The Chicago Bears are going to be all about offense in 2013. You knew that when they replaced Lovie Smith with Marc Trestman as head coach. It looks like their next priority will be improving their receiving corp and that starts with the tight end position.
The Bears are looking for an upgrade over Kellen Davis, who caught just 19 balls for 229 yards in 2012. They’re also looking to improve a group that was inconsequential after Brandon Marshall and his 118 receptions. No other Bears receiver had more than 45 catches.
The Bears’ No. 1 target now appears to be Tennessee Titans tight end Jared Cook. The Titans were expected to franchise Cook, but didn’t because he claimed he should be treated as a wide receiver. It’s the same bullshit claim Jermichael Finley made before free agency last season. The franchise tag for receivers is $3.5 million more than for tight ends.
Cook had 44 catches for 523 yards in 13 games in 2012. He had 49 for 759 in 2011.
Obviously he would be an instant upgrade for the Bears, who are expected to feature the tight end more prominently under offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who comes to Chicago from New Orleans.
Cook’s situation raises some questions about the Green Bay Packers own tight end situation. They currently have Finley under contract for $8.25 million, which is an absurd amount when compared to his production.
It’s been suggested that the Bears would make a run at Finley if the Packers release him. If the Packers do decide to go in that direction, they could always sign Cook to replace him.
Both players are 25 and they’re pretty much exactly the same size (6-5, 245ish). Cook seems to flap his lips a lot less than Finley though.
Just a thought to ponder.
With or without a tight end…the bears still suck
Actually, I would take Finley’s attitude over Cook’s, who is an infamous blowhard himself.
It really doesn’t matter who the Bears add as long as Cutler continues to throw the ball to Marshall even when he is triple covered.
And if Cutler had a hard time finding the 6-7 Davis, how is the connection going to improve with the smaller and faster Cook?
Good picture of Nick Barnett being 10 yards off the TE.
Really good observation
The Titans were expected to franchise Cook, but didn’t because he claimed he should be treated as a wide receiver. It’s the same bullshit claim Jermichael Finley made before free agency last season. – don’t mean to be a hater, but this argument holds about as much water as Finley catches balls – maybe at best.
Good memory tim, i remember that also. I’d have no problem if the Packers could trade Finley for a 2nd round or high 3rd, I’m at the point where i feel ill just by his name being mentioned.
Hmmm, I bet duh bares wish they had a guy, say, a guy something like, oh, I don’t know… Greg FUCKING Olson! LMAO. What an organization of morons. They casted away their first round TE because he didn’t fit into their shitbag O-coordinators scheme… Shortly after they cast away said coordinator, and now they’re back where they were years ago… Looking for a pass catching TE. Granted, Olson isn’t the be-all -end-all at the position, but he’s a pretty damn good TE. Dysfunction at its finest… What a shitbomb halas hall is, I love it.
GBP 4 LIFE
And all we can do is sit back, revel in the schadenfraude and pray to God it continues…
Yes indeed. That was a great stroll down memory lane. I remember thinking that they were total idiots. Olson always killed us deep up the middle. Was very happy to see him shipped off for nothing*.
*Carolina’s third-round pick in the 2012 draft
3 – Brandon Hardin, S, Oregon State (6-3, 217)
TCKL —
SCK —
FF —
INT —
For the regular season… 2 combined tackles and 1 pass defended in the preseason!
Just a thought to…Christian Ponder?
I think the dominant two TE matchup a la New England is the direction they, GB, might test this upcoming season should they decide to keep flapshisgums. Unless they decide to pay da man, Rodgers, that would still make sense. They could draft Escobar so we can have our own latino, Hernandez, whatever…or my guy Kelce who will can the ball and knock your arse to the ground in the running game.