Defensive Backfield Issues

[Lets_Play_2]

For this year, we have Charles Tillman (Peanut), Jerry Azumah (Zoom), & Nathan Vasher as our front 3 at the CB poisition. Sounds pretty good as long as all remain healthy, but there's an upcomming problem for next year.

Zoom is going to be a FA, and he and his agent already turned down an offer from Jerry Angelo for an extension so they can test free agency Not good, because experienced CB's are a sought after commodity, and tend to get a premium price.

Currently, at the end of the 2005 season, the Bears unrestricted free agents (UFA) will be Jerry Azumah, Dustin Lyman, Chad Hutchinson, Darnell Sanders, Bobby Gray, Roberto Garza, Eddie Berlin, Steve Edwards, John Gilmore, John Owens, Terrence Metcalf, LeVar Woods and Doug Brien.

Azumah looks like (barring injury) to be looking for a contract exceeding what he's getting, and based upon this year's FA CB deals, would want at least a $6 to $8 mil signing bonus (maybe even higher), which just looks to be too rich for the Bears.

This impacts on all our draft planning for next year, and for better or worse, now's the time to start planning. OLT, OLB, TE, and now, CB?
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Most People Prefer Tactics, I Prefer Logistics.

[Canadianbear]

Its a little too early to be dismissing Azumah already. If the Bears were to have a great season, Azumah might be willing to sign for a bit less to stay on the team.

Looking at this years draft, the Bears could fill those holes pretty easy. A TE could be found late in the draft, leaving an OLB and CB to be picked up in the first two rounds.

[Los Osos]

What the hell has Azumah ever done for the Bears? Adios "Zoom".

[obob]

Azumah proved to be a solid return man, Pro Bowl, and I feel he could be witch of a nickel. Of course that depens on the role Vasher takes on
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Cry havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War

[redwing5]

Zoom is not that good of a corner, and both the Bears and others teams see this. Therefore he will NOT get perimum price. He will get #2 money. His main benifit to the team is a returner he has to many defensive lapses. Hes a good returner but thats not that hard to find and hes not like Dante Hall, but hes up there. Hes not that good a corner so if he wants big time corner money, let him walk, he's a special teamer.

[GRRLacher]

[redwing5]

I still think that we need a better #2 corner. I think that Zoom is expendable. We have 2 AWESOME #3's but the are only ok #2's at best. If your looking to the offseason already, look for corners because we need a solid #2.