Jeffers....Let's move on

"...but his arthritic left knee..."

That's all I need to hear. I think we have a need for a WR. Not as big as others, but cetainly something we should address in FA. June 1st comes and we don't act, I'll be really upset. I'm really pissed we never even looked Quadry Ismail's way. I'm really sad about the possibilty of this season being worse than last.

Imagine if you will, Weinke is out, or just maybe day to day, that's ok, we have Peete. Moose is playing with a sore hamstring, Jeffers knee will be a game time decision. Byrd and Smith will be our starting WR's.

caution:bad days ahead

 

I disagree. Last year, Jeffers was available, and was able to get open. Even if that's just limited play, he'll get play time.

Smith will surely get more play time.

Byrd was a workhorse.

Moose is Moose.

We've got Hankton *whatever*, but also Turner and Bright are on the practice squad.

Bright runs a 4.2.

I'm not saying I'm encouraged by that article at all, just that WR is not a need compared to DE, FB, CB, RB, and hell even QB or DT. It's not great news, but not pressing. Shit, There were only 2 TE's at minicamp, Crawford and Mangum. Walls tore another ACL last year, and is rehabbing.

 

I'd wait and see who falls into day two and maybe draft a WR.

 

I would like to see us make a move for D'Wayne Bates. The Vikes thought they had a deal until the Bears matched the offer. The Bears then decided to to place him on waivers. Now Carolina, Detriot, Houston, Buffalo San Diego and Dallas all have waiver priority over the Vikes. Could be interesting.

 

Bates is going to be a solid WR. He really only played in a few games last year, but was impressive from the day they pulled him off the practice squad. With Robinson's inability to stay healthy, Chicago may want to consider keeping him.
He's better than Stone Hands...I mean Dez White. However, Bates isn't an absolute necessity for the Bears with both of the afore mentioned and Terrel already on board.
Besides, didn't Bates sign a three year $2.38 Million contract with the Bears earlier this week?

 

Bears waive Bates a day after matching Minnesota's offer sheet


April 4, 2002

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- The Chicago Bears waived receiver D'Wayne Bates on Thursday, a day after matching Minnesota's offer sheet.
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``After exploring our contractual options, we decided to waive D'Wayne today,'' Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said.

Angelo said the sticking point was the first year of Bates' contract. On Wednesday, the Bears said they would match a three-year, $2.85 million offer sheet made last week by the Minnesota Vikings -- a deal that would have cost the team $1.1 million against the salary cap this year.

But Angelo said at the time the Bears wanted to ``explore other options within the contract'' and the only way to do that was to match the Vikings' offer.

``Over the ensuing 24 hours we attempted to renegotiate a more cap-friendly first year to D'Wayne's contract and explored the possibility of a trade,'' he said. ``Neither of the options was viable.''

Bates, a standout at Northwestern, was drafted by the Bears in the third round in 1999. He played sparingly his first three seasons, catching just 15 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. He had a career-high nine receptions for 160 yards and a TD last season.

 

The best way to solve this is to spend a pick on a wide out. We need long term depth, not a one year stop gap. Fortunately, there are always mid-round guys we can look at. I don't know if we can hold off on a back or a corner as much, and I don't like the talent as much later on. But if we wanted to go WR in round 3, and a back in round 4, that's ok.

We just don't have the cap space to sign anyone other than a stopgap guy, a one year minimum guy. We've spent our wad in FA, that's it. Sorry. Cutting Jeffer's doesn't do it, he took a pay cut, and once you subtract bonus money, their isn't much left.

So a guy like Bates, who was too expensive for the Bears, isn't an option.

 

Did I miss something? What's changed from the end of last year to this? Nothing with Jeffers. He's fine, he's not as healthy as he was in 1999 but he wasn't exactly at Moss' athleticism anyway. Let's see what we have and possibly look for the right guy in the right situation in the draft but we can't go in saying we have to have a guy.

 

I just get the feeling Jeffers is done. His best days are behind him and his knee is going to keep him off the field more than on it. I'd rather get someone else, now.

 

Oh, and Antonio Freeman will be available after June 1st as well.