Ample turnover may include RB Jones
Apparently asks for trade; GM confident in Benson
By David Haugh
Tribune staff reporter
February 22, 2007, 11:34 PM CST
INDIANAPOLIS -- Expect the Bears to accommodate running back Thomas Jones' apparent request for a trade as best they can. Presume they will expend just as much effort in trying to ignore the same request from linebacker Lance Briggs.
Forget the idea of free-agent quarterback Jeff Garcia being overpaid to challenge Rex Grossman or Brian Griese. But warm up the notion of Pro Bowl return man Devin Hester getting a long look on offense.
The Bears are counting on running back Cedric Benson but not necessarily on safety Mike Brown.
They hope the offensive line welcomes back free-agent guard Ruben Brown and figure their defensive line has seen its last of tackles Ian Scott and Alfonso Boone once they hit the open market next month.
Other than that, general manager Jerry Angelo had no personnel issues to discuss during a 45-minute session with local reporters in his hotel suite on the first day of the NFL scouting combine.
"The Super Bowl seemed like a long time ago," Angelo said.
Jones, with one year left on his contract, put his name atop the off-season agenda in a meeting that Angelo stopped just short of calling a trade demand.
"He has expressed some things to me personally and we'll work on some things," Angelo said. "He really enjoyed the season and likes being a Bear so it has nothing to do with anything but what he feels would be in his best interest. We're going to mull over some things."
Angelo acknowledged Briggs also was unhappy after the Bears stuck the franchise tag on him last week and guaranteed him a salary of $7.2 million. But he didn't sound worried about Briggs making things messy by holding out or trying to force a trade. Subtly, he also mentioned 2006 fourth-round draft pick Jamar Williams when discussing backup plans for Briggs.
"Hopefully it will work out and if [Briggs] has any hard feelings he'll do the right thing for himself," Angelo said. "If you play you get paid, if you don't, you won't. So that's the bottom line in terms of the business side. It has nothing to do with how we feel about him."
Nor will emotions play a role in how the Bears respond to Briggs' contract demands. Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, reportedly will seek a nine-year deal worth in excess of $63.8 million, but Angelo sounded less than optimistic of heading back to the table.
"When we made the decision, it wasn't with the intention that we were going to [negotiate now]," Angelo said. "I'm not ruling that out or saying that's not a possibility. But we made the decision about our finances that he would be playing under a one-year deal."
Some fans view Garcia, who looked rejuvenated in the second half of the season with the Eagles, as a short-term solution at quarterback. But Angelo rejected that notion by backing starter Rex Grossman, whom Angelo said endured "ludicrous scrutiny," and reminded folks the Bears already have a capable veteran backup.
"I don't really see the win in [signing Garcia], I just see that as running up and down the starting line," Angelo said. "I'm not one to mistake activity for achievement. I have a lot of respect for Garcia and what he did, but we like Brian Griese."
Adding Hester to the offense would make any quarterback smile, and Angelo opened the door to that possibility. Angelo used the term "Hester-ized," to describe the excitement he felt a year ago at the combine after seeing Hester work out.
"That's something our coaches are going to talk about at length," Angelo said of moving Hester from cornerback to receiver. "If they went that way, they wouldn't get an argument from me."
There figures to be less of a consensus at Halas Hall regarding the dependability of Mike Brown, who has missed parts of the last three seasons with leg injuries.
"We'll have to talk through that situation and a few other players like that," Angelo said of Brown.
Another Brown, Ruben, wants to return for a fourth season at left guard. But if the two sides can't agree on terms, Angelo expressed confidence in backup Terrence Metcalf.
Asked about the stability of the defensive line, Angelo didn't hesitate when addressing the status of free-agents Boone and Scott, who has drawn early interest from the Broncos.
"We're planning on moving forward [without them]," he said.
Angelo sounded just as certain about moving forward in the running game behind Benson, despite lingering concerns about his durability and maturity. If Jones indeed leaves town, Angelo said he would have no qualms turning to Benson as his top back.
"Are there still some unanswered questions [about Benson]? Yes," he said. "But when we brought Thomas Jones in here there were some unknowns about him and he answered the bell. It's just part of the business sometimes. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You'd like to know everybody you put out there is tried and tested. But it just doesn't work that way."
