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 "We've made that decision," first-year general manager Ryan Pace
said Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill. "We're moving
forward with Jay Cutler as our starting quarterback."
Pace said he and head coach John Fox spent time with Cutler on a
personal basis. Fox was convinced of Cutler's willingness to work,
that he has adequate intelligence and ability to get better.
The Bears were not as convicted in initial evaluations. At the
Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month, Pace and Fox both said
they needed more time to make the final call on Cutler.
"This is a new group that's coming together," Pace said. "I think
this was a process for us all. I don't think there's any
fence-mending to be done."
Pace denied the Bears offered Cutler to other teams via trade -- "we
never did that," he said -- and said the coaching staff is excited
to move forward. That includes new offensive coordinator Adam Gase,
who had input in the process, Fox said.
Cutler's contract includes $15.5 million guaranteed this season and
$10 million for 2016.
"We've made the commitment -- time will tell for all of us," Fox
said. "I've watched Jay compete in the past. We've gained a lot of
information moving forward. There's a talent level there obviously
we feel good enough to explore."
The Bears were gathered to introduce outside linebacker Pernell
McPhee, who signed a five-year deal worth $40 million. McPhee said
he was looking for the right coaches and system to be as successful
as he was in Baltimore, and found that in Chicago.
"If he needs me to play cornerback, I'll play cornerback," McPhee
said.
At 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, McPhee can line up all along the defensive
line and even outside linebacker. McPhee had 7.5 sacks as a
part-time player with the Ravens last season, the first time he said
he was fully healthy since entering the NFL as a fifth-round pick
(165th overall in 2011).
Fox compared McPhee to Michael Strahan, the Hall of Fame defensive
end he once coached with the New York Giants in 1997-2001.
Pace passed on comparisons, but found plenty to like about McPhee.
"He's a highly productive, disruptive and versatile defender," Pace
said. "He hits the quarterback a ton. He's an ascending player ... I
think he's a well-rounded player, too."
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NFL Team Report - Chicago Bears - NOTES, QUOTES
--General manager Ryan Pace addressed some depth issues in the
secondary with a couple of early contract signings. He brought
nickel back Demontre Hurst and cornerback Al Louis-Jean back for two
years each.
Hurst helped the team not only on special teams but also became the
starting nickel after injuries hit cornerbacks Charles Tillman, Tim
Jennings, Sherrick McManis and Kyle Fuller. He had an interception
and fumble recovery.
Louis-Jean is a rangy, undrafted free agent from Boston College who
made the team after being invited to a rookie camp tryout. He had 11
tackles and a pass breakup.
Both are perceived as players who can handle more man-to-man
coverage, as the secondary will be doing.
--Jay Cutler is not the only quarterback being closely scrutinized
by the coaching staff and Pace. The possibilty of retaining
second-year, third-string quarterback David Fales is, as well.
"I knew him coming out of college, so I'm still relying on that,"
Pace said. "Then we have, obviously, access to all our practice
tapes, so we can analyze that. Part of the good thing, going back to
the practice tape, not just him, but watching one-on-one drills with
the receivers and the DBs or the offensive linemen; that's
valuable."
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NFL Team Report - Chicago Bears - STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Bears re-signed quarterback Jimmy Clausen to a one-year
contract. Clausen joined the Bears in 2014 after spending his first
four seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He was scheduled to become
an unrestricted free agent March 10.
Last season, he completed 26 of 48 attempts (54.2 percent) for 223
yards, two touchdowns and one interception in four appearances (one
start).
In 17 games over five seasons, he has completed 52.7 percent of his
passes (183 of 347) for 1,781 yards, five touchdowns and 10
interceptions.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Outside linebacker: The defense struggled with an inconsistent
pass rush last year and in 2013, and against the run in 2013, and
it's not going to be much better in a new scheme unless they come up
with an answer off the edge. Willie Young, if he gets over an
Achilles injury, appears ill-equipped to be a 3-4 player and could
be used in a trade. Neither Lamarr Houston nor Jared Allen look like
outside 3-4 linebackers, although Houston might fit in as a
defensive end with added weight and if his torn ACL heals. Quick,
younger talent is needed and the outside backers the Bears currently
have do not translate well to a 3-4. They need a size-speed combo
rather than just speed. They hope free-agent addition Pernell McPhee
will help.
2. Defensive line: Whether it's a 330-pound nose tackle or an end in
the three-man line, the Bears need both. They could have a nose
already in Ego Ferguson and a player who can line up at the end or
nose in Jeremiah Ratliff, but free-agent defensive tackle Stephen
Paea left in free agency because he doesn't have the size to be
either a nose or an end in the new formation. Last year's
third-round draft pick, Will Sutton, may also fit this category but
in his second year the Bears may want to try to work him at one of
the end spots.
3. Safety: This has been a primary need for several years and hasn't
changed. Ryan Mundy had his moments when allowed to work near the
line and all over the field like a strong safety would all the time
in the new scheme. So he may work out. Chris Conte was a free agent
and signed with Tampa Bay. The Bears need at least a free safety, if
not two safeties. They also need a cornerback with Charles Tillman
seemingly done in Chicago and Tim Jennings coming off knee surgery.
PERSONNEL TRACKER
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Lance Briggs returning to the team would defy logic. He did
little to endear himself to the organization last year, and with two
straight season-ending injuries, and at age 34 with a rebuilding
franchise switching defensive schemes, there is absolutely no reason
to expect he'll be brought back.
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--T Eben Britton was a versatile backup brought in when the offense
lined up with an extra lineman at the goal line, in short yardage or
sometimes in an unbalanced line when they wanted to run. Pass
blocking definitely isn't a strength and with the team looking to
bring in a few new faces it is unlikely he'll return.
--LS Jeremy Cain most likely will return. He had a few more poor
snaps than the Bears were used to with Patrick Mannelly for 16
seasons, but generally his play was acceptable.
--C Brian de la Puente proved a useful multi-purpose player who fit
in at guard or center. The problem here is that New Orleans didn't
bring him back and with former Saints personnel assistant Ryan Pace
serving now as Bears general manager it's hard to see how he would
be considered on solid ground for a return.
--K Jay Feely will not be back. His comments blasting former coach
Marc Trestman probably didn't endear him to ownership, which doesn't
like seeing anyone -- even former coaches -- getting teed up. With
Robbie Gould returning from injury, camp competition will come from
young waiver-wire types and not a fading, more expensive veteran.
--S Danny McCray was another special teams player who wound up
playing some for the Bears due to their inability to keep safeties
healthy, and would be worth retaining based on special teams and
also his experience playing defensively as a reserve in Dallas' 3-4
in the past.
--CB Sherrick McManis was a valuable special teams player who was
pressed into duty at cornerback last year due to injuries to Charles
Tillman and Kyle Fuller, and performed better than could have been
expected based on how he looked playing the position in Carolina. He
was good enough in man coverage and physical enough to get backup
nickel back duties. Probably would be retained.
--WR Josh Morgan would seem an unlikely candidate for returning
after a seven-catch season when he had opportunities. He didn't
really fit in on special teams and finding a dependable return man
is something the Bears might ask of a receiver this year after they
used practically everyone on the roster as Devin Hester successors
last season.
--FB Montell Owens doesn't fit into the new offense, which utilizes
tight ends and not fullbacks. He made no impact as a blocker in
short yardage when that was a role the Bears needed him to fill
after acquiring the former Jacksonville blocking back.
--TE Dante Rosario probably could have been used more as a receiver
last year by QB Jay Cutler when the offense seemed stymied. He has
displayed inconsistent hands, but fit well into an offense that let
him line up in front of the running back, in the slot or on the
line. Still, he wasn't particularly effective as a blocker for the
running game, and with impressive Zach Miller returning following a
season-ending injury suffered last preseason he's at best 50-50 for
a return.
--DE Trevor Scott was a useful reserve who has played linebacker in
a 3-4 defense and end in a 4-3. He was effective in a reserve role
for New England's defense before and probably has more value now to
the Bears as a reserve than he did last year. However, he had foot
and knee injuries last year that could weigh against making him a
part of the new regime.
--ILB Darryl Sharpton is a reserve player who has 3-4 experience in
Houston, and played effectively blitzing from the inside briefly
last year for the Bears. However, at 6-foot, 229 pounds he would
appear more suited to a different scheme and probably won't return.
--CB Charles Tillman has had the same injury misfortune as Briggs.
At the same age as Briggs, he would seem to be a part of the
franchise's history now. The fact he has been a cover-2 corner
almost all his career and hasn't been in a 3-4 scheme requiring
extensive man-to-man or cover-3 weighs against him, as well.
--LB D.J. Williams was an inside linebacker in the 4-3, and did have
some 3-4 experience in Denver. Although it's possible he'd be able
to fit inside, he had two injury-plagued seasons and at 32 is no
more likely to be back with a team looking to get younger than
Briggs. The Bears will be scouring every possible 3-4 defensive
team's roster for potential linebackers and aren't in need of pieces
that aren't fits.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--QB Jimmy Clausen: Potential UFA; $1.125M/1 yr, $262,500 SB.
--CB Demontre Hurst: Potential ERFA; $1.1M/2 yrs.
--LB DeDe Lattimore: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.
--CB Al Louis-Jean: Potential ERFA; $1.1M/2 yrs.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--OLB Pernell McPhee: UFA Ravens; $38.75M/5 yrs, $2.5M SB/$15.5M
guaranteed.
--S Antrel Rolle: UFA Chargers; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Eddie Royal: UFA Chargers; $10M/3 yrs, $4M RB 2015/$6M
guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Chris Conte: UFA Buccaneers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Brandon Marshall (traded Jets).
--DT Stephen Paea: UFA Redskins; $21M/4 yrs, $5M SB/$7.85M
guaranteed.
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