Rival clubs are “baffled” by some of the Bears‘ free agent signings, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Specifically, Chicago’s decisions to bring in Mike Glennon ($15MM per year), Prince Amukamara ($7.5MM), and Markus Wheaton (two years, $11MM) “raised some eyebrows,” per La Canfora. While the Bears did unsuccessfully target other free agents such as A.J. Bouye, the club made other surprisingly large commitments to cornerback Marcus Cooper and tight end Dion Sims.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- While a strategy is in place to market quarterback Colin Kaepernick to the “right” team, NFL clubs are pessimistic Kaepernick will be able to land a “decent” deal, per La Canfora. Kaepernick, 29, opted out of the final year of his 49ers contract, and San Francisco likely would have released him had he not made that decision. Having said that he’ll stand for the national anthem in 2017, Kaepernick ranked as PFR’s No. 6 free agent quarterback heading into the free agent period.
- After agreeing to a new deal with the Cardinals, Andre Ellington may be playing more wide receiver than running back in 2017, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Ellington will spend time at both positions, according to Somers, but Arizona wants to see what the 28-year-old can do at wideout. While he posted 85 receptions during his first two years in the league, Ellington has only managed 27 catches from 2015-16.
- Frostee Rucker may follow Ellington in re-signing with the Cardinals, as Somers tweets he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rucker is the next player to land a new contract with Arizona. Rucker, 33, appeared in 13 games (one start) with the Cards in 2016, posting 13 tackles and grading as the league’s No. 96 interior player among 127 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Rucker earned nearly $1.4MM last year under the terms of an extension he agreed to in 2015.
All of the deals that the Bears made are short term deals. They overpaid for Glennon, but they have the cap space to do it and it’s not a huge cap hit if they cut him next year if he ends up being Brock Osweiler 2.0. The only deal I don’t understand is the Dion Sims contract. Blocking TE making receiving TE money. Doesn’t add up.
They really didn’t overpay for him. He will be the 26th highest paid qb in the league. Not to mention it’s very front heavy in the first year in terms of guaranteed money and how much he will make for the season. Could be a bridge to whoever they draft and even maybe surprise ppl if he does well. If it’s surprise ppl option the bears will look like geniuses. Also, a lot of their moves if you’ve noticed the past couple of years have been budget friendly buys for guys who can contribute and help our team while pace can get best player available in the draft. Some we will keep if they do well on their one or two year deals and the others bye bye and will fill there role again the following year with more budget friendly help and then draft well again. The bears plan is taking perfect form and we should be a competitive ball club this year and finish at least .500. The year after that though is where I believe we will see the most improvement because our younger guys will have had a couple of years to grow into the system. That’s what I’ve seen and feel. Bear down!
He’s being paid like the 26th best QB. But it’s still to be seen whether or not he’s even the 26th best QB. That’s the part people fail to acknowledge. I’m fine with the move because it’s basically a one year tryout. But if this was a 2-3 year guarantee for that annual salary, it would be atrocious.
Who cares what it’d be if it was a 2-3 year guarantee for that annual salary. The bottom line is it’s not, so that’s not a factor whatsoever.
And who really cares if he’s the 26th best QB in the league or the 40th best. Either way, he’s not leading them to a Super Bowl, and he’s on a contract that’ll allow the Bears to cut him with relatively little consequences in the future. Best case scenario? He turns into a legit starting QB that’ll be under control for cheap for the next 3 years. Worst case scenario? He blows and they wasted money this year (when they have a ton of cap space), and then they still end up with a top draft pick next year…
I agree Sims deal is only one that seems out of line. However, all the free agents have two things in common; still young and potential. Hopefully the coaches can do their best and make something out of these signings.
Pace has a lot riding on this. Cautious optimism.
I respect the opinion on sims, but I think he as well as Mike glennon is a budget friendly buy. The guy is only 27 and is a really good blocker with under rated receiving ability. He is also quite fast for a guy of his size. He ran the 40 in 4.75. For a guy at 6’4″ and 270lbs that’s pretty damn fast. He will be able to stretch the middle of the field quite nice opening up a lot of underneath stuff for our receivers. He will be a draft sleeper in many fantasy leagues. Especially because zach miller will most likely miss a couple of games due to injury. I love this signing and miami, Adam gase mostly, hates that the dolphins weren’t able to bring him back.
Simms and Wheaton have both been sleepers for years – especially in dynasty leagues. Neither has produced. I was shocked at both their prices, but especially with Simms. It’s not like Miami was overflowing with talented pass catchers.
No market for capernak so next time he’s kneeling it would be for begging for job! Enjoy retirement your 15 minutes have been up awhile ago
Looks like that hypocrite Kaepernick screwed the pooch. He’s going to be on both knees soon begging for a job.
Anyone who believes Colin Kaperschmuck deserves a “decent” contract has no credibility in my book.
your book of sad poems and pages with your sisters picture on em stuck together?
Yes, you are sad, immature (pretty sure YOUR magazine pages are stuck together), and now I’m positive you hate yourself.
People in all walks of life make worse decisions and are given chances to redeem themselves. I don’t personally agree with how he chose to act but if I’m a prospective employer I would be curious to know if he really felt like kneeling wasn’t the right thing to do anymore or if his convictions only last until he needs another job.
Hashtag, how exactly do you know Kaepernick? Is it worse to judge a man an innocent man as a murder or claim a man’s innocence and have him murder your family? Dude, people have opinions. You made yours known and so have other people. Get over it and get a life. By the way, you don’t know him either.
Hashtag is just an idiot troll who has nothing better to do. Don’t give anything he says any credibility
Plot twist: Hashtag is Kaepernick. Kaepernick is Hashtag.
Use some stats… Kaepernick was behind Osweiler for 26th in the league in QBR. He was behind Fitzpatrick for 30th in YPG. There’s a reason he’s not signed currently, he’d have been cut if he didn’t opt out. He’s a below-average QB, there’s not much magic left. Yes, he can still run around, but that isn’t making up for his deficiencies like it had in the past. Jets are his only legit shot to start b/c they are desperate.
Kaepernick isn’t being offered because he sucks as a player. Someone will sign him to be there bench strength, and he will do something else to draw attention to himself.
Dion Sims is as good or better than M Bennett. He hasn’t been used as such. I would bet he ends up being the starter for Bears. Very athletic and plays super hard.
Can we please stop the childish messages and focus on football? I would take a chance on Kaepernick. While he hasn’t been good lately, he hasn’t had a whole lot to work with and I think he was probably at least a little distracted with the anthem controversy. I still see potential in him. But I think he needs to go to a team with at least a few weapons. I could see him doing well in Denver or Houston. Also, I’m sure he wouldn’t cost as much as other guys because his stock is so low right now.
Kaepernick is a good QB. He’s just been on bad teams since Harbough left… and this is coming from someone who hates the 49ers
People who think hating on kaepernick is somehow racist or political are morons. Kaepernick has been hated since Harbaugh gave him alex smith’s job and he lost the superbowl. The bay area wanted alex smith starting the superbowl and Harbaugh crammed “his boy” down everyone’s throat. Everyone likes to hate on balke and York for the Harbaugh debacle, myself included, but he made terrible decisions. Anyways, most 49ers fans have been waiting for kaepernick to be gone since his rookie year. Nobody will sign him because he sucks at football. He is extremely athletic and not at all smart. Add on to that his desire for the spotlight and an ego to give Langston Cobb a run for his money. Kaepernick is a chump and he won’t be missed. The bay would rather watch Steve young make a comeback.
It’s funny how all the people complaining about Kaep’s protest are indifferent to the slaughter of unarmed black men in the streets by the police. The world is stilled appalled by the epic hypocrisy in this country.
You know what I hate most about most of these comments? Is that we are so focused on what kap did on the sidelines last year vs what he’s done for his career. Which in my opinion, if he were still the starting qb last year for the niners, he would have spent more time focusing on his job vs the political stuff going on outside of football. Kap as a ball player has had a very up and down career. I like some of the things he brought to the game. It was exciting. But overall, I think he’s nothing more then a back up. What he did last year tarnished his image to most teams in the league. That’s why he hasn’t found a job yet. Most teams in the nfl operate where they like very little distractions from the outside media and kap brought way to much attention to himself. I think if he gets a chance this year again it will be because he wold have promised whoever gives him a shot that he wont cause any outside distractions. Listen, I get what his message was, but he did it on the wrong stage. Us as fans watch sports for us to escape our everyday lives and all the bs going on bad in this world. We don’t watch them to be influenced anymore then we are by the main stream media. That’s where I believe he made his mistake. At the end of the day, he will end up somewhere on a one year deal and I don’t think he will pull any other antics. I’m sure he wasn’t a fan of all the hate he was getting blasted with. He was just doing what he felt was his right.
Kaep’s sideline protest had nothing to do with politics.
The fact that so many Americans happily trade their fundamental human and civil rights for some hollow form of patriotism is sad and pathetic. What Kaep did took real courage, and should be commended.