ESPN

ESPN analyst Todd McShay's fifth mock draft of the year contemplates multiple scenarios for each pick in the first round, and so it takes a little more time to digest than usual. Its Insider status prevents me from bringing you every scenario in the NFC North, but I can pass along what McShay considers ideal for each team.

3. Minnesota Vikings
McShay: A trade that nets an additional first-round pick but also keeps the Vikings in the top 10 of the 2012 first round.
Seifert comment: I think the Vikings would make a deal for something less than that bounty, perhaps an additional second- and third-round pick in addition to their partner's No. 1 pick. There is a cost to be considered for falling outside of the so-called blue-(chip) zone of the first round, but the Vikings' across-the-board needs might well make it worth their while.

19. Chicago Bears
McShay: South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore
Seifert comment: Gilmore wouldn't be in position to play right away on a team that has Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, D.J. Moore and Kelvin Hayden under contract. But he would be a start in a necessary replenishment of depth behind the Bears' 30-something defensive stars.

23. Detroit Lions
McShay: Alabama defensive end/outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw
Seifert comment: In this mock, Gilmore and fellow cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama are both off the board. Pass-rushers are a premium asset, and we know that the Lions won't look elsewhere merely because their defensive line is already well-stocked.

28. Green Bay Packers
McShay: Clemson defensive end Andre Branch
Seifert comment: Branch could play outside linebacker in the Packers' 3-4 scheme. Most mockers seem to think the Packers will draft the best available defensive end/linebacker at this spot, and in this exercise USC defensive end Nick Perry is off the board. You also wonder if Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith is a possibility here.

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Chicago Bears

Key additions: Running back Michael Bush, linebacker/special teams Blake Costanzo, quarterback Jason Campbell, receiver Brandon Marshall (trade), receiver Devin Thomas, receiver/returner Eric Weems.

Key losses: Running back Marion Barber (retired), cornerback Zack Bowman, cornerback Corey Graham.

Come on back: Lost in the shuffle of the Marshall trade were the return of three free agents who should play key roles in 2012. Tight end Kellen Davis figures to get an expanded role in offensive coordinator Mike Tice's scheme, especially as a receiver. Cornerback Tim Jennings should retain his starting role opposite Charles Tillman, with D.J. Moore in the nickel. And safety Craig Steltz will provide reliable depth at safety and will be one of the Bears' special teams leaders after the departure of Graham and Bowman.

What's next: There is no urgency yet, but the Bears will need to make peace with tailback Matt Forte at some point before the summer. Forte isn't happy that he's been made the Bears' franchise player and briefly lost his public composure when Bush signed a deal that guaranteed him about the same amount of money as the franchise tag will pay Forte. It's not a big deal if Forte skips the Bears' offseason program or even misses a few days of training camp, but the Bears will want to find a way to eliminate this issue by early August. Meanwhile, it wouldn't be surprising if the Bears address their offensive line during the draft.

Detroit Lions

Key additions: Defensive end Everette Brown, cornerback Jacob Lacey.

Key losses: Cornerback Eric Wright.

All in the family: With the exception of Wright, the Lions were able to retain the core of their 10-6 team. Among those who re-signed: Tackle Jeff Backus, safety Erik Coleman, defensive end Andre Fluellen, quarterback Shaun Hill and linebacker Stephen Tulloch. And don't forget that receiver Calvin Johnson is locked up for perhaps the rest of his career. He signed a new eight-year contract worth $132 million.

What's next: The Lions appear interested in adding competition at safety, having hosted free agent O.J. Atogwe earlier this month. Adding a safety remains a possibility, if not through free agency, then probably through the draft. And while Backus is re-signed for two years, it wouldn't be surprising if the Lions look for a long-term replacement in the draft.

Green Bay Packers

Key additions: Defensive lineman Daniel Muir, center Jeff Saturday, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Key losses: Quarterback Matt Flynn, center Scott Wells.

Shocker: The Packers usually do whatever it takes to keep their own players and avoid having to search the free-agent market for other the castoffs of other teams. They started off that way by re-signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract, but when they were unable to sign center Scott Wells, they quickly targeted veteran Jeff Saturday and made him their first starting-caliber free-agent signee in five years. General manager Ted Thompson also authorized the acquisition of Hargrove and the pursuit of Dave Tollefson.

What's next: It's not out of the question that the Packers will add a veteran pass-rusher, whether at defensive end or linebacker. Then they'll get back into their comfort zone and start preparing for the draft, where it's reasonable to think they'll use at least one of their 12 picks on a center while also continuing to pursue pass-rushers.

Minnesota Vikings

Key additions: Cornerback Zack Bowman, tight end John Carlson, running back Jerome Felton and offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz.

Key losses: Nose tackle Remi Ayodele (release), guards Anthony Herrera (release) and Steve Hutchinson (release), tight end Jim Kleinsasser (retire), running back Jerome Felton.

Methodical methodology: The Vikings made one big-money signing, bringing in Carlson as a new weapon for quarterback Christian Ponder, and otherwise have spent their offseason getting younger and signing complementary players. General manager Rick Spielman wants to end a cycle of seeking blue-chip players via free agency and instead count on the drafts for his difference-makers.

What's next: One way or the other, the Vikings need to find a deep threat for Ponder. The draft would seem the most likely place for that will happen. They are also midway through a rebuild of the secondary that could use at least one more cornerback and perhaps two safeties.

Where they stand: The Chicago Bears lead the NFC North in available cap room, sitting on approximately $30 million. But it’s important to note that cap room shouldn’t be viewed as a blank check; especially when considering the Bears would likely be looking to extend several of their core players with contracts ending in the next couple of years. While upgrades on offense seem most logical of potential Bears moves during free agency, given the need to surround quarterback Jay Cutler with more weapons, it’s believed that coach Lovie Smith wants to revamp a defense led by four Pro Bowl players -- linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, cornerback Charles Tillman and defensive end Julius Peppers -- older than 30.

NEED-METER

Receiver: 10. To be fair, the position didn’t appear as much of an area of need when the team ripped off a 7-3 start. Obviously, Cutler played a significant role in that. Over the first 10 games, Chicago’s receiving corps averaged 11 catches per outing. Once Cutler and running back Matt Forte suffered injuries that took them out of the lineup, the receivers’ production dipped to eight catches per game.

A dominant slot receiver, Earl Bennett became the club’s go-to option in the passing game with Cutler out of commission. Teams quickly recognized, and adjusted coverage accordingly, leading to Bennett catching one pass or fewer in five of his last six games. Johnny Knox’s horrific back injury against the Seattle Seahawks further exposed this team’s deficiencies at receiver.

So with a major need clearly defined at the position, the question now is how the team proceeds in free agency and the draft.

It’s believed the Bears plan on making a run at San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson in free agency, and sources have confirmed as much. But if Jackson commands what several agents expect to be a salary in the $12 million-per-season range, it’s unlikely new general manager Phil Emery would continue the team’s pursuit, based on his stated preference of building through the draft, which signifies he’s not a proponent of spending lavishly in free agency.

So surely the team has a few secondary and less-expensive options in mind, such as New Orleans Saints receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem, or Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon of the Indianapolis Colts. Given their youth and physical attributes, Meachem (just 11 dropped balls over four seasons) and Garcon would appear to be the best fits. Colston averaged just 3.2 yards after catch in 2011, according to Pro Football Focus. That doesn’t necessarily jibe with the explosive passing game the Bears envision in 2012. Wayne, meanwhile, is coming off his first season since 2003 in which he didn’t gain 1,000 yards receiving.

According to a source, just Wednesday, seven teams (the Bears weren't one of them) expressed interest in Meachem; a list sure to grow as free agency approaches.

(Read full post)

This is the ninth installment of a 10-part series that reviews every Bears position group on offense and defense, while also taking a quick look at potential free-agent targets and the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.

The Bears find themselves in the midst of conducting yet another search for a potential starter at cornerback opposite Charles Tillman, a nine-year veteran coming off his first Pro Bowl season.

The three most viable candidates -- Tim Jennings, Zack Bowman, and Corey Graham -- are all set to become unrestricted free agents, and there’s a strong possibility none will return to the club for 2012. Besides that, aside from Graham -- who never received much of an opportunity at corner, but played nickel -- Jennings and Bowman never emerged as potential long-term solutions at the position despite multiple opportunities.

Starting 28 games opposite Tillman, Jennings played well in 2010 and a good portion of 2011 before the team benched him in favor of Bowman late in the season. So it’s believed the team wants to explore the free-agent market or NFL draft for a potential starter at cornerback.

The Bears finished 28th last season against the pass, surrendering 354.1 yards per game but ranked in the top 10 (tied for sixth) with 20 interceptions. The cornerbacks contributed 12 of those picks, with nickel corner D.J. Moore intercepting four passes to lead the team, followed by Tillman and Graham with three apiece and Jennings -- who dropped several potential INTs -- with two.

Given Green Bay’s prowess in the passing game and the ascension of the Detroit Lions, led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, the Bears need to load up with the pass rush and coverage on the back end. Bears coach Lovie Smith said most of the team’s personnel decisions are based upon how players match up with division rivals.

“You mention a guy like [Calvin] Johnson ... I like big corners anyway to match up against some of those guys,” Smith said. “I definitely don’t think we need a complete overhaul by any means.”

Still the team -- given the likelihood of multiple free-agent departures -- needs to replenish some talent at cornerback.

THE CURRENT ROSTER

• Charles Tillman: Scored two of the team’s six defensive touchdowns last season and played a significant role in the team ranking eighth in opponent passer rating (79.3). Tillman set a franchise record in 2011, by returning his fifth INT for a touchdown and also forced four fumbles on the way to being selected to his first Pro Bowl. With eight INTs since 2010, Tillman is tied with teammate D.J. Moore for the most picks in the NFL in that span. Smith said Tillman played the most disciplined football of his career in 2010, and only followed that up with a stronger 2011 campaign. Set to enter his 10th season, Tillman doesn’t appear to be declining.

• Tim Jennings: Tied for second on the team with eight pass breakups and started 15 of 16 games. Started the season with a 10-tackle effort in the opener, and played fairly well over the first 12 games. Towards the end of the season, Jennings’ play declined somewhat, leading to the club benching him for the Christmas matchup at Green Bay. An unrestricted free agent, Jennings will draw some interest on the open market for teams in search of a boundary corner. So his return to Chicago seems unlikely.

• Zack Bowman: Started 12 games in 2009, and led the team with a career-high six INTs but lost a training camp battle with Jennings for the starting job in 2010. The team held high hopes that Bowman could bounce back and win back his job in 2011, but that never transpired. An unrestricted free agent, Bowman started one game in 2011 and finished the season with six tackles and one pass breakup. Because of his size (6-1, 196 pounds) and youth, Bowman should also generate some interest in free agency. A change of scenery might prove beneficial.

• Corey Graham: One of the best special-teams performers in the league, Graham earned his first Pro Bowl appearance last season by leading the team with 22 special-teams tackles. Graham is tied for third in the NFL since 2007 with 75 stops on special teams. But it appears the team has pigeonholed him in the role of a special teamer. So the unrestricted free agent will want a legitimate opportunity elsewhere to contribute on defense. Filling in for D.J. Moore at the nickel spot, Graham intercepted passes in three consecutive games from Nov. 13 to Nov. 27.

• D.J. Moore: Led the team in interceptions (4) and tied for second in the team with eight pass breakups despite missing three games because of an ankle injury. Moore has now intercepted eight passes over the past two seasons and is pretty much cemented into that nickel corner role. Moore is set to enter the final year of his original rookie contract, and needs a strong 2012 to cash in.

• Josh Moore: A fifth-round pick by the Bears in 2010, Moore played three games as a rookie but surprisingly was cut in September. The Bears brought Moore back to the practice squad in November, and former GM Jerry Angelo said the team never wanted to cut him. But the cornerback became a victim of the numbers game. Moore is actually one of the team’s best pure cover corners, but still needs to acclimate to the pro game to receive a real shot at making a contribution in 2012.

Bears free agents: Bowman, Graham, Jennings

POTENTIAL FREE-AGENT TARGETS

• Brandon Carr, Kansas City Chiefs, unrestricted

• Brent Grimes, Atlanta Falcons, unrestricted

• Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee Titans, unrestricted

WHY CARR OR GRIMES MAKE SENSE

New general manager Phil Emery knows both Carr, pictured on the left, and Grimes extremely well, which makes them logical options. Emery played a role in bringing Grimes to Atlanta in 2006 as an undrafted free agent, and the GM spent time with Carr in Kansas City.

One potential problem with Grimes is his lack of size (5-10, 183 pounds). Smith prefers bigger corners. But Grimes has extensive experience playing in a system very similar to the one utilized by the Bears, and possesses one of the traits the team covets most: he’s aggressive in run support.

Carr (6-0, 207 pounds) is arguably the best corner available on the free-agent market. But his asking price will likely be way more than what the Bears would be willing to pay. Sure the team has plenty of room under the cap to bring aboard a high-priced player such as Carr. But the Bears typically don’t spend big money in free agency on corners. Besides that, Carr is considered more of a man corner; although it’s likely he wouldn’t have any problems playing in a more zone-oriented scheme.

While Carr or Grimes would make sense given their histories with Emery, don’t count out the Bears pushing hard to re-sign one of their own free agents such as Bowman or Tillman and adding to the position through the draft. The latter likely isn’t the team’s first choice, but could turn into Plan B depending on what transpires around the league.

In retrospect, the Chicago Bears' 25-day search for a general manager played out exactly as they said it would. Team president Ted Phillips made clear he wasn't looking to turn the organization upside down after firing Jerry Angelo on Jan. 3. No, as we discussed at the time, the Bears wanted someone who could bring a better hit rate as a talent evaluator.

Kansas City Chiefs executive Phil Emery emerged as a favorite early in the process because of his unique qualifications under those criteria, and for that reason it was far from surprising to hear that the Bears hired him Saturday.

Emery spent seven years as a Bears scout from 1998-2004, making him relatively familiar with the inner workings of Halas Hall and unlikely to pursue a massive overhaul. He was part of a Bears scouting department that drafted eight future Pro Bowlers, from receiver Marty Booker to linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to safety Mike Brown and cornerback Charles Tillman. Later, he drafted receiver Roddy White and quarterback Matt Ryan, among others, as the Atlanta Falcons' director of college scouting.

Emery surely will bring his own tone and vision to the Bears' front office. But initially, at least, he'll do so by assimilating the existing infrastructure and minimizing the side effects of transition.

The Bears have missed the playoffs in four of the five seasons since their appearance in Super Bowl XLI. But whether you agree or not, Phillips said he thinks the team has suffered from inconsistent talent evaluation rather than larger-scale issues. So in essence, he has swapped one longtime scout-turned-general manager for another in hopes of getting better results.

Phillips said Jan. 3 that the Bears needed to close the "talent gap" that exists between the Bears and their two most competitive NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. In many ways, the decision to bring back Emery reflects the Packers' hiring of general manager Ted Thompson in 2005.

Thompson spent eight years with the Packers in various personnel roles between 1992 and ‘99 before returning as general manager in 2005. Emery brings a similar reputation as a blue-collar scout and workaholic who figures to spend a good portion of his years on the road personally scouting college players.

Thompson, of course, had the authority to remake the Packers franchise as he saw fit. Much of the front office remained intact, but he fired coach Mike Sherman after one season and hired Mike McCarthy in 2006. The Packers won Super Bowl XLV with a 53-man roster that included 49 players acquired after Thompson's arrival.

That's a tough ideal for Emery and the Bears to pursue, but I wouldn't be surprised if it comes up at some point during Monday's news conference to introduce him formally. The Bears wanted a low-key leader who would focus on talent evaluation and, like Thompson, stay below the radar. By all accounts, Emery fits that bill.

Despite posting a 7-3 record prior to Jay Cutler's thumb injury, the Chicago Bears' collapse over the final six weeks of the regular season highlighted the organization's need to address several key areas in the offseason.

Here are five pressing needs as the Bears head into an uncertain future with a yet to be named general manager:

1. Wide receiver

It was impossible to watch the NFL playoff action over wildcard weekend and not notice the abundance of big plays made by wide receivers. Houston's Andre Johnson, New Orleans' Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem, Detroit's Calvin Johnson, New York's Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham and Denver's Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal all had impressive games. And those were just wideouts who made impact plays over the weekend. Atlanta has Roddy White and Julio Jones. Pittsburgh has the promising duo of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. And Cincinnati wisely used a 2011 first-round pick on A.J. Green.

The Bears' method of receiver by committee is unacceptable. They must add at least two viable threats at the position to complement Earl Bennett, and as insurance in the event Johnny Knox is slow to recover from a serious back injury. The days of 37 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns constituting "enough plays" from a receiver are over. Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and Colston need to be on the Bears' radar once free agency begins. Lovie Smith should even put in a call to Tony Dungy to ask the former Colts coach how much he truly believes Reggie Wayne has left in the tank. The Bears' group of receivers are in dire need of an upgrade. To ignore the position (Roy Williams, Sam Hurd and Dane Sanzenbacher don't count) for a second straight offseason would be downright criminal.

2. Defensive end

Why the Bears failed to spend money last year on Jason Babin is beyond me. If the Bears want to re-sign Israel Idonije, a solid third defensive end, that's fine, but the club needs another fierce pass rusher to complement Julius Peppers. Peppers constantly faces double teams, which should free up the other defensive end to register at least 10 sacks per season. That should be the bare minimum.

We haven't seen much out of former fourth-round pick Corey Wootton. On the other hand, Chauncey Davis did a nice job late in the season and earned the right to stick on the roster heading into training camp, but the Bears need to prioritize the position in the draft or free agency. As a whole, Bears defensive ends only managed 17 sacks in 2011, with 11 of those coming courtesy of Peppers. Babin had 18 all by himself with the Philadelphia Eagles. That's a problem.

3. Secondary

The Bears face a conundrum at cornerback due to the expiring contracts of Tim Jennings, Zack Bowman and Corey Graham. Attempting to bring back Graham is a no-brainer, but the Pro Bowl special teamer probably wants to explore the free agent market to see if he can find a team willing to let him play defense. Maybe it happens. Maybe it does not. Or perhaps Graham could be re-signed and given an opportunity to challenge for playing time at safety. Either way, it's not a slam dunk Graham figures into the secondary plans next year.

Jennings might remain in the mix considering he's proven to be a pretty good player in this system, although he comes with certain limitations. Bowman probably could use a fresh start someplace else, so the odds of him returning appear to be slim. Even if the Bears hold on to Jennings, they still require more depth at the position and another future starter. Can it be done? The Bears also have some decisions to make at safety, where Chris Conte showed promise and Craig Steltz made a strong push late in the year to be re-signed, but former third-round pick Major Wright inspires little confidence.

Are the Bears really going to head into another year with Wright penciled into the starting lineup? Every player deserves a second chance, but Wright has been handed every opportunity imaginable and still makes costly mistakes. D.J. Moore appears to have a decent hold on the nickel back spot, although he was never quite the same after he punched Matthew Stafford in the head then hurt his ankle a few days later at practice.

4. Left tackle

File this under the "concern" category, because I don't know if the Bears intend to make any changes at offensive tackle. Obviously, the Bears believe a healthy Gabe Carimi will settle back into the starting lineup without any real issues next summer. Even though Carimi managed to play just six quarters of football his rookie year, he looked to be a legitimate starting NFL tackle in training camp and the preseason. Let's just say I'll take the Bears at their word on Carimi. J'Marcus Webb, meantime, is a complete mystery. Some games he looks good. Other games he looks bad. Can the Bears consistently win with an average left tackle? Tough to say. And will Webb ever be better than simply average? Also tough to tell.

You could point to the Bears making the NFC Championship Game in 2010 with Frank Omiyale. But when the Bears were really good (2005 and 2006) the left tackle was John Tait. Granted, Tait was a proven veteran when he arrived in Chicago, but based on two years of work at left and right tackle, Webb has a long way to go before he reaches Tait's level, or that of Fred Miller. Which brings me to another issue: Was Smith serious when he said the current offensive line situation is the best it's been since he got to town in 2004? Uh, no Lovie. That would have been the aforementioned group of Tait (LT), Ruben Brown (LG), Olin Kreutz (C), Roberto Garza (RG) and Miller (RT) that paved the way for back-to-back division titles. How quickly they forget at Halas Hall.

5. No. 2 quarterback

If Kyle Orton is available, sign him. End of story. Orton has made no secret how much he would welcome a chance to return to Chicago. He is the ideal backup to Jay Cutler. In a perfect world, the Bears never even need to use Orton because Cutler stays healthy. But we all know there is no perfect world when it comes to the NFL. If you have to make Orton one of the highest paid No. 2 quarterbacks in the league, then so be it.

The Bears cannot afford to let another season slip away due to limited options on the depth chart behind Cutler. Josh McCown did a good job given the circumstances, and if he performs reasonably well in training camp, should be rewarded with a roster spot as the No. 3 QB. But at least initially, the Bears need to aim higher than McCown to become Cutler's primary backup. If there is no one else out there -- i.e. Orton gets a starting job somewhere -- then McCown could factor into the equation.

BEARS at VIKINGS

When: Noon Sunday | TV: Fox | Radio: 780-AM WBBM & 105.9 FM

CHICAGO BEARS (7-8)

Coach: Lovie Smith | Record including playoffs: 73-59

Career head-to-head record (including playoffs) vs. Leslie Frazier: 2-0

Career record (including playoffs) vs. Vikings: 9-6

Last week: Lost to Packers 35-21

Key stat: In 10 drives against the Packers, quarterback Josh McCown led the team to two touchdowns, and two field goals. The team punted twice and had two drives ended with interceptions. By comparison, in the previous four games with Hanie, the Bears punted 29 times in 55 drives, scoring four TDs, and four field goals in addition to ending drives with nine INTs.

Offense rank: 20th (321.1 ypg) | Defense rank: 18th (353.7 ypg).

Offensive leader: Quarterback Josh McCown made his first start since 2007 against the Packers and showed poise in leading the offense to its best production in terms of yards (441) of the season. McCown needs to show that the performance against Green Bay wasn’t a fluke, because last year, this team was fooled by the play of Caleb Hanie in the NFC title game.

Defensive leader: Cornerback Charles Tillman was recently named to his first Pro Bowl, and is by far the most consistent player in Chicago’s secondary, despite criticism about his age. More players in the Bears’ secondary need to model their play after Tillman, who plays a physical brand of football replete with seemingly endless effort. Tillman ranks fourth in franchise history with 29 INTs.

Streaks
" A loss would give the Bears their first six-game losing streak since 1998. The Bears haven’t lost their last six games in a row since 1989.

" The Bears are 6-1 this season when they gain 301 to 400 yards and 32-14 under those conditions since 2004.

" The Bears haven’t won a game this season (0-2) in which they gained 401 yards or more.

" The Bears are 0-2 this season in domes after finishing last year 3-0 in indoor stadiums.

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MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-12)

Coach: Leslie Frazier | Record: 6-15 | Last week: Defeated Redskins 33-26

Career head-to-head record vs. Smith: 0-2 | Career record vs. Bears: 0-2

Key stat: The Vikings have had three different players -- Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart and quarterback Joe Webb -- rush for more than 100 yards in a game this season, which is the first time that’s happened since 2003 and the third time in franchise history.

Offense rank: 18th (331.6 ypg) | Defense rank: 25th (368.1 ypg)

Offensive leader: Receiver Percy Harvin is just 16 yards away from setting a new career high in receiving yards for a season. Harvin leads the team with 852 yards receiving and is tied for eighth in the NFL in receptions (77). Harvin averages 9.1 yards per touch and is the first Vikings player to score on a run, reception and return multiple times in his career.

Defensive leader: Defensive end Jared Allen is second in Minnesota single-season history with 18.5 sacks, and has also forced four career safeties. Allen is also tied for first in the league with four fumble recoveries, and eight overall as a Minnesota Viking. From 2005-2011, Allen is tied for third with 26 forced fumbles.

Streaks
" Former Bears receiver Devin Aromashodu needs 42 yards receiving to surpass 2,000 yards receiving for his career.

" Allen needs 2.5 sacks to tie the franchise’s all-time single season sack record of 21 set by Chris Doleman in 1989.

" Tight end Jim Kleinsasser is set to play in his 181st and final career game in the NFL.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Jubilant from news of being named to his first Pro Bowl, Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman just as quickly morphed into crisis-control mode.

He’d just told his oldest daughter, Talya, of the pending trip to Hawaii that comes with being named to the league’s annual All-Star game. She wasn’t pleased.

“She was like, ‘I don’t want to go to Hawaii. They’ve got too many volcanoes; there’s hot lava out there,’” Tillman said, drawing laughter. “She saw something on one of these cartoon shows that had volcanoes. I kind of had to explain to her that it was a cartoon.”

Humorous moments aside, though, Tillman and special-teams ace Corey Graham -- two of the club’s three first-time Pro Bowlers -- discussed on Wednesday how finally receiving their well-deserved recognition rings somewhat hollow, considering the Bears are currently 7-8 and out of the postseason for the fourth time in fifth years.

Tillman said the Pro Bowl is “something you should savor,” but “it definitely would’ve been nice to make the Pro Bowl -- slash -- play in some postseason games.” Graham said the team’s situation “takes away some of the joy,” adding that “if I can get us the opportunity to play in the playoffs, we’d rather have that than the Pro Bowl.”

Running back Matt Forte is the club's third first-time Pro Bowler, but was placed on the injured reserve on Tuesday, and had already gone home by the time the Bears held media availability in the locker room.

A ninth-year veteran, Tillman became the team’s first cornerback to make the Pro Bowl since 2005, after registering a career-high 107 tackles. The team’s leader in pass breakups (11), Tillman is also tied for the team high in forced fumbles (3), and fumble recoveries.

Tillman has also picked off two passes in 2011, returning one for a touchdown and leads all defensive backs in forced fumbles (27) since entering the NFL in 2003. Tillman’s 29 INTs rank him fourth overall in the NFL since 2003.

“It’s really not about recognition,” Tillman said. “I’m more thankful my peers and the coaches got me in, or voted me in. I don’t think it’s really about recognition, but I do recognize that they think I’m a good player. That means a lot. It makes me feel good.”

Tillman doesn’t consider this season to be the best of his career, but also doesn’t lament not making the Pro Bowl in previous years.

“I guess it just wasn’t my time. There were obviously other corners that were doing bigger and better things than me in the past,” Tillman said. “But everything happens for a reason. They called me this year. I got in. So I’m grateful for the honor.”

Bears coach Lovie Smith and special-teams coach Dave Toub singled out Graham last year for his play on special teams, but the fifth-year player didn’t receive the honor then. Graham leads the Bears with 20 special-teams tackles and is second in the league in that category (74 tackles) since entering the league in 2007.

Graham received the seemingly overdue news Tuesday from Toub.

“It’s very exciting to be honest with you. It’s something I’ve been striving for the last couple of years,” Graham said. “It’s good to finally make it and get a chance to play in it. Being here for Chicago, playing special teams, it means a lot, and we put a lot into it. It’s good to see it pay off. It’s like a dream come true for me.”

The Chicago Bears landed five players -- the most since the end of 2006 -- on the NFC Pro Bowl team on Tuesday, including three first timers in running back Matt Forte, cornerback Charles Tillman and special teams ace Corey Graham, along with linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, who were named to the league's annual all-star game for the seventh, and eighth time, respectively.

The team's leading tackler (140 tackles), Briggs became the fourth linebacker in franchise history to receive seven consecutive Pro Bowl nods, and the team's ninth player to receive the honor seven times as a member of the organization.

Forte became the team's first running back to be named to the Pro Bowl since 1991 (Neal Anderson). Before sitting out the last three games because of a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee, Forte led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487), ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards (997) and fourth among running backs in receiving (490 yards). Forte churned out a career-high 4.9-yard rushing average before the team made the decision Tuesday to place the running back on the injured reserve along with quarterback Jay Cutler.

In the final year of his original rookie contract, Forte seeks a long-term deal with the organization, but will likely receive the franchise designation.

A ninth-year veteran, Tillman's Pro Bowl invitation seems overdue. Tillman became the first Bears cornerback to receive Pro Bowl recognition since Nathan Vasher (2005) after posting a career-high 107 tackles. Tillman also leads the team in pass breakups (11), is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (2). In addition, Tillman has intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown. The veteran cornerback leads all defensive backs with 27 forced fumbles since 2003, and his 29 interceptions tie him for ninth in the NFL overall over the last nine years.

Like Tillman, Graham was named to his first Pro Bowl. Graham generated buzz about possibly receiving the honor after a strong campaign on special teams in 2010. Graham leads the Bears with 20 special-teams tackles and ranks second since entering the NFL in 2007 with 74 stops on special teams. Graham contributes on five of the club's special-teams units, including punt and kick coverage, punt and kickoff returns and field-goal blocks). With Graham leading the way, the team's punt coverage unit allows just 5.4 yards per return, which ranks as No. 2 in the NFL.

Urlacher, meanwhile, became the sixth player in team history be be voted to eight Pro Bowls as a member of the organization. Urlacher ranks second on the team in tackles (125), and has tallied seven tackles for lost yardage. The linebacker is also tied for the team lead with three INTs, and has recovered two fumbles, returning one for a touchdown.

Interestingly, Briggs and Urlacher were the only linebackers from 4-3 schemes last year to be named to the Pro Bowl.

Bears defensive end Julius Peppers had been to three consecutive Pro Bowls (2008, 2009 and 2010) and six overall before missing the cut on the latest roster, despite leading the team with 10 sacks.

Return man Devin Hester -- a three-time Pro Bowler -- also wasn't named to the 2012 team. Hester returned two punt returns and a kickoff for touchdowns during an injury-mired 2011 campaign.

BEARS AT BRONCOS
| When: 3:05, Sunday | TV: FOX | RADIO: 780 AM, WBBM & 105.9 FM

BEARS (7-4)

Coach: Lovie Smith | Record including playoffs: 73-57

Career head-to-head record (including playoffs) vs. John Fox: 2-2

Career record (including playoffs) against Broncos: 1-0

Last week: Lost to Chiefs 10-3

Key stat:Since 2004, the Bears are 6-9 on the road against AFC teams, and 0-1 as the visitor against an AFC team in 2011.

Offense rank: 19th (325.8 ypg) | Defense rank: 20th (359.3 ypg)

Offensive leader: Earl Bennett has caught only one pass in each of the last two games. But over his last 15 outings dating back to Week 9 of last season, Bennett has caught 16 passes in third-down situations, converting every one of them into first downs, making him one of just six players in the NFL to accomplish that feat over that span.

Defensive leader: Cornerback Charles Tillman currently ranks third on the team in tackles (97), but leads the Bears with 11 pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Interestingly, of the 10 players ranked in the top eight in forced fumbles since 2003, Tillman is the only cornerback as the other nine players are either defensive ends or linebackers.

Streaks
• The Bears have held opponents to just one touchdown in each of the last two games.
• Brian Urlacher needs three tackles to reach 100 for the 11th time, which would put him past Mike Singletary for the franchise record.
• Defensive end Henry Melton has posted sacks in each of his last two outings and has six sacks on the season. The six sacks are the most by a Bears defensive tackle since Tommie Harris tallied eight in 2007.

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BRONCOS (7-5)

Coach: John Fox | Record: 85-79 | Last week: Defeated the Vikings 35-32

Career head-to-head record vs. Smith: 2-2 | Career record vs. Bears: 3-2

Key stat: Denver’s five-game winning streak is the club’s longest since 2009, when it started 6-0. The Broncos have completed 10 passes or fewer in each of their last five victories, making them -- according to Elias Sports Bureau -- the first team since 1956 to win five in a row in a season without completing more than 10 passes in any outing.

Offense rank: 25th (314.8 ypg) | Defense rank: 20th 24th (366.4 ypg)

Offensive leader: Quarterback Tim Tebow has led five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter this season, and has the best fourth-quarter passer rating (109.7) in the AFC. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tebow averages 7.4 yards per attempt on option plays, and 4.9 yards on non-option snaps.

Defensive leader: Rookie LB Von Miller is expected to play after sitting last week during the club’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. With 10 1/2 sacks, Miller needs just two more to tie Leslie O’Neal (12 1/2 sacks in 1986) and Simeon Rice (12 1/2 in 1996) for the third-most sacks by a rookie since 1982.

Streaks
• WR Eric Decker has caught eight touchdown passes over the last 11 games.
• LB Elvis Dumervil has posted 6 1/2 sacks in his last five outings.
• CB Andrew Goodman has picked off two passes over the last three games.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Under Lovie Smith, the Chicago Bears pride themselves on winning the turnover battle. They lost that statistical fight in Oakland on Sunday, and as expected, lost the game.

Making his first regular season start since playing at Colorado State in 2007, Caleb Hanie threw three first-half interceptions in the Bears’ 25-20 loss to the Raiders.

Chicago only caused one turnover -- a Corey Graham interception in the second quarter -- and it resulted in a touchdown. They flubbed several chances to pick off Carson Palmer and nearly snagged an onside kick near the end of the game.

“The way we’ve won games this year is taking care of the football, winning the turnover ratio and that really hurt us [Sunday],” Smith said. “It’s kind of simple as that.”

“Any time you lose the turnover ratio, chances are you’re going to lose,” cornerback Charles Tillman said. “It’s a proven stat. If you’re plus-3, you have a 100 percent chance of winning. If you’re plus-2, it’s like 85. Plus-1, it’s like 75. If you break even, it’s a flip of the coin.”

This was only the second game all season the Bears have finished with a negative turnover differential. And in the other game, they actually won. Jay Cutler fumbled once and the Bears didn’t need a turnover in their 39-10 win over Minnesota on Oct. 16.

In four of the Bears’ seven wins, the turnover margins were noticeable -- Chicago had an aggregate advantage of 16-5. The Bears are 2-2 when they finish even on turnovers and lost once, at Detroit, when they held a 1-0 advantage. Cutler has 10 turnovers and Forte two. Of the Bears' 15 turnovers this season, opponents have scored on nine ensuing drives, resulting in 49 points.

Thanks to the defense, Hanie’s three interceptions only turned into two field goals for Oakland, but with limited experience, he remains a question mark for the Bears as he tries to fill in for an injured Cutler.

“That’s normally how you’d expect a guy to start off when he hasn’t had a lot of time,” Smith said. “But once he got going, especially in the second half, he made a lot of plays. You could see him more and more comfortable in the pocket leading our offense.”

While the first two interceptions were on Hanie, the third looked to be a questionable Mike Martz play call: an across-the-body screen pass on second and 1 at the Oakland 7-yard line. Kamerion Wimbley picked off the tipped pass and returned it to the Bears’ 6-yard line.

If it looked like the Raiders knew it was coming, they did. Raiders linebacker Aaron Curry tipped the ball to Wimbley and said he recognized the play immediately.

"I'll never forget seeing it on film and saying, 'That's their go-to play. If they need these points, that's their play,'” Curry told reporters Sunday, according to a story on the San Francisco Chronicle website. “Then I saw the formation on the field and I was like, 'This is easy, I'm just going to wait for them to throw it to me.' "

Smith, however, wouldn’t second-guess the play call. He said it was just a great play by Curry to tip it.

“Of course you’re going to get criticized when something didn’t work,” Smith said. “Next time it will.”

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman said Monday if the Kansas City Chiefs start recently acquired quarterback Kyle Orton on Sunday at Soldier Field, it likely will be a condensed game plan and a challenge for Orton.

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- After a game that typified his position, and perhaps his career, cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman eyed his button-down pursuers warily with his red-tinted contact lenses.

"You guys waiting for me?" he asked a group of reporters in the locker room, as he put on his black Hugo Boss jeans, Gucci belt and Gucci shoes. "I can't sneak away?"

Tillman likes to be difficult with the media. It's the everyday defense he plays, the Don't-Cover-Me.

"The only reason I talk to y'all is because they make me," he said with a half-smile after the Bears' convincing 31-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers, their fifth consecutive win. "I'm only doing this because [Bears PR guy Scott] Hagel keeps making me talk to y'all."

Tillman had a game to forget or remember, depending on your take. Do you believe in the journey or the destination? Do you grade on perfection or embrace the redemptive nature of the game?

Read the entire column.

CHARGERS AT BEARS
When: 3:15 p.m., Sunday | TV: CBS | RADIO:780 AM, WBBM & 105.9 FM

BEARS (6-3)

Coach: Lovie Smith | Record including playoffs: 72-55 | Last week:Defeated the Detroit Lions 37-13.

Career head-to-head record (including playoffs) vs. Norv Turner:0-1

Career record (including playoffs) vs. Chargers: 0-1

Key stat: The Bears have forced nine interceptions over the past three games, including two outings in which they intercepted four passes. When the Bears finish on the positive side of the turnover margin, they’re 10-1 over the past two seasons.

Offense rank: 17th (327.8 ypg) | Defense rank: 25th (376.3 ypg)

Offensive leader: Since returning to the lineup on Nov. 7, receiver Earl Bennett has caught 12 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown in two games, which registers as the best back-to-back performances of his career. Look for Bennett to use his chemistry with Jay Cutler to build on that. The expectation is that the Bears will continue to utilize more and more plays designed to get the ball into Bennett’s hands.

Defensive leader: If there’s anything “old” about CB Charles Tillman, it’s only the fact he makes plays virtually every week, and can constantly be counted on to lock down the opposition’s best receiver. Tillman has 28 interceptions over his career. In addition Tillman has forced 26 fumbles, which is the most by a defensive back since 2003, and seventh overall.

STREAKS

• The Bears have never lost a game against the San Diego Chargers at Soldier Field.
• The Bears remain undefeated this season (3-0) when the defense scores a touchdown. Since 2004, the Bears are 14-1 when the defense scores a TD.
• The Bears have posted four interceptions in two of their last three outings.

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CHARGERS (4-5)

Coach: Norv Turner | Record: 107-114 | Career head-to-head record vs. Smith: 1-0

Career record against Bears: 4-0 | Last week: Lost 24-17 to the Raiders

Key stat: With Turner at the controls, the Chargers have a 28-9 record after Nov. 1 and they’ve won eight of their last 10 November games.

Offense rank:7th (396.7 ypg) | Defense rank: 9th (331.3 ypg)

Offensive leader: Although Phillip Rivers has thrown 13 interceptions, he’s also tossed 149 touchdown passes. Rivers needs only one more TD to become the third player in Chargers history and 75th player in NFL history to reach 150. The quarterback is also on pace for another 4,000-yard passing season which would put him with Peyton manning and Drew Brees as the only players in history to produce four consecutive 4,000-yard seasons.
Defensive leader: San Diego’s third-leading tackler (44 tackles), safety Eric Weddle also leads the Chargers in interceptions (5) which ties for the NFL lead. Weddle needs five more interceptions to tie the team record for single-season interceptions (10) set in 2007 by Antonio Cromartie.

STREAKS

• San Diego has dropped four consecutive games after starting the season 4-1, making this skid the club’s longest since losing nine in a row from 2002-03.
• The Chargers have won two of their last three outings against NFC opponents.
• Chargers linebacker Antwan Barnes has four sacks in the past three games. If Barnes produces a sack against the Bears, it will be his fourth consecutive game with at least one sack.