Even though only seven teams had more sacks than the Bears last season, Coach Lovie Smith wants more consistent pressure on the quarterback. BearReport.com has learned the team recently brought a pass rush specialist to Halas Hall for a closer look.
Bears Target Second Day Pass Rusher
In his five seasons as the Bears' general manager, Jerry Angelo has seen his team suffer through some down times at quarterback. But now Angelo has a different perspective on the Bears' quarterback position after adding as a backup Brian Griese, who has been an accomplished starter for most of his eight NFL seasons. "It's like standing on top of the John Hancock (building)," Angelo said.
Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah retired Thursday because of neck and hip pain the past two seasons, ending a seven-year career with Chicago in which he made the Pro Bowl in 2003.
The 28-year-old Azumah missed most of the preseason after minor hip surgery and lost his starting job to Pro Bowl selection Nathan Vasher in the final year of his contract.
"This has been a great ride," he said during a news conference. "It's nothing to cry about or hold my head down to.
Bears' Azumah retires because of hip, neck pain
LAKE FOREST - Jerry Azumah recalled his arrival at Halas Hall, when the Bears converted him to cornerback after an award-winning career as a Division I-AA running back at New Hampshire.
TEAM NEEDS 1. Cornerback: Jerry Azumah won't be back because of a chronic hip injury. Nate Vasher went to his first Pro Bowl and is a tremendous ball athlete with a nose for interceptions, even though he is undersized and doesn't have great speed. Charles Tillman, the other starter, may not be able to match up against smaller, quicker, faster receivers and could be better suited to safety. None of the backups from last season did anything to distinguish themselves. 2.
Chicago Bears Strategy and Personnel
--Shortly after the Bears announced the signing of free-agent quarterback Brian Griese, coach Lovie Smith reiterated that Rex Grossman is the Bears' starter. But that isn't etched in stone, and Grossman's status isn't nearly as secure as it was before Griese came aboard. "Our starting rotation will be Rex, Brian and then Kyle (Orton)," Smith said. "The person at the top of the depth chart knows he has to play a certain way, or you give the second guy an opportunity to play.
RB Cory Ross has had to overcome many obstacles over the course of his college career, but there are new hurdles in making the jump to the NFL.
The Bears have helped their offense by adding veteran quarterback Brian Griese, but there is still cap space to make more moves.
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They currently belong to the Northern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL).
Originally called the Decatur Staleys, the team was established by the A.E. Staley Company of Decatur, Illinois in 1919. One year later, George Halas took over the team and it became a charter member of the NFL. The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where it was called the Chicago Staleys before being renamed the Bears in 1922.
The Bears have won 9 total league titles (trailing only the Green Bay Packers, who have 12), including 8 NFL Championships and Super Bowl XX. The Bears have the most enshrinees (26 members) in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team also has a fierce rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, which is the longest rivalry in the NFL with over 170 meetings between the two clubs.
Since 1971, the team has played its home games at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The stadium is located right next to Lake Michigan and was recently remodeled to resemble the other newer stadiums being built around the league.