notes), OT Frank Omiyale(notes), OT Kevin Shaffer(notes), OT Orlando Pace(notes)

Added via trade: QB Jay Cutler(notes)

Lost via trade: QB Kyle Orton(notes)

Drafted: DE Jarron Gilbert(notes), WR Juaquin Iglesias(notes), DE Henry Melton(notes), CB D.J. Moore(notes), WR Johnny Knox(notes), LB Marcus Freeman, FS Al Afalava(notes), OG Lance Louis(notes), WR Derek Kinder(notes)

Obviously, Jay Cutler heading to Chicago is the biggest thing that's going to happen to the Bears this offseason, if not the entire NFL. It's weird to even think about the Bears having a consistently good quarterback. At least they've left us the familiar comfort of having terrible wide receivers.

That's the question that remains. Yes, they've got a good quarterback now, but how much of his talent will be wasted if the Bears don't give him quality targets? There's no Brandon Marshall(notes) on this roster. I don't even know if there's a Brandon Lloyd on this roster (the actual Brandon Lloyd is certainly no longer on the roster, but I don't know if anyone else on the roster actually represents an upgrade ... which is sad).

There's Rashied Davis(notes) and Earl Bennett(notes), along with Devin Hester(notes). And they drafted a few guys, too, in Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox, and Derek Kinder. This is probably, depending on what they get from the rookies, the worst receiving corps in the NFL, and one of the worst of all-time. And let's be honest, you can't expect too much of a contribution from the rookies, as they're third-, fifth-, and seventh-round picks, respectively.

There's still time to address the position, of course, and the encouraging news is that they are rumored to have made an effort to acquire Anquan Boldin. So there's hope yet.

And I do hope they figure out something. With Matt Forte(notes) emerging as a star in the backfield, Greg Olsen(notes) bringing loads of potential at tight end, and Jay Cutler at quarterback, it would be a shame to let them take the field with so little at receiver.

Progress: Obviously, bringing in Cutler is huge. The Bears will have some kind of a passing game, and some kind of a presence at the quarterback position, and a move like that can energize an entire organization. As you can see on the electric face of Jay Cutler in the above picture.

Plus two games. 9-7 last year, 11-5 this year.

Related: Progress Reports

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176 Comments

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  1. jimmy
    1. Posted by jimmy Fri May 15, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    sounds right ,they have a good young QB
  2. gaborik10m
    2. Posted by gaborik10m Fri May 15, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    The Bears definitely need to dedicated a section of their seats to a new rookie WR...
    I'm thinking they could call it Johnny Knox-ville
  3. brian b
    3. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    Bears will blow it next year but look for them to be 11-5 in 2010. You got to get Cutler some receivers and he is learning a new system. Look for him to get frustrated and make some bad decisions like forcing the ball.
  4. brian b
    4. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Why do people say Jamarcus Russell is fat when Cutler has 3 chins in that picture?
  5. WindyCityFlyer
    5. Posted by WindyCityFlyer Fri May 15, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Name me the receivers that Tom Brady won Super Bowls with..., then John Elway....Trent Dilfer......you get my point. A QB makes receivers better, not vice versa. There are a handful of great duos, a la Rice with Montana then Young. But look at Harrison and Manning, the best or 2nd best of all time, only 1 super bowl. You do more with a good line, solid running back and qb with average capable receivers then with standouts. How many Super Bowls has TO been to? One. And lost. Get the picture.
  6. Scott E
    6. Posted by Scott E Fri May 15, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Definitely makes the NFC North an very interesting division this year. GB with good receivers and decent QB (with growth from last year), Vikes with no QB and good receivers (I'm not counting on Favre). Vikes and Bears have the upper hand in the running game. Now, let's throw in the Lions...or can you throw Lions to something? Christians?
  7. Brian D
    7. Posted by Brian D Fri May 15, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Being a life long Bears fan I was excited to see Cutler join. We spent all those with decent and good receivers and nobody to throw to them. NOW that we have an arm there is noone to throw to. At least when he throws long to Hester it might actually get to him now. Hopefully they can add someone to helo the cause. It will be a total shame to watch a good qb like Cutler throwing 10 - 20 yard passes all day to Olsen
  8. brian b
    8. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Tom Brady wide receivers that were good
    2001 Troy Brown Dave Patten
    2003 Troy Brown Deion Branch Dave Patten
    2004 Troy Brown Dave Patten Deion Branch Michael Jennings
  9. brian b
    9. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    John Elway had Ed Mcaffrey Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe. Trent Dilfer always sucked.
  10. brian b
    10. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    How many superbowls has Cutler and one of the best receivers to play the game Brandon Marshall have?
  11. Isaac M
    11. Posted by Isaac M Fri May 15, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    The NFC North looks interesting, indeed. If GB's D gets it going, they have a good shot at winning, since they'll be the most complete team. Vikes offense may end up hinging on Sage Rosenfels... which could be a good thing, who knows? As for the Bears, Cutler bringing a pass game of some sort opens things up for Forte... man, I love the NFL.
  12. brian b
    12. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    do you get my point? Check and mate.
  13. 54FTMFW
    13. Posted by 54FTMFW Fri May 15, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Im more worried about Lovie Smith calling the plays on D and the safety position..Bring Mike Brown back.
    WindyCityFlyer....TO has been to 2 superbowls and won one with the 49ers..
  14. brian b
    14. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    Cutler to Rasheid Davis equates to a 4-12 season. I would try for Boldin if not this year, next year. Or else its another run run run year while depending on the d for the Bears. Maybe you can stay 9-7 but the Vikes, Packers and hell even the Lions are gonna be tough in 09.
  15. 54FTMFW
    15. Posted by 54FTMFW Fri May 15, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    4-12? youre kidding me, right?...and what's up with this "check, and mate" bs, lol.
    so devin hester isnt the #1 anymore? just threw in davis for effect?
  16. e dubs
    16. Posted by e dubs Fri May 15, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    WindyCityFlyer:
    I see your point about the quarterback not needing star wide receivers only good ones, but the receivers the Bears have now are well below average. Before you throw Devin Hester my way, he needs to learn how to run routes before he will even contribute to the offense. All the Bears have at receiver is Greg Olson and Matt Forte. One of the young wide outs will need to develop really quick or it will be very hard for the Bears to move the football. That would have been the case even if Orton was still the quarterback. Cutler gives the Bears a better arm and a better all around quarterback and football player then Orton, but Cutler doesn't make this offense explosive by him self. I almost agree with brain b when he says once the Bears get some weapons for Cutler they will be a lot better. I don't seem him having a better season then Orton/Sims this year for the fact that Orton/Sims have better weapons then Cutler.
  17. 54FTMFW
    17. Posted by 54FTMFW Fri May 15, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    if i remember correctly...marshall is a RFA next year..
  18. e dubs
    18. Posted by e dubs Fri May 15, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    54FTMFW:
    The last Super Bowl the 49ers won was back in 1994 when they beat the San Diego Chargers. That was a few seasons before TO. TO has been to one Super Bowl with the Eagles and lost.
  19. Robert B
    19. Posted by Robert B Fri May 15, 2009 5:05 pm EDT

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    I'm a life long Bears fan. Most of you miss the point. I don't care if you have a 23 yr old Dan Marino, Joe Montana or Troy Aikeman, they would suck with Ron Turner calling the plays.
    I watched every down last year, he ran one trick play, a fake field goal. He would run when you expected him to run and he would pass when you expected a pass. He couldn't surprise anyone. Orton was lucky he didn't get killed. Cutler won't be any different. I hope he's got a good medical policy.
    Fire lovey and all his assistants, then get Singletary or Rivera. Until then the Bears will suck. Just an honest appraisel from someone who has watched the Bears since Butkus.
  20. MJ touched hearts and kiddies private parts
    20. Posted by MJ touched hearts and kiddies private parts Fri May 15, 2009 5:10 pm EDT

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    Way to close the gate after the horse has bolted. It's 3 seasons too late for the Bears. Now they finally have a good QB, their defence is 3 years older and 3 years more beaten up. They would have beaten the Colts with a half decent QB. Their window has closed.
  21. e dubs
    21. Posted by e dubs Fri May 15, 2009 5:11 pm EDT

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    Robert B:
    First off I am a die hard packer fan, but I am also a football fan, so I keep up to date with most NFL teams when I can.
    I agree with your assessment of Ron Turner. He is totally awful. I wish the Packers had a defensive staff and players had brains because in terms of guessing what the Bears did, I would say I was probably right about 90 percent of the time when the Packers and Bears played. This is counting that Sunday night game two seasons ago now that they Bears won after they scored off of a play action pass to the tight end. I think I was one of the thousands and thousands of fans watching the game that new what Tuner was going to do and the Packers still got burned.
    I wouldn't give up on Lovie just yet. He is a solid coach, just made a huge mistake of firing Ron Rivera.
  22. swanson_71
    22. Posted by swanson_71 Fri May 15, 2009 5:19 pm EDT

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    WindyCityFlyer John Elway had a good running back in Terrell Davis to give the ball too, a great WR in Rod Smith to throw the ball too, and had possibly the best Tight End to ever play the game to throw the ball too so when John Elway won his 2 superbowls he was in good shape offensively. Comparing what Trent Dilfer did with Baltimore and Jay Cutler and what he could do with Chicago is like comparing Chicago's Defense and Baltimore's Defense the year they won it and you can't! Chicago's defense is good, but defense, special teams, and giving the ball to Jamal Lewis is what won the superbowl for Baltimore and absolutely nothing that Trent Dilfer did! Tom Brady may have not had great Wide Recievers but he still had Deon Branch and Troy Brown and if i'm right, and I know I am, Deon Branch was MVP of one of those Superbowls!
    Now look at the teams from 1990 to now that has won superbowls: the Cowboys with 3 superbowls had Aikman QB, Smith RB, and Irvin WR. 49ers with 1 superbowl had Young and Rice. The Broncos had 2 superbowls with Elway QB, Smith WR, Sharpe TE, Davis RB. The Rams had 1superbowl with Warner QB, Bruce Wr, Holt WR, and Faulk RB. The Packers have 1 with QB Favre, WR Rison, Wr Freeman. The Colts have 1superbowl with Manning QB, Harrison WR, Wayne WR. The Giants have one superbowl with Manning QB, Burress WR. The Rams, Cowboys, 49ers, Packers, and Broncos all won in the 90's and 9 of the 10 superbowls featured a team with a great QB and a good WR to throw the ball too. So far in the 2000's it's not been that way so far but in 2001Baltimore, 2003 Bucs, and 2008 Steelers all had spectacular defenses that put them there, and the bear's defense is good but not as good as the 3 I named off! Eli Manning lost Plax during the season and after he left what happen to them! Tom Brady didn't have great WR's to throw too but he had consistant WR's like Deon Branch! for the last 15 years or so no team has won the superbowl with out consistant WR's or a stellar knock your teeth out defense and Chicago has niether! For the bears to win they need some decent WR's!
  23. Phillip P
    23. Posted by Phillip P Fri May 15, 2009 5:47 pm EDT

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    Not enough on either end to make a push. 8-8 probably. Even when Cutler was throwing for miles last season
    the record was still 8-8. The bears need a receiver to push them to next level. Maybe next year kids!!
  24. Isaac M
    24. Posted by Isaac M Fri May 15, 2009 5:52 pm EDT

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    Cutler was throwing for miles last season, and they still went 8-8... because Denver had no defense whatsoever. The receiver problem is a concern though... we'll see how it shapes up.
  25. brian b
    25. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 5:52 pm EDT

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    54FTMFW: When was Devin Hester even a receiver on the Bears? He can run back kicks but he can't catch even a Chad Pennington dump off pass. lmao

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