2007 Results: 7-9
2008 Projected Cap Status: $11,890,400 under the cap
2007 Season Recap:
Following a 33-25 win over the Saints in a rematch of the 2006 NFC Championship, the Bears finished the season 7-9, after the 2006 victory over the Saints the Bear went on to the Super Bowl, after the 2007 lost they went home. This continues a trend in the NFL, as Chicago became the sixth team in seven years that lost the Super Bowl then failed to make the playoffs the following season. The quarterback situation took most of the heat for the team dropping to last in the division standings. The Bears seem to deal with the spot different than most NFL teams (over the last decade they have started at least three different in the same season seven times).
Team Needs:
1. Wide Receiver – Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd have been brought in, as Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian both signed elsewhere. Devin Hester hasn’t developed into the receiving option the team had hoped he’d become. Mark Bradley has been with the team for the past three years but has been unproductive
2. Offensive Line – This unit needs to get young at just about every position across line, starting center Olin Kreutz is entering his 11th season, guard Ruben Brown was cut and his replacement Terrence Metcalf struggled when he replaced Brown last year, this means 30 year old backup tackle John St. Clair will be slotted as the starting right guard, 33 year old John Tait is able to play at either tackle spot, the Bears can benefit from this if they can find a player that can develop quickly.
3. Safety – Mike Brown’s battle with injuries over the past four years caused the Bears to bring some help last season, however Adam Archuleta turned out to be unproductive for his second straight season, meaning the Bears will need a safety who can challenge for a starting spot or provide quality depth
2008 Draft Picks:
1st Round – 14th overall
2nd Round – 44th overall
3rd Round – 70th overall (from SF),
3rd Round –90th overall (from SD),
4th Round – 119th overall
5th Round – 143rd overall (from CAR)
6th Round – 178th overall
7th Round – 225th overall
7th Round – 246th overall (Comp)
7th Round – 250th overall (Comp)
7th Round – 251st overall (Comp)
Free agency status:
UFA:
OG Ruben Brown
DT Antonio Garay
RFA:
WR Rashied Davis
S Brandon McGowan
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
WR Marty Booker: Dolphins
WR Brandon Lloyd: Redskins
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
LB Lance Briggs: UFA
QB Rex Grossman: UFA
PLAYERS LOST
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo: Ravens
WR Bernard Berrian: Vikings
TE John Gilmore: Buccaneers
QB Brian Griese: Traded to the Buccaneers
DT Jimmy Kennedy: Jaguars
PLAYERS RELEASED
CB Ade Jimoh
T Fred Miller
WR Muhsin Muhammad
DT Darwin Walker
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Bernie Marshall