3 free agents the Chicago Bears should pursue

Reggie Wayne
February 18, 2012   Chicago Bears, NFC, NFL

The Chicago Bears finished the 2011 season at a mediocre 8-8.  Chicago’s record was the result of key injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte.  The Bears were 7-3 before Cutler’s injury and ended the season with a 1-5 record in his absence.  Cutler’s return in 2012 will again make the Bears contenders in the NFC North but if Chicago wants to be a serious threat to win the division they have to be able to outlast the high-powered Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.  Here are three free agents that the Bears should go after in order to help them keep pace in a competitive division.

Donovan McNabb:  Let’s face it.  The last two seasons for the Chicago Bears have ended with Cutler watching from the sidelines.  2011 made it very apparent that the Bears need to take a hard look at their backup quarterback situation as Caleb Hanie couldn’t cut it.  Why not bring in Donovan McNabb for added security?  He’s played in five NFC Championships so he’s been on the big stage.  He could bring a veteran presence to the Bears locker room and sideline and he’d be an excellent mentor for Cutler; a second set of eyes so to speak.

Reggie Wayne:  Yes, I’ve said the Bears should go after DeSean Jackson, Randy Moss or Terrell Owens.  It would be a high-risk, high-reward move to bring in either of the three.  But if Chicago wants to play it safe why not go after Reggie Wayne?  Wayne is still more than serviceable and paired with the likes of Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, and Devin Hester the Bears would have a formidable receiving corps.  Additionally it is likely that Chicago will draft a receiver in either the first or second round of the 2012 NFL draft.  Who better to mentor him than Reggie Wayne?

Jermichael Finley:  Talk about killing two birds with one stone.  The Bears offense could use a big target like Finley in the passing game.  Not only is Finely capable of giving defenses fits from the tight end position, his versatility allows him to be split out wide much like an Antonio Gates or Vernon Davis.  If the Bears could sink their claws in Finley this offseason not only will they improve, but simultaneously the Green Bay Packers would take a huge hit.  Finley is an instrumental part of that Packers passing attack.  The Packers won a Super Bowl without him and were one and done in the playoffs with him so it’s easy to see why they may not be willing to pay the type of money Finely will command.  Bring him to Chicago.

NFL Free Agency begins on March 13th. Until then, Bear Down!

Follow Aaron on Twitter @Da_Bear_Truth.

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  • http://twitter.com/StudentofSports Christopher Ruggiero

    While agree with all the positions the Bears should be addressing I’m not sure I understand the players you’ve selected. (Jermichael Finley being the one exception, the dude is a beast.) But what has Donavan McNabb shown in the last couple seasons that would make anybody think he can be a competent player at this point in his career? Plus I doubt he’d want to go anywhere just to hold a clip board for Jay Cutler. If you want a backup QB why not make a play on somebody like Vince Young or Chad Henne? Or even Dan Orlovsky who showed some things with a horrible Colts team last season. I would think all three of those guys would be better suited for a back up role. And as for wide receiver I just don’t think bringing in a past his prime player who had his best years with Peyton Manning will help. Not to mention that wide receiver is a tricky position to bring in new guys who have made careers in other systems. Wayne isn’t the game breaker he used to be and wouldn’t do much for the Bears offense. Instead why not look at some younger, more explosive players like Mario Manningham, Dwayne Bowe or Marques Colston. Any of which would automatically turn into the best receiver in Chicago.

    And the number one thing on the Bears agenda should be to lock up Matt Forte.

    • http://thepenaltyflagblog.com Aaron Moon

      Nice assessment…I looked at all the players you mentioned but it boiled down to this for me. The Bears are cheap, and McNabb is at the end of his career and fron Chicago. Players like Colston are going to command big money. Traditionally the Bears have signed cheaper veterans like Muhsin Muhammed – productive but no longer marquee.

      As for Forte…that’s going to be intereseting. He started 2011 off with a bang but faded drastically after the Eagles game until he was injured. I do believe the Bears will franchise him this season but am not sure of his longevity as a Bear. The day of the star running back in the NFL has passed. Look at the two teams who went to the Super Bowl in comparison to the two they beat. Both the 49ers and Ravens rely on the run and solid D yet in the end it wasn’t enough to get them over the top. Meanwhile, the Pats and Giants were at the bottom of the league in rushing. It’s an offensive era and in order to keep up with the Packers, Lions, Saints, Patriots, Giants, and Steelers, I believe you have to pass and hope to outscore them. If the Bears lock Forte up for a long term deal his role should definitely be similar to that of a Marshall Faulk rather than a traditional 25-30 carry per game back.

      Thanks for the reply…Hoping for a solid 2012!

  • Rage_nina

    I dont agree with the Reggie Wayne pick. Why not go after the best out there like V Jackson or D Bowe. The bears have picked up enough past their prime or 3rd string talent to play starting roles over the past 4 years. Time to break that trend and go after the real talent. If the Bears dont change how they draft and pick FA expect to get the same results this season. 8-8 and miss the playoffs. As a Bear fan I dont want to see the bears go after any more castoffs. Only high end producers. Nothing against Reggie Wayne but he is not what we need. He’s not a burner, not all that big and he may have lost some skill. We need GO GETTERS

  • Mikey2005

    If you forgot the Bears traded away a good tight end last year.  Keep wishing.  I would rather get Pierre Garcon or Robet Meachem.  We don’t need 35yr old receivers.  McNabb has nothing left if you forgot him throwing passes into the dirt 5 yrds short of the receivers. 

  • Cchappell101

    i agree with the article, when i comes to the wideout, we could get reggie wayne and draft o line 1st round the get a reciever who is  a physical beast in later rounds(2nd or 3rd) and who better to mentor than one of the best route runner/possesion wideouts of this decade but i cant lie man how i would like to see bowe catching in chicago but what about urlacher getting ready to retire thats a spot that we might have to fill this year

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