Are the Chicago Bears Really Done Finding Jay...

Everyone knows what an NFL team says and what they do are two different things. The Chicago Bears claim they have enough talent on the offensive line to protect Jay Cutler. Is it true or are there a few moves they can make?

At such a late stage in free agency it's almost impossible to find real help at any area of a football team. Still the offensive line market swelled slightly a few weeks ago thanks to an old Chicago rival. The Green Bay Packers say goodbye to their 12-year veteran tackle Chad Clifton. A product of Tennessee, Clifton came into the league protecting Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and ended his time in Green Bay helping the Pack win their fourth Super Bowl. He has gone to two Pro Bowls and helped lead his team to a 15-1 record last year. At 35, he has a lot of mileage on his body but the Chicago Bears must look past that at what Clifton could offer. He has played left tackle most of his career and brings valuable championship experience to an offense largely void of it. Though the Packers released him because he failed a physical, it should not scare Chicago away from at least trying him out.

New Bears GM Phil Emery schooled with another highly respected executive named Scott Pioli. Some might remember him as the general manager who built the New England Patriots into a dynasty. Emery has great respect for what the Patriots do, which is why he likely has an ear close to their team activities. So he likely heard about the coming retirement of longtime left tackle Matt Light. An 11-year veteran out of Purdue, Light protected the blind side of Tom Brady through all five New England Super Bowl appearances since 2001. He has also reached four Pro Bowls. After another crushing loss to the New York Giants last season, Light decided his time in the trenches had ended. He plans to officially retire on May 7th. While his choice likely came after great debate, it shouldn't stop Emery from exploring a way to bring Light to Chicago. His experience in pass protection alone would give Cutler and new weapon Brandon Marshall a chance to thrive.

Great quarterbacks can't become great without protection. The Chicago Bears should have seen that when they traded for Jay Cutler. Now with Phil Emery in charge they can get it right. The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots, two winning franchises, let their left tackles out the door. Chad Clifton and Matt Light may come across as old, but the leadership and championship experience they would bring might put the Chicago offense on the map for the first time in decades.

Comments: 6

Paul M. May 6, 2012, 11:40am UTC

They should just buy Cutler a gun.

Erik Lambert May 6, 2012, 11:42am UTC

Sounds like a plan if it couldn't so easily become a felony.

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Ali Hussein Lopez May 6, 2012, 12:34pm UTC

I hope they're not done. When the second phase of free agency starts, and some vets get canned for salary reasons, they should still be looking. I think both of the guys you mentioned are done.

Erik Lambert May 6, 2012, 12:36pm UTC

Oh I never had any intention of them being major answers, merely rentals until the Bears find someone better through free agency or can find a draft pick next season for Tice to groom. Still I think a few teams loaded with linemen might be forced to axe someone the Bears can collect. I don't think they're done shopping yet.

Rob Fagiano-Gleason May 6, 2012, 7:58pm UTC

I think they are TOO confident that they have the pieces for the OL! I can appreciate that they think they have it figured out, but for a team that did piss poor in protecting Jay, I dont see why they wouldnt take the same approach theyre taking with acquiring all of these receivers and special team players? Do we plan on getting rid of Hester, because were picking up returners left and right? I think if they said "we arent gonna concentrate on special teams, even though we lost one of our best special teams players" I could live with that. But you cant pick up someone that is actually going to potentially start, not named Chilo?
But we look like we got a couple of good looking potential players for O and D line in the UsFA, but I am far from banking on that!

Erik Lambert May 6, 2012, 10:11pm UTC

Unfortunately for Bears fans it's a wait and see approach right now. No linemen with considerable respect have gotten shown the door yet and you'd think with all the guys taken in the draft that would've happened by now. I like what the Bears did in free agency. By having multiple returners it allows players to stay fresh all game. This makes Hester even more dangerous AND more viable on offense. I'm confident the Bears aren't done shopping but what they can get in free agency remains to be seen. All I know is they have plenty of roster spots left for quite a few moves.

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Are the Chicago Bears Really Done Finding Jay Cutler Protection?

Comments: 6

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