Chip Shots: Bears Continue Assault On Peppers

Chip Shots
A Sports Blog

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I'm Chip Ramsey a career broadcaster who has been a sports radio program director in Milwaukee and Nashville. I've covered everything from high school and college sports (including the SEC, Big Ten, MVC and OVC) to Major League Baseball, The NFL and the NHL. I have a few things to say, and when I want to say them, I say them here.

I mostly talk about my teams, which would be the White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks, but I do talk about other things as well. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you will bookmark this site and visit often!

Chip's broadcast career

Chip Shots: Bears Continue Assault On Peppers

Bears Continue Assault On Peppers

Today is the first day of the free agent signing period in the NFL sans salary cap and the Chicago Bears are proving to be players. They've already signed former San Diego tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, which, in effect, signals the end of the Desmond Clark era. Manumaleuna is a blocking specialist and will be a key cog in new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's revised offensive scheme.

As the late Billy Mays used to say "But wait, there's more."

Bears head coach Lovie Smith has been dispatched aboard a private plane to North Carolina to bring back what many consider to be the biggest free agent prize, former Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers. Rumor has it Peppers may already be in the fold and the Bears will hold a press conference this afternoon to make it official.

If you think Peppers and Manumaleuna may be a pretty good haul for a days work, there is still more. The Bears are engaged in serious talks with RB Chester Taylor. Taylor, a backup in Minnesota, could become the starter in Chicago. He's not a guarantee though as his asking price may be out of the realm.

And one more free agent, former Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle may also be interested in coming to the Bears.

The good news is if these four players are all signed up, they may significantly improve the Bears in 2010. Unfortunately, Lovie Smith is still the coach and the players, as talented as they are, don't coach, game plan or make halftime adjustments. And, more important than anything NONE OF THESE PLAYERS ARE WIDE RECEIVERS,GUARDS OR TACKLES!

This could be a big day for the Bears, but you've seen before that even adding top tier free agents can be putting lipstick on a pig if there are other problems. The absorption of Martz's offense, the weakness at wide out and the continuing concern over the health of Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher brings you back to reality. There's also the fact that my mother-in-law, wife and both dogs can protect a quarterback better than the Bears offensive line.

So, before you think about planing your vacation around Super Bowl XLV, know this; A lot more questions need to be answered first, even if Virginia McCaskey's purse is wide open.