Could the Chicago Bears See Free Agents Flock to Lovie Smith?By Erik Lambert - Jan 2nd, 2014 at 3:22 pm
Dec. 30, 2012; Detroit Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith runs off the field after defeating the Detroit Lions 26-24 at Ford Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports Not that fans would cry if it happened, but truthfully things got a lot more interesting for the Chicago Bears when news hit Lovie Smith was taking over in Tampa Bay. Could this mean a more massive turnover on defense? Charles Tillman and Henry Melton may wish to head south to Tampa No team has more free agents to lock up in 2014 than Chicago, which is why they have gotten a head start on getting key names signed as quickly as possible including Jay Cutler and Matt Slauson. Cornerback Tim Jennings is the only defender to get a new deal so far, which is not surprising since he played far better than anybody else on that woeful unit in 2013. The real question ahead for the Bears is how much bargaining power they will have. A week ago they seemed to hold all the cards with no other teams likely to have as much interest in signing them due to injury problems and erratic play. Then their former coach Lovie Smith signed a four-year deal to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Word has leaked that their former coordinator Rod Marinelli will be joining him as well. Coupled with the glorious Florida weather, several of the Bears veterans such as Charles Tillman and Henry Melton who experienced their best football under Smith might wish to forego new deals in Chicago to rejoin him in Tampa. Marc Trestman has left the door open for switch to a 3-4 Such a thing could cause continuity problems for the Bears but in reality changes are coming for their defense. After watching the unit implode over the last two games of the season, head coach Marc Trestman refused to dismiss any options on the table, which included possibly switching schemes to a 3-4 defense. Such an event would mark the first time it has ever happened in Chicago and is not really surprising. Fans and experts alike have mulled the possibility all season. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has deep roots in the 3-4 scheme from his days in Cleveland and college. On top of that the current young players the Bears have such as 2012 first round pick Shea McClellin seem to have the athletic build that is much better suited for outside linebacker in such a defense. Lastly, and perhaps most important, the 2014 draft is expected to be quite rich in 3-4 pass rushers and press cover cornerbacks, two essentials to the system. If ever the Chicago Bears were to make the switch they’ve picked a good year to do so. Ultimately there is a strong likelihood the team will lose at least one big name free agent to Lovie Smith and the Bucs. The question will be whether it was one they wanted to keep in the first place. http://nflmocks.com/2014/01/02/chicago-bears-see-free-agents-flock-lovie-smith/ Bucs add Fordham kicker for '14 competition and defensive tackle Everett Watkins and offensive lineman Jason Foster. Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer? ? Wednesday, January 1, 2014 3:36pm 
The Bucs' kicking job for 2014 is a wide-open competition, with current starter Rian Lindell an unrestricted free agent and previous starter Connor Barth recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Add one more name to the mix: former Fordham kicker and punter Pat Murray, who signed a futures contract with the team after being a consensus All-American in 2011-12.Murray, who had two workouts with the Bucs during the season but wasn't signed, said he was evaluated as a punter, kickoff specialist and place-kicker, but he expects to compete most for duties on field goals, extra points and kickoffs."I was very grateful for the opportunity, and fortunately I did enough to impress them," Murray said by phone Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to getting down there again." Murray, from Mahwah, N.J., went to rookie minicamp last spring with the Bears and also had two workouts this fall with the Giants. The 5-foot-7, 182-pound kicker connected on 25 field goals as a senior, including kicks from 52 and 55 yards, and also averaged 42.9 yards as a punter."We got the call from Tampa Bay and we were absolutely over the moon," he said. "It's a great place to be ... Whoever is the new coach and GM, I can't wait to get down there and play for them."Teams can sign "street" free agents to futures contracts after the end of the regular season, putting them on roster to compete for a 2014 roster spot. The Bucs were able to sign some players before making the decision to fire coach Greg Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik, including at least two practice-squad players, defensive tackle Everett Watkins and offensive lineman Jason Foster.
Tillman, Melton, Peppers and Hester would all be nice. But I doubt we get all of them. Tillman and Hester are the most likely.
Actually with Frazier on board, you can add Minnesota FA as well. Apparently he was well liked by his team and it's very possible that guys like Allen will now put Tampa higher on their list. We could be in for a really nice FA haul this year. I'd definitely like Melton and Allen to help out the defensive line.
This is why I keep saying we should stick to offense in the draft. QB, TE, and OL.....with a WR in the later rounds.We should be able to get Jared Allen and Peanut Tillman. We might even be able to land Henry Melton too. We have the cap room and those signings would make our defense ridiculous. Some people argue that Tillman and Allen are too old and only short term answers, but to that I say that this is the NFL and there is nothing but short term answers. They have 3 years left in them and 3 years is about as far as you can realistically plan for. I say sign them and enjoy the next three years of awesomeness.
Definitely could use linemen. But don't overpay for them. May not be any room for Tillman. We'll see. Should be interesting.
No room for Tillman? How so?
If this FA period is like last years, then those guys will come fairly cheap.AllenTillmanMeltonDraft:WatkinsASJGarrapolo/Thomas/Boyd in the 4th
Melton would be such a steal for us. He was a top 5 Dtackle in the LEAGUE before he got hurt
My ideal scenario would be.....Sign Jared Allen, Henry Melton, and Peanut Tillman in FA....as well as a top OG since Nicks and/or Joseph are likely done here. (I'd actually prefer Sam Shields to Tillman, but Tillman is much more likely)Then draft QB Bortles, TE Jenkins, and WR Josh Huff. Boom! Crown us.
I'm all in for Tillman, Allen, and Hester. Melton will probably Cash in somewhere else.
Melton plays the same 3 tech as McCoy and as others have stated he's top 5 at the position. He won't come cheap. Better to pay McCoy who's top 3 at the position. Tillman makes sense but he's injured too much for my liking. Wouldn't give him anything longer than a 2 year deal.Julius Peppers or Jared Allen makes the most sense and would provide immediate impact. Yes please to Devin Hester. He outran a cheetah. Any other lower tier, depth players would make sense. Schiano littered this team with his Rutgers rejects. Better to have NFL players instead.
Everson Griffen is probably on the radar as well.
I expect FAs to come easier. Lovie is no joke.
We're not getting Melton lets be realistic. McCoy's contract is about to run up after next year and Melton will be looking for a nice fat contract like Gerald would want. I think its plausible to get Tillman, Peppers, and DT like Randy Starks. Spence role reduces to third tackle. Peppers at LDE, Clayborn at RDE, with Gholston spelling both ends.Revis/Tillman on both sides. Banks isn't really an inside CB but I think we could put him back as a third safety maybe. CB depth needs to be addressed though that's for sure.
Melton is coming off a torn ACL. He's not getting McCoy money. It's very realistic that we could get him for reasonable money to play alongside McCoy
