Report: Tillman Won't Move to Safety

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times said this in his Wait a secondary: Tillman to stay at CB:

"With all the talk of the Bears experimenting in the secondary, you can cross one possibility off the list.

Left cornerback Charles Tillman won't move to free safety in 2009. Tillman -- who former Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache said on draft day in 2003 would be a ''Pro Bowl safety'' if he ever moved from cornerback -- had been rumored to be changing positions."

What do I think?

I think this is the right move considering Tillman had reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder Jan. 15 and won't be cleared to participate in the three-day veteran mini-camp next month.

The other cornerbacks on the Bears roster are Nathan Vasher (played eight games last season, could be released), Corey Graham (started nine games last season, recording 91 tackles and one interception), Trumaine McBride (played in 16 games last season, recording 11 tackles and one interception), and Zackary Bowman (played in one game last season, recording one interception and a special teams touchdown before going on injured reserve).

It would be risky to move Tillman to safety because it might not be an easy transition.

The safeties on the roster are Kevin Payne (started all 16 games in 2008), Danieal Manning (played nickel back for most of the 2008 season), Craig Steltz (struggled as a rookie), Brandon McGowan and Cameron Worrell. McGowan and Worrell will both be free agents.

I don't know who will start at the safety positions next season, but what I do know is Charles "Peanut" Tillman won't be making the switch to safety this offseason.

Mike Brown Probably Not in Bears Plans for 09'

Jerry Angelo had this to say about Mike Brown:

"I don't see that right now, given how it affects Danieal [Manning], allocation of money comes into play, too, in what we want to do at other positions.

"There could be a case where we want Mike back, but we can't afford to do it given what we want to do in other areas."

Mike Brown, a second-round pick in the 2000 draft, took a cut in pay to play this past season after suffering a season-ending ACL tear at the start of the 2007 campaign.

Brown returned to play 15 games in ’08 before a hamstring injury put him on injured reserve two days before the season finale at Houston.

A series of injuries kept Brown from playing a full 16 games in each of the last five seasons.

Brown is due to become a free-agent in February.

Brian Urlacher said this about Mike Brown after the season came to an end for the Bears:

"I really hope he’s back next year, I can’t say much because I don’t make the personnel decisions. But he started 15 games for us this season. I don’t see that being an injury problem. He probably could have played the last game.

"If Mike Brown is healthy, I see him coming back. And I see no reason for him not to be healthy."

Video of Mike Brown

What do I think?

I think this would be a bad move, because what I saw out of Danieal Manning at nickelback was pretty good, but safety not so good.

Danieal really screwed up in Super Bowl XLI.

Letting Danieal take over for a proven guy like Mike Brown is dumb, Brown played 15 games last season and still has a lot of games ahead of him.

If you commit to Mike Brown, you still have to bring in help at Safety either through the draft or free agency.

Craig Steltz and Brandon McGowan (if he comes back) is not enough help.

Don't even get me started on Kevin Payne.

Bears Off-Season

Bears Free Agents:

The Bears took care of all of their big names last year, so this year nobody that is hugely important is a priority.

Mike Brown *

Kevin Jones

Brandon Lloyd *

Darrell McClover

Rex Grossman *

John St. Clair *

Brandon McGowan *

The asterisks are the players I think the Bears should keep.

Mike Brown should be brought back, even though he is hurt a lot, he is a great player when on the field.

Lloyd could be good as a 3rd or 4th receiver.

Grossman should be brought back to compete with Orton and maybe another veteran QB.

St. Clair will defiantly be brought back for depth behind the young players like, Chris Williams and Josh Beekman.

Brandon McGowan has been hurt a lot, just like Mike Brown, but I think having more solid depth at safety is a great idea.

Team Needs:

Wide Receiver

Defensive End

Offensive Line

Quarterback

Kevin Payne Named Starting Strong Safety

Bears safety Kevin Payne has been named the starting strong safety for the team, ahead of safety Brandon McGowan.

"I'm just happy I got an opportunity to go out there and show what I can do," Payne said.

"Now I am just ready to go out and help the team. It's a blessing to be able to start."

Brandon McGowan will probably move over to nickel back, in front of Danieal Manning.

Update at Halftime From The Last Preseason Game

This is an update from the Chicago Bears last preseason game at halftime.

Kyle Orton played the first quarter and a little of the second.

He threw one interception and was 4/7 for 51 yards. The interception wasn't his fault, because LT John St. Clair made a bad play and left Orton exposed.

Rex Grossman came in and played most of the 2nd quarter until the two minute warning.

He went 5/7 with one touchdown throw to Brandon Rideau and 59 yards.

Then Caleb Hanie got his shot to run the offense and looked good as well.

Hanie was 6/6, with 55 yards.

He also had a 23 yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradley taken away from him because of a holding call on 7th round pick Kirk Barton.

The game is 10-10 at the half, but Grossman and Hanie looked good helping the Bears tie it up.

Positives:

The "other" Adrian Peterson (He had six carries for 36 yards)

Rex Grossman (He was 5/7 and lead the Bears to there only TD drive).

Caleb Hanie (He was a perfect 6/6 and looked good)

Brandon Rideau (He had two catches for 25 yards and a TD).

Mark Bradley (For a guy trying to find his groove after two knee surgeries, I think he did). He had five catches for 42 yards.

Brandon McGowan (He looks the real thing, whether he moves to nickel back or stays at safety, he makes the right moves).

Negatives:

Craig Steltz (He got beat a couple times and I haven't seen look real good this preseason, he might still be injured or it might be Adam Archuleta's jersey).

Corey Graham (He was supposedly getting a whole lot better, but I haven't seen that this preseason and defiantly not tonight against the Browns).

Kevin Payne (For a guy, who was supposedly a big hitter, he looked real slow to the ball).

Brian Urlacher (He might still be hurt, because he is not the same old Urlacher anymore).

Hopefully the negatives must improve soon, because the Bears need everyone to contribute this season.

This has been Chicago Bear Report at halftime.

Ricky Manning Jr: Most Likely Chicago Bear to Be Traded

Do you think the Chicago Bears will trade Ricky Manning Jr?

Yes, it sure seems like he is the odd man out.

Ricky Manning Jr. signed with the Chicago Bears in 2006, he set a career high, and he tied for the team lead and tied for 10th in the NFL with five INTs

In the postseason he had a big INT against the Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Playoff.

Became first Bears defensive back since Jerry Azumah (12/30/01) to record 2 sacks in one game (12/17/06 vs. TB Bucs).

Last season, Ricky Manning Jr. played in every regular season game, but failed to record an interception. He was the starting nickel back for the whole season.

The Chicago Bears are looking to use former first round pick Danieal Manning at nickelback because of the emergence of Brandon McGowan and Mike Brown coming back.

Besides the obvious starters Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher, the Bears have two second year pros in Corey Graham and Trumaine McBride. Don't forget this years fifth round pick Zackary Bowman.

If they do move Ricky Manning Jr, it might work out like Chris Harris in last years training camp.

Chris Harris started 15 games with the Panthers last season, recorded one INT and eight forced fumbles.

All the Chicago Bears got in that trade was a fifth round pick.

I still am upset at that trade.

So, if they move Ricky Manning Jr. it could turn out the same as Chris Harris's last year in training camp.

It never hurts to have to many bodies and we all the know the Chicago Bears get alot of injuries.

It looks Ricky Manning Jr. who is signed through 2010, might get sent packing sooner than later.