With Super Bowl XXXVII in the NFL’s rearview mirror, the Bears’ efforts to put one in their future ratchet up with a sense of urgency.
General manager Jerry Angelo begins meetings with coaches and the personnel staff this week to determine where the franchise will turn when free agency begins March 3, shortly after the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis in late February and before the NFL Draft in late April.
Offense
Quarterback remains the franchise’s most pressing question. The Bears want more help than Chris Chandler and Henry Burris can provide. And Jim Miller’s shoulder surgery is likely to keep him idle until the start of training camp.
Late in the season Angelo said he has come to believe quarterbacks routinely bounce around before attaining success. The Super Bowl quarterbacks are an example and Arizona’s Jake Plummer and Pittsburgh’s Kordell Stewart are expected to be released, fitting Angelo’s criteria.
“You’re buying a little bit of what a guy can be, figuring that when he gets to the next spot, it’s going to happen. It’s a hunch, but it’s a hunch with history,” said Angelo.
Running back is also unclear, where Anthony Thomas hopes to retake his starting spot from LeonThomas.
“I haven’t given up on Anthony, but I don’t feel Anthony is ‘special’ by any stretch,” Angelo said. “I’m just not convinced. As we were taking on water last season, he was drowning. If we do something [at running back] it will probably be in the draft.”
Defense
The Bears will pay a $3 million roster bonus due on March 1 to linebacker Warrick Holdman. The Bears are confident Holdman can come back after his second season-ending knee injury Sept. 29 (right). Some teammates believe he could have returned last season, which suggests his recovery has gone without problems.
The Holdman decision makes it unlikely that Rosevelt Colvin will be re-signed to a long-term deal. Colvin could be designated a franchise player, but that means a one-year fixed salary cap hit that Angelo doesn’t want.
Either Keith Traylor or Ted Washington is likely to be released and a defensive lineman selected in the April draft. Angelo has spoken highly of Penn State’s Jimmy Kennedy and Kentucky’s Dewayne Robertson.
How the NFL stacks up heading into next season
1. Buccaneers. Wait until Gruden finds offensive players he likes.
2. Jets. Exhibition game in Tokyo vs. Bucs a Super-Bowl preview?
3. Falcons. Michael Vick is in a hurry to get to a Super Bowl.
4. Titans. Jeff Fisher will find way to make defense better.
5. Packers. Receivers will be seasoned. Defense is key.
6. Steelers. They will bounce back from disappointing year.
7. Broncos. Somewhere there must be a quarterback for Shanahan.
8. Eagles. They must find more scoring threats to improve.
9. Giants. Still pretty solid on both sides, need consistency.
10. Patriots. One-year wonders come back as Belichick plots.
11. Dolphins. Defense and running too solid to slip much further.
12. Chiefs. Just a slight improvement on defense will pay off.
13. Browns. Quarterback controversy, but William Green is ready.
14. 49ers. Mariucci might be harder to replace than they think.
15. Rams. Trouble looms again because this team is too talented.
16. Ravens. A lot depends on the quarterback; not much new there.
17. Cowboys. Parcells does make a difference; it’s a start.
18. Colts. Dungy will have to retool defense to have a chance.
19. Saints. Beat Bucs twice, but something’s wrong with character.
20. Raiders. They are about $49 million over next year’s salary cap.
21. Seahawks. They’d better be better or Holmgren might be out.
22. Vikings. Tice had nice finish; they look on the way up.
23. Chargers. They haven’t developed enough belief in themselves.
24. Bills. Gregg Williams must fix the leaky defense in a hurry.
25. Panthers. With a quarterback, this defense could move way up.
26. Jaguars. Jack Del Rio will infuse enthusiasm, but talent is thin.
27. Redskins. Spurrier must stop fooling around at quarterback.
28. Texans. Still working to develop nucleus around quarterback.
29. Cardinals. Still too many question marks to make big jump.
30. Bears. Jauron walks high-wire again, this time with no net.
31. Bengals. Improvement is slow, but Marvin Lewis offers some hope.
32. Lions. Would Mariucci want this job?
Key dates
Date: Feb. 20-24
What happens: NFL scouting combine, Indy
Date: March 3*
What happens: Free-agency begins; deadline for qualifying offers to restricted free agents
Date: April 26-27
What happens: NFL draft
Date: May 2-4*
What happens: Postdraft mini-camp
Date: June 1-15*
What happens: Mini-camps
Date: July 18*
What happens: Training camp opens
Date: Feb. 1
What happens: Super Bowl XXXVIII, Houston
*TENATIVE
