| 05 March 2010
No the Bears have not signed anyone yet, at least as of the minute I begin to write this article. But the news that is beginning to trickle in from twitter via sources all over the web states that the Bears the front runners for two of the biggest free agents on the market.
Those two free agents would be DE Julius Peppers and RB Chester Taylor and both will be in Chicago tomorrow to visit Halas and if we're lucky to sign on the dotted line, hold up their jerseys and smile for the media.
Nothing as of the minute of this posting is official but the news as it begins to trickle indicates that the Bears are not going to let Peppers get away and they were also the first team to contact Julius Peppers' agent.
Peppers is said to be looking to play under a defensive technician which would insinuate that Rod Marinelli may play an obvious role in landing the potential future hall of famer.
Lovie Smith is said to have touched down in Charlotte to meet with Julius Peppers in person and fly back with him to Chicago for the meeting at Halas Hall tomorrow.
Also the Bears are bringing in TE Brandon Manumaleuna for a free agency visit tomorrow as well. He is a known quality blocking TE that fits into Martz's scheme better than Olsen does. He has also played for Martz previously in St. Louis. This will also intensify the trade speculation surrounding Greg Olsen leading up to the NFL draft.
Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network reports (this came across the crawl on the bottom of the screen on the NFL Network channel) that according to Julius Peppers' agent, that Peppers could visit two other teams besides the Bears. This is the first report coming out that may be perceived as a negative or the first shot across the negotiating table at the Bears. There are two other teams that are legitimately in the Peppers sweepstakes, the Bears don't have a deal in place as of the writing of this paragraph at 1:01am Chicago time. The Bears need to get a deal done with Peppers by tomorrow, if they don't get a deal done and in place by tomorrow, then the best chance they have had with with a legitimate pass rushing talent since Richard Dent will be gone.
The Bears absolutely need to get a deal done with Peppers tomorrow or they run the risk of losing him.
Reports are now being confirmed via multiple sources that the Bears have in fact agreed to terms with both Julius Peppers and RB Chester Taylor. DE Julius Peppers will receive a six-year deal worth $12-million-dollars per season over the first three years of the contract, that is $36-million dollars in guarantees that Peppers was seeking. Peppers was seeking about $40-million in guaranteed the Bears appear to be stepping to the plate to give him close to the money he was asking for.
Chester Taylor is said to have agreed in principle on a three year contract worth $12.5-million-dollars with $7-million-dollars to be paid in the first year of the contract. Taylor was the back up to Adrian Peterson in Minnesota the last three years and will come in to likely challenge Matt Forte or to share the load with Forte.
It's of note that the Bears had their most success under Lovie Smith in 2006 when they had two RBs sharing the load and a DE who put up double digit sack numbers. 2010 will be going back to that same formula that was so successful, a two headed rushing attack with Julius Peppers bringing the heat off the edge. A news conference is said to be scheduled for this afternoon to announce the three signings.
I will be continuously updating information as it begins to roll in from twitter, if you don't have a twitter account you can get one, or you can follow my tweets on the side box on the right hand margin of this blog.
To follow me access my account at : http://twitter.com/MidwayIllustrat
In separate free agency news the Bears were the first team to strike up negotiations with free safety Antrel Rolle the minute he was released, but reports are now that Rolle will be headed to New York tomorrow to meet with the Giants.
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