Offseason of change beckons
QB Rex Grossman
This is a hard call. While it´s a safe bet the Bears at least will offer him an incentive-laden one-year deal, it will come down to his marketability. There´s no telling whether there´s another team that secretly covets Grossman and views him as a solution to its needs. If so, he´s gone.
RB Cedric Benson
The big money already has been spilled, and Benson has lost out on a bonus that was figured into the guaranteed $16 million he was to receive. He now comes at a reasonable price for a running back. The Bears will bring him back but will place a high priority on finding someone to compete with him because all he has proved is that he´s a decent backup when motivated.
WR Bernard Berrian
He´s running a fly pattern into the wallet of another franchise. Berrian is seeking No. 1 receiver money, although he´s widely viewed as a No. 2. With little competition on the open market and with Arizona´s Larry Fitzgerald about to restructure the landscape for paying wide receivers, Berrian might get close to what he´s seeking.
WR Muhsin Muhammad
The Bears need to treat Muhammad and Berrian separately and not tie the future of one to the other. Although Muhammad provides leadership with his professional approach, he isn´t getting separation from defenders and has a $500,000 roster bonus due in March with an ´08 cap hit of more than $3.3 million. That´s not commensurate with his production.
WR Mark Bradley
The former second-round pick has proven he can stay healthy this season but hasn´t contributed. Is there any reason to think that will change? Angelo has a tough time cutting bait on draft picks.
WR Rashied Davis
Headed to free agency, he hasn´t done much to boost his stock, but he has contributed on special teams recently. They can´t get rid of everyone in the meeting room.
TE John Gilmore
The durable performer is expected to take his blocking services elsewhere.
LG Ruben Brown
Everyone complained about the Bears having the oldest line in the league, but they got worse when the younger Terrence Metcalf replaced Brown. He wants to continue but will take his Hall of Fame credentials elsewhere at 36.
RT Fred Miller
He has never once talked about the partially torn MCL in his right knee that has been hampering him. The season has not gone well for Miller, and his cap figure of $5.8 million is far too high. But the Bears better have a backup plan in mind before they launch him because serviceable tackles with Miller´s record for durability just aren´t available. John Tait could be his replacement if Angelo drafts a left tackle in the first round.
DT Darwin Walker
There´s a reason why Philadelphia unloaded him in the first place. He won´t see the $5.2 million roster bonus that´s due in March.
DE Alex Brown
He demanded a trade last offseason, but there´s no reason to let him go. He plays his butt off no matter what and probably should have been the starter ahead of Mark Anderson. The Bears have a lot of needs to fill, and he´s one guy who could bring a little in the way of market value. They´re only creating another hole if they deal him.
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo
The two-time Pro Bowl pick is seeking to be the highest-paid special teamer in the league at $2 million annually. That´s unlikely to happen with the Bears, who will trust in Dave Toub to develop a new ace. It will be tough to let him go, though; he makes those around him better.
LB Lance Briggs
Teammates privately are admitting they´ll see the last of him in a Bears uniform Sunday. The Bears would have to significantly outbid the marketplace for his services. There won´t be a hometown discount -- rather a hometown tariff.
SS Adam Archuleta
The Bears thought they could rekindle the guy who once starred for Smith with the St. Louis Rams. Apparently not. Although he has received the bulk of his money, he doesn´t look to be a fit here.
SS Mike Brown
Sadly, even if the Bears choose to bring him back, what are the chances he plays in 16 games? Or 10? This might be a toss-up, though, because everyone at Halas Hall recognizes how sorely the Bears miss his leadership.
SS Brandon McGowan
Quietly, he has played pretty well down the stretch. But he has a checkered past with injuries and plays with such reckless abandon, you wonder about his ability to remain healthy. He will get a tender offer. There´s no draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere because he was undrafted.
CB Ricky Manning Jr.
The coaching staff doesn´t like him on the outside, but he plays the slot well. It would be a mistake to mess with the chemistry at one of the few positions where the team is in good shape.
