They don’t think about it much, but the NFL is, after all, a business as well as a sport. Approximately half of the Bears’ starters are free agents in one form or another after this season, which leaves one very major conclusion:
Enjoy the moment. The Bears are.
“I think guys are just focused on the now,” said quarterback Jim Miller, one of the unrestricted free-agents-to-be. “Every year it changes just with turnover and how the team will be structured. The team will be completely different next year.”
Exactly how different remains to be seen. General manager Jerry Angelo was a leader while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at re-signing what the organization evaluated as good, young talent. Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Warren Sapp–all Pro Bowl players–were signed to long-term extensions before they ever hit free agency.
Angelo is trying to do the same in Chicago. His stated preference is to reward a team’s own players rather than overpay imports. The team-building philosophy he has brought with him is to draft well with players who fit the schemes and organization’s mind-set, and evaluate those players early.
The Bears have made contract overtures and had talks with every one of their free-agents-to-be.
Discussions with Miller have slowed as the team tries to decide how they view him: starter or backup. The Bears made a concerted effort to sign former Stanford quarterback Chad Hutchinson, but he remains undecided on whether to stay with a baseball career or move to football, and he would not replace Miller soon in any case.
The No. 1 priority remains cornerback R.W. McQuarters, playing at a near-Pro Bowl level and at a position that traditionally commands among the highest salaries on the field. In fact, the Bears talked with agents Tom Condon and Ken Kremer about a deal as long as six years for McQuarters. That length of contract is typically needed to spread out a huge signing bonus.
The contract extension to Jerry Azumah earlier this year, which included a $2.5 million signing bonus, was a statement that the organization views him as a starter-in-waiting.
He has been unable to break through this season, but the contract and push for McQuarters suggest that Walt Harris will again be on the free-agent market after re-signing this year with the Bears for one year.
Elsewhere in the secondary, the future of strong safety Tony Parrish is not assured if only because he is due to be unrestricted after this season.
Parrish was a starter from his first game in 1998 and has not missed a start, a run of 60 straight games.
“It’s there, but it’s not something you spend much time on,” Parrish said. “I’m just trying to play hard. I know it’s there, but it’s not something that I worry about.”
The team also exchanged proposals with agent Kenard McGuire for a five-year deal to lock up restricted free-agent linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, but a deal seemed closer in September and October. The Bears will have some pressure to get a deal done on a linebacker who has 6.5 sacks through 11 games and is an emerging emotional leader on the defense.
“You look at the team next year, it may not be the same team, unless they do a whole lot of re-signing,” Colvin said. “So we have to take advantage of the opportunity we have right now.”
On the offensive line, rookie Bernard Robertson was shifted to center last month after spending training camp and the early part of the season at guard and tackle. Angelo also brought in former Tampa Bay center Kevin Dogins.
While neither is at the level of Olin Kreutz yet, the reality is that the Bears have depth in place and are not likely to get in a serious bidding war for their two-time Pro Bowl alternate. The San Francisco 49ers are very high on Kreutz.
At right tackle, veteran James Williams is the oldest Bear in terms of service by five years. The Bears are tying up a roster spot to hold onto massive (6-6, 315 pounds) rookie tackle Damion Cook for a reason.
STATS & STUFF
PLAYOFFS
1994
Last year the Bears were in the playoffs. They can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Tampa Bay (7-5) Sunday. The Bears also are trying to improve to 10-3 for the first time since 1990.
ON A ROLL
Tampa Bay has won three consecutive games since its 27-24 loss to the Bears on Nov. 18:
1. Nov. 26: at St. Louis 24-17
2. Dec. 2: at Cincinnati 16-13 (OT)
3. Dec. 9: vs. Detroit 15-13
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
12
Tampa Bay’s league ranking in passing. Free-agent acquisition Brad Johnson has improved the Bucs’ passing attack, throwing for 2,872 yards and 10 touchdowns.
1
Touchdown receptions for Keyshawn Johnson, who leads the NFL with a career-high 93 receptions for 1,077 yards. It was a big TD, beating Detroit on Sunday. Veteran tight end Dave Moore leads Tampa Bay with three TD catches.
SACK REPORT
16
Sacks by Tampa Bay’s defensive line. Tackle Warren Sapp and right end Simeon Rice have keyed the defense, which ranks ninth in total defense and sixth in points allowed per game. Nose tackle Anthony McFarland and left end Marcus Jones round out the Bucs’ defensive line.
ON THE RUN
Weather conditions in Chicago have dictated the Bucs run the football more against the Bears in recent years in late November and December. Here’s a look at that trend in games at Soldier Field after Nov. 19:
PLAYER YEAR YDS CAR
W. Dunn 1998 62 22
W. Dunn 1999 80 16
W. Dunn 2000 75 17
%%
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TIME OUT WITH . . .
Bears defensive lineman Phillip Daniels, talking about the recent ineffectiveness of the Bears’ offense:
“We’re not frustrated at all. We realize we don’t have St. Louis’ offense here. We’ve got guys who go out and work hard and play hard and try to do the best they can and sometimes they’re just not going to be able to move the ball.”
SWEEP SUCCESS
The Bears own the all-time edge over Tampa Bay with a 32-15 record, including 11 series sweeps and a 12-game win streak from 1983-88. The division matchup was lopsided over the first 13 years with the Bears winning 18 of the first 24 contests starting in 1977. The Bears’ series sweeps came in 1980, 1983-88, 1990,1991,1994 and 1995.
THE MATCHUP
vs. Tampa Bay (7-5)
Noon, Sunday at Soldier Field
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32; WBBM-AM 780.
Quick look: The Bears hope to keep pace with Green Bay in the Central Division with a win.. Tampa Bay can climb back into the division race with its fourth straight victory.
–Fred Mitchell.
