ESPN

CHICAGO -- The entire Chicago Bears 2012 draft class is scheduled to descend on Halas Hall beginning Friday for the club's annual three-day rookie minicamp, but second-round choice Alshon Jeffery recently got an introductory lesson to the offense courtesy of veteran third-string quarterback Josh McCown.

Jeffery ran routes and caught passes from McCown when the two worked out together last weekend in Rock Hill, S.C., a city about 30 minutes outside of Charlotte, N.C. Jeffery hails from St. Matthews, S.C., while McCown played quarterback for the Carolina Panthers from 2008 to '09 and maintained a residence in the area. McCown was a voluntary assistant football coach for a North Carolina high school before he signed with the Bears on Nov. 23, 2011.

McCown left the workouts impressed with the rookie wideout, whom the Bears moved up five spots to grab at No. 45 overall on Day 2 of the draft.

"He seems like a good kid," McCown said. "I was very impressed with him mentally. Great hands, too."

Jeffery was a first-team All-American at South Carolina in 2010 when he hauled in 88 passes for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. His numbers dipped his final season at South Carolina when the Gamecocks dismissed their starting quarterback and went to a more ground-based attack. But Jeffery wrapped up his collegiate career by taking home MVP honors of the Capital One Bowl after he managed to catch four passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in a rout over Nebraska.

"I had a chance to watch him play a couple games last year, and he's a big, physical receiver," Bears receiver Earl Bennett said Wednesday on ESPN 1000's "Carmen, Jurko and Harry Show." "A guy who is going to do very well in the red zone because of his height. I'm pretty sure he's motivated to come play in the NFL and prove people wrong that he should've been a first-round pick. I feel like he's got a chip on his shoulder to come out and prove people wrong."

The Bears worked to quickly sign Jeffery, who agreed to terms on a four-year deal May 2. Now that Jeffery is under contract, he and other signed draft picks (Evan Rodriguez, Greg McCoy and Isaiah Frey) are eligible to start participating in the Bears' official offseason workout program at the start of next week, following the conclusion of this weekend's rookie minicamp. Jeffery also turned down an invitation to attend the 2012 NFLPA Rookie Premiere, an annual event at which selected rookies are flown to Los Angeles to be photographed for their NFL player cards, in order to spend more time participating in the Bears' offseason program, according to a league source.

With free agency nearly two weeks old, let’s do a quick rundown of some of the contracts of Chicago’s new acquisitions in addition to a few of the deals of players who recently re-signed with the club:

QB Jason Campbell ($2M signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $1.4M ($100,000)
Note: Can earn up to $1M in incentives based on playing time.

LB Blake Costanzo ($400,000 signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $700,000 ($25,000)
2013: $715,000 ($25,000)
Note: $50,000 Pro Bowl incentives in each year of deal, and another $100,000 incentive in 2013 based on playing time.

TE Kellen Davis ($2.7M signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $700,000 ($100,000)
2013: $2.4M ($100,000)

DE Israel Idonije ($1.5M signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $900,000 ($100,000)
Note: Can receive another $250,000 in incentives for reaching certain sack numbers.

WR Brandon Marshall
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $9.3M ($200,000)
2013: $9.1M ($200,000)
2014: $9.1M ($200,000)

QB Josh McCown ($25,000 signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $825,000 ($25,000)

S Craig Steltz ($125,000 signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $700,000 ($50,000)
2013 base salary (workout bonus): $765,000 ($50,000)

WR/KR Eric Weems ($1.5M signing bonus)
2012 base salary (workout bonus): $700,000 ($25,000)
2013: $865,000 ($50,000)
2014: $1M ($100,000)

The Chicago Bears entered the 2011 season with two backups quarterbacks with zero NFL starts on their resumes and paid the price for it. A year later they have gone from the greenest corps of backup quarterbacks to one of the NFL's most experienced.

After the signings of Jason Campbell as the primary backup and Josh McCown as the third QB, the Bears have 103 career NFL starts behind starter Jay Cutler, a drastic improvement over Caleb Hanie and then-rookie Nathan Enderle a year ago.

"It's nice that [Campbell] has started 70 contests," Bears general manager Phil Emery said Thursday. "And it's nice that he's gotten six seasons under his belt and thrown for over 60 percent, he has 74 touchdowns and he has an 82.8 passer rating. Those are all extreme positives. It's also very positive that he has the size that he has. ... Arm strength is very important because of our weather and the division that we play in. You'll notice that Jay and Jason have big arms. That to me was a prerequisite moving forward."

Campbell, a first-round draft pick by the Washington Redskins in 2005, spent the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, finishing with an 11-7 record in his 18 starts there. His best season came in 2009 when he started 16 games for the Redskins, passing for a career-high 3,618 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Campbell, who will be introduced at a press conference on Friday at Halas Hall, knew heading into free agency that he would sign somewhere as a backup. Bears coach Lovie Smith is happy to have him.

"We did a lot of work on Jason Campbell when he came out of Auburn years back," Smith said Thursday. "Really liked him. I like the guy, the person, him being in the locker room. His size, his poise. His grandmother lives here in Chicago. He's got a lot of relatives here. We thought that he would be the perfect backup for Jay."

The Bears brought McCown back as the No. 3 quarterback after the nine-year veteran had a two-game stint as the starter at the end of last season with Cutler hurt and Hanie benched. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes and threw for two touchdowns and four interceptions in three games last season.

McCown, 32, has started 33 of his 50 NFL games played in nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2002-05), Detroit Lions (2006), Raiders (2007), Carolina Panthers (2008-09) and Bears (2011) after entering the league as a third-round selection by Arizona in the 2002 NFL draft.

"There's a reason we brought back Josh McCown," Smith said. "He did a super job in a tough situation last year. And our fourth quarterback, Nathan Enderle, gets a chance to learn from not only one good quarterback with a lot of experience but three. We feel real good about our quarterback position now."

A day after signing quarterback Jason Campbell to serve as Jay Cutler's primary backup, the Bears agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran quarterback Josh McCown on Wednesday.

McCown is expected to enter training camp as the No. 3 quarterback. Second-year quarterback Nate Enderle is also under contract with the Bears.

McCown appeared in three games for the Bears last season, starting the final two. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes and threw for two touchdowns and four interceptions.

McCown, 32, has started 33 of his 50 NFL games played in nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2002-05), Detroit Lions (2006), Raiders (2007), Carolina Panthers (2008-09) and Bears (2011) after entering the league as a third-round selection by Arizona in the 2002 NFL draft.

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)

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears

Key free agents: Tight end Kellen Davis, running back Matt Forte (franchise), cornerback Corey Graham, quarterback Caleb Hanie, defensive end Israel Idonije, cornerback Tim Jennings, quarterback Josh McCown, safety Brandon Meriweather and receiver Roy Williams.

Where they stand: The Bears will have the most salary-cap space among NFC North teams, upwards of $30 million, and have plenty of potential uses for it. Quarterback Jay Cutler needs more targets in the downfield passing game, whether it's at the receiver or tight end position. And new general manager Phil Emery must start restocking a defense led by four players more than 30 years old: Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman.

What to expect: It's widely believed the Bears will be in the running for free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson. But Jackson's price tag could be steep and no one knows if Emery will prove to be a big spender. It seems likely he will re-sign Davis, and Emery should also save some of his cap space to extend Forte's contract. Secondary receiver targets could include Marques Colston. Bears fans are hoping the team will pursue defensive end Mario Williams, but it's hard to imagine the Bears budgeting for Williams two years after breaking their bank on Peppers.

Detroit Lions

Key free agents: Defensive end Cliff Avril (franchise), left tackle Jeff Backus, safety Chris Harris, quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker DeAndre Levy (restricted), running back Maurice Morris, running back Kevin Smith, quarterback Drew Stanton, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

Where they stand: The Lions are tight against the salary cap after franchising Avril and aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market. They could relieve the situation by reaching long-term agreements with Avril and/or receiver Calvin Johnson, who has a $22 million cap figure for 2012. Tulloch made a big impact last season after signing a one-year deal, but so far the Lions' attention has turned elsewhere.

What to expect: The Lions' best-case scenario is to keep their 2011 core together without mortgaging their future relative to the salary cap. That would mean getting Tulloch re-signed to preserve the linebacker group they upgraded last season by signing him and veteran Justin Durant, moves that allowed Levy to play on the outside. Hill seems likely to re-sign as Matthew Stafford's backup, while Stanton might test the free-agent waters to see if he has a chance to do better than third on a team's depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

Key free agents: Cornerback Jarrett Bush, quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Ryan Grant and center Scott Wells.

Where they stand: The Packers took care of a big challenge by signing tight end Jermichael Finley to a two-year contract last month. They will let Flynn depart for a possible starting job elsewhere and it appears Grant will test the free-agent market. Discussions with Wells haven't led to an agreement, but the Packers often go to the final moments before reaching a deal. There are no obvious internal replacements for Wells, making his return a priority.

What to expect: The Packers will have some flexibility with the salary cap, but general manager Ted Thompson's aversion to veteran free agency is well known. It's been three years since he signed a veteran unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Packers have needs at defensive line, outside linebacker and possibly at center if Wells leaves. But let's put it this way: Thompson's strong preference is to find depth and future replacements in the draft, not on other teams' rosters.

Minnesota Vikings

Key free agents: Safety Husain Abdullah, receiver Devin Aromashodu, receiver Greg Camarillo, defensive lineman Fred Evans, defensive lineman Letroy Guion, linebacker E.J. Henderson, linebacker Erin Henderson, safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback Sage Rosenfels, cornerback Benny Sapp and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Where they stand: The Vikings seem poised for a major roster overhaul in their first offseason since Rick Spielman was promoted to general manager. Players like Shiancoe, E.J. Henderson, Camarillo and Johnson all seem poised to move on. There aren't many positions on the team that appear secure.

What to expect: If the Vikings don't plan to draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil at No. 3 overall next month, the first clue will be if they pursue a free-agent left tackle. That seems unlikely. But they'll need to combine their draft with at least a few veteran free agents if they intend to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Cornerback could be a point of focus, where Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan are among those available. Another could be receiver. The Vikings had major interest in Jackson two years ago.

The fervor of the local fan base concerning Chicago's potential pursuit of San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson hasn't pushed the organization's need to add a capable backup quarterback to the back burner.

That became apparent when news surfaced of the team's plans to set free reserve Caleb Hanie in free agency. Given the team's tight-lipped stance recently regarding potential plans for free agency and the draft, its actions indicate a real desire to upgrade the talent behind starter Jay Cutler.

"I just feel we'll be able to strengthen that position more than we were this past year," Bears coach Lovie Smith said last month at the NFL combine.

That's certainly understandable given Chicago's tumble from 7-3 to 8-8 due largely to Cutler's fractured thumb, which cost the quarterback the final six games of the season, not to mention the Bears a shot at a second-straight appearance in the postseason.

(Read full post)

INDIANAPOLIS -- With the Chicago Bears unable to win a game last year after Jay Cutler suffered his second serious injury in the past two seasons, coach Lovie Smith said Thursday the club plans to take a hard look at the No. 2 quarterback spot leading up to free agency and the NFL draft.

Caleb Hanie and veteran Josh McCown are both unrestricted free agents, which leaves untested 2011 fifth-round pick Nathan Enderle as the only reserve quarterback on the roster.

That will no doubt change.

"First off, each year you learn something," Smith said. "We thought we had a better plan at the quarterback position. I knew how valuable Jay was to us. That won't change. But we do need to get ourselves in a better position at that backup quarterback position. So you start with that.

"We have a lot of options out there. I think this is an attractive place for a quarterback. We're going to look at all people. And I'm talking Caleb, Josh and free agent quarterbacks out there. I just feel like we'll be able to strengthen that position more than we were this past year.'

"I should have mentioned Nathan Enderle also. Nathan by being a rookie and not really being a factor last year, you tend to forget him sometimes. But he'll be a part of the mix also."

McCown, however, might have the best shot to earn one of the backup roles after he turned in a pair of decent performances to wrap up the regular season. But the Bears would be wise to also explore other options, especially free agent Kyle Orton, who might welcome the opportunity to return to Chicago if he can't find work in the league as a starting quarterback.

This is the first 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.

Jay Cutler flashed enough development through the first 10 games of the 2011 to merit inclusion into conversations about the NFL’s elite at the position. Then he suffered a fractured thumb that forced him to miss the final six contests, ruining what seemed to be a promising season.

If anything, Cutler’s injury taught the Chicago Bears the value of keeping a capable No. 2 on standby, considering the team lost five of six down the stretch.

With the team set for the future with Cutler at the helm as the starter, the Bears face a couple of interesting dilemmas this offseason with backups such as Josh McCown and Caleb Hanie set to go into unrestricted free agency.

In addition, new general manager Phil Emery must also determine whether rising second-year player Nathan Enderle fits into the offense the team will utilize under new coordinator Mike Tice, while figuring out whether the quarterback possesses enough upside to warrant a roster spot for 2012 as a developmental prospect.

THE CURRENT ROSTER

•Jay Cutler: Cutler averaged 229.1 yards passing, which ranks as the third-best single-season mark in franchise history, and his passer rating of 85.7 registered as seventh in franchise annals.

Prior to Cutler’s thumb injury, the club ranked sixth in scoring (26.8 points per game), and it seemed the quarterback -- at the time of the injury -- was playing his best football as a Chicago Bear. There’s concern about how Cutler will perform in 2012 playing for his third offensive coordinator in four seasons.

But Tice has been clear about his intentions of catering the offense to fit Cutler’s talents. So the transition should be smooth. Look for the new offense to feature the ability to audible, in addition to several plays with moving pockets to take advantage of Cutler’s mobility.

•Caleb Hanie: Following a promising showing in the 2010 NFC title game with a few shaky performances when given the opportunity to start in relief of Cutler. In four starts, Hanie tossed nine interceptions, and finished the season with a passer rating of 41.8.

Those showings, coupled with the fact he’s a free agent might mean Hanie won’t remain with the team in 2012. But don’t be so fast to make that assumption. Hanie wasn’t an ideal fit for Mike Martz’s offense, but what Tice plans to implement actually caters to what the quarterback does well.

The club likely won’t ever trust Hanie again as the No. 2. But there’s a small chance he sticks as the third quarterback.

•Josh McCown: Played well enough to warrant consideration as the No. 2 behind Cutler in 2012. But the club would be doing itself a disservice if it doesn’t bring in competition from outside for the job.

McCown completed 63.6 percent of his passes in the three games he played (two starts), and showed plenty of poise in the pocket as well as an ability to make things happen with his legs when things break down. It’s likely the Bears will extend McCown an offer to return, but the club could have some competition from other teams based on the way the quarterback performed late in the season.

•Nathan Enderle: Inactive for 14 of the team’s 16 games, Enderle never received an opportunity to play even when Hanie struggled to fill in for Cutler because the coaching staff deemed the rookie unready.

For a brief period during training camp, Enderle moved ahead of Hanie on the depth chart. But Enderle didn’t develop enough -- because of limited repetitions -- to become a realistic option as a backup.

Handpicked by Martz because he possessed the traits to thrive in that pass-oriented system, Enderle may no longer be considered an ideal fit for what the Bears plan to do with Tice as the offensive coordinator.

Bears free agents: Hanie, McCown

POTENTIAL FREE AGENT TARGETS

•Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs, unrestricted
•Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders, unrestricted
•David Garrard, unrestricted

WHY GARRARD MIGHT MAKE SENSE

Unlike Orton and Campbell, Garrard likely won’t be expensive, and he won’t enter a new situation looking to win the starting job. Besides that, Tice is familiar with Garrard from their time spent together with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Garrard, 34, has started 76 career games, with a career completion percentage of 61.6 and a passer rating of 85.8. A 10-year veteran, Garrard has thrown just 54 interceptions in 2,281 attempts. Physically, Garrard possesses many of the traits (strong arm, good mobility, and toughness) that would make him an ideal fit for Tice’s offense.

The Chicago Bears got a jump on their own 2012 free agent class when they signed center Roberto Garza, receiver Earl Bennett and offensive lineman Edwin Williams to contract extensions prior to the conclusion of the regular season.

That leaves 14 players (unrestricted and restricted) set to come out of contract when the new league year and free agency begins at 3 p.m. CT on March 13.

Kahlil Bell, RB, restricted: Bell made a strong push over the final three weeks of the season, rushing for a career-high 121 yards on 23 carries versus the Green Bay Packers on Christmas night. He also fumbled the ball three times in the final two games (he lost one), but overall did a respectable job filling in for the injured Matt Forte and Marion Barber. It's unknown if another team will sign Bell to an offer sheet (which the Bears would have the opportunity to match), so right now it appears as if the running back will be back in Chicago for 2012, probably as the No. 2 tailback behind Forte.

Zack Bowman, CB, unrestricted: Bowman intercepted a team-high six passes in 2009 but never recovered after he lost his starting job early in 2010 to Tim Jennings. The 6-foot-1 defender seems better suited to play more man coverage, rather than in Lovie Smith's Cover 2, and would benefit from a fresh start somewhere else. His struggles versus Green Bay near the end of the regular season were grossly exaggerated. Bowman lined up in the required outside leverage technique the Bears were required to play in the red zone on two of those Packers touchdown receptions. Earlier that evening strong side linebacker Nick Roach was handcuffed the same way when Jermichael Finley ran a quick slant into the end zone. The Bears actually changed their red zone defense the following week at Minnesota to take away those quick slants. But by that point, the damage to Bowman's reputation had already been done.

Kellen Davis, TE, unrestricted: A good run blocker, a below average pass blocker and an average pass catcher who managed to haul in five touchdowns. The Bears got rid of Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, in part, to allow Davis to flourish in the starting role. It never really happened. The best overall blocking tight end on the roster is Matt Spaeth, so if the Bears want to bring in a better receiving tight end, where does that leave Davis? But Davis is an excellent athlete and former draft choice, which helps his chances of sticking around.

Matt Forte, RB, unrestricted: Forte sounds as if he expects the Bears to stick him with the franchise tag. But the hope is both parties once again attempt to hammer out a long-term deal in the offseason. Forte bet on himself this season and made his first Pro Bowl. He's one of the top all-purpose rushers in the league, and with the Bears committed to running the ball more in 2012, Forte will continue to be a vital part of the offense. Surely given the importance of Forte to the franchise, the two sides can somehow find a way to reach some common ground. If not, it could be an ugly summer.

Corey Graham, CB, unrestricted: Graham tested the market last year and returned to the Bears. He will no doubt do the same this offseason, as the Pro Bowl special teams standout looks for a spot where he can contribute on defense. But money talks. The Bears better plan to make Graham a sweet offer if they expect him to come back. He displayed an ability to make impact plays during his stint at nickel back, and was supposed to play some safety Christmas night and defend Finley, but the Bears pulled the plug on the idea the Friday before the game. That probably doesn't help the situation from the Bears' standpoint.

Caleb Hanie, QB, unrestricted: Hanie is another player who could probably use a change of scenery after going 0-4 in place of the injured Jay Cutler. Perhaps the quarterback can find the right system that highlights his skills as a runner and on-the-move playmaker. But the first step is making sure to find a spot on somebody's training camp roster and then let the chips fall as they may.

Israel Idonije, DE, unrestricted: Although the Bears need to upgrade at defensive end, Idonije is a relatively productive player whom the Bears should make an attempt to re-sign and keep in the mix. There is nothing wrong with having a 5-8 sack a year guy in the rotation. Idonije is well-liked, plays hard and does a lot of good work in the community. Unless the Bears plan to completely overhaul the position (minus Julius Peppers, of course) then Idonije has a fairly good shot of signing yet another contract with the Bears.

Tim Jennings, CB, unrestricted: Jennings is looking for a significant raise from the $1.9 million base he earned in 2011. Keep that in mind. The Bears probably are looking to pay much more, but Jennings is a good player, especially in this scheme. Sure, he lacks height and drops way too many interceptions. But Jennings solidified one of the cornerback spots the last two years and is an aggressive tackler. For those reasons, the Bears might be inclined to make Jennings an offer. Whether the cornerback deems the offer acceptable is another story.

Amobi Okoye, DT, unrestricted: Okoye showed enough flashes to warrant another one- or two-year deal at moderate pay. He's still young and might be even better next year after a full offseason of working with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. But the Bears will need more than four sacks from Okoye next season.

Chris Massey, LS, unrestricted: Massey walked into a tough spot after Patrick Mannelly was lost for the year due to a torn ACL. He did OK. He didn't botch any snaps. But There won't be a need for Massey if Mannelly is 100 percent by the start of training camp, but it would be wise for the Bears to hang on to the veteran's phone number just in case.

Josh McCown, QB, unrestricted: McCown did enough in the final two games of the year to receive another one-year deal. He should enter training camp as the team's No. 3 quarterback, at the very least. He made the most of the opportunities given to him and should be commended. A good guy who fits in well inside the Bears locker room.

Brandon Meriweather, S, unrestricted: The former Patriot was an expensive mistake to the tune of $3.25 million total this season. The coaches don't seem to trust him. Unless something drastically changes between now and March, Meriweather's odds of returning for a second season in Chicago appear to be remote.

Craig Steltz, S, unrestricted: One of the pleasant surprises of the second half of the season. Despite being buried on the bench for much of the season, Steltz finished with 48 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one sacks and was fourth on the team with 12 special teams stops. Steltz would like to remain in Chicago. The Bears should honor that request and give him a new deal. He earned it.

Roy Williams, WR, unrestricted: The mere notion Williams feels he "did enough" or "made enough plays" when the team failed to make the playoffs is insulting. The only real chemistry Williams showed was with McCown late in the year. News flash: Jay Cutler is going to be the Bears starting quarterback in 2012, not McCown. Williams isn't horrible, but he's not good enough to be guaranteed a roster spot or playing time. The Bears tried that last year and it backfired.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Josh McCown wasn't guaranteed a roster spot next season by Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, but the veteran made a case the last two weeks that he should be considered for a spot on the 2012 depth chart at the quarterback position.

Although McCown finished the season with a passer rating of 68.3 in two starts, he breathed some life into an offense that stalled badly after Jay Cutler suffered a broken right thumb on Nov. 20.

"I definitely think he can hold his head up," Smith said. "He came here and helped our football team. He gave us a spark, energy, and he did not hurt his chances at all by what he has done during his brief time with us."

While the coaches and front office have the final say, starting center and team captain Roberto Garza believes McCown accomplished enough in limited time to earn a place on the team in 2012.

"He brings a lot of energy and experience in there," Garza said. "I think he did a great job and deserves to be around."

McCown threw for just 160 yards in the Bears' 17-13 victory over the Vikings, but he did toss a 22-yard touchdown to Roy Williams and showcased his ability to scramble when he ran 28 yards to pick up a key first down in the first half.

"It feels great, it feels really, really cool [to get the win]," McCown said. "For me, I'm just so thankful to go to battle with these guys. What a great group of guys. It's just an honor to play for the coaches and to play for the guys who were on the field today."

The Bears could certainly pursue a higher-profile No. 2 quarterback such as Kyle Orton in the offseason, but McCown appears to have a legitimate shot to somehow be in the mix when the team opens training camp next summer.

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. -- Six stops over nine seasons in the NFL and a stint in the United Football League instilled a perspective in Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown that he will carry into Sunday’s season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.

Instead of fretting about the future and what might amount to an audition Sunday for the 2012 season, McCown wants to embrace yet another opportunity to play. Should he take care of business, the quarterback understands business will eventually take care of him, too.

“In the past at some of my stops, you’re always kind of planning for the next thing,” McCown said, “and you lose sight of what’s in front of you and really enjoying how fun that moment can be. You’ve got an opportunity to go out, compete and play a game. Whether it’s a playoff game, whatever it is, if you’re a competitor you just want to win. You don’t care. So that’s my goal. Generally, especially at this position, if you play well you put your team in a position to win. All the other stuff takes care of itself. So that’s my goal, just to focus on beating Minnesota.”

McCown opened eyes in the team’s loss to the Packers by completing close to 68 percent of his passes for 242 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. With McCown at the controls, the Bears generated a season-high 441 yards and converted on 50 percent of third downs (6 of 12) after going 11 of 50 (22 percent) on third-down conversions in the previous four games.

Having worked with receiver Roy Williams in Detroit, McCown established an almost instant chemistry with him. Williams finished with a season high in catches (six) and yardage (81).

“He just trusts me, and he threw it,” Williams said. “He was throwing it before I even came out of my breaks.”

Trust, McCown said, is one of the fundamental tenets of the club’s offense.

“All offense is trust-related, but especially with this deal and the way [offensive coordinator] Mike [Martz] works the passing game. You have to trust not only what he’s calling and telling you to do, but you have to trust your receivers to be there, and you have to cut some balls loose,” McCown said. "You can work on it, get timing down and how you would like it to happen in practice. But not until you get in a game, cut it loose and you connect do you really start to build confidence. So [with] every rep, you start to feel a little better about it.”

In 10 total drives against the Packers, McCown -- starting his first game since 2007 -- led the Bears to two touchdowns, and two field goals, in addition to two punts, and a pair of interceptions. By comparison, Caleb Hanie led 55 Bears drives, yielding four TDs, four field goals and 29 punts, to go with nine interceptions. The team’s scoring efficiency with Hanie was 29 percent, 7 percent, 12 percent and 7 percent over four games for 40 points.

McCown engineered 40 percent scoring efficiency and 21 points in only one start.

“The performance Josh put in [against the Packers] was impressive,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “That’s why we can get so much done this week [in what might seem like a meaningless game]. We want to see him have an opportunity to come back and play again this coming week. You normally can find a spot for a player who played the way he did.”

Not that McCown is worried about where he stands. After all, a little more than two months ago, McCown was coaching high school football. Although he’d like to stick to continue playing in the NFL, McCown says right now “he’s just having a lot of fun.”

Still, that doesn’t mean he’s overly relaxed.

“Honestly, my prayer is that I don’t get relaxed. There’s a comfort level from just having done it; the unknown is gone,” McCown said. “But there’s an edge that all the anxiety produces that I think is good. I’m hoping I keep that.”

Josh McCown couldn't deliver a victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but he gave the Bears the spark Caleb Hanie couldn't deliver in four starts. With the benefit of hindsight, should the Bears have started the veteran McCown sooner? And if they did would we be talking about a playoff return for Jay Cutler right now?

Our Four Downs panel weighs in on that and more:

Fact or Fiction: The Bears would have won at least two games with McCown starting after Cutler’s injury.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. That’s impossible to say for sure. How can we know if McCown would have been ready to start before the Packers game? He was coaching high school football until late November. Plus, McCown did not fare well in practice prior to the week of the Packers game, so I don’t blame the coaching staff for sticking with Caleb Hanie until Sunday. If McCown would have played the kind of football he did against Green Bay in those contests versus Kansas City or Denver, then sure, the Bears win. But there is no guarantee it would have happened.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. If you saw McCown shortly after his arrival with the Bears, you would have wondered what he was doing on an NFL roster. It looked that bad at practice, and several players confirmed McCown had been struggling. So I won't question the coaching staff's timing as to when they decided to make McCown the guy. It took McCown some time to get acclimated to playing in the NFL again, and reacquainted with Mike Martz's scheme. Had the Bears gone with McCown sooner, the results would likely have been as disastrous as what we all saw with Hanie under center.

Melissa Isaacson Fiction. Hate these questions! Yes, I said with Donovan McNabb they could have won one or more but wasn’t willing to go any further than one. So am I willing to say McCown would have led the Bears to two victories against the Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos or Seahawks? In the final analysis, it’s not all on the quarterback, which we saw clearly against the Packers. So no, the Bears needed and need more.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. There’s something about a backup performing at a mediocre clip that turns Chicagoans into dreamers. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have been better than Hanie, but it’s not like McCown lit the world on fire against Green Bay. He just wasn’t awful. Maybe the Bears win a couple games with him, but I’m not convinced.

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Fact or Fiction: The blame for another season missing the playoffs falls more on the front office than the coaching staff.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Teams win as an organization, and they lose as an organization. It’s just like blaming Hanie for the Bears failing to miss the playoffs. It’s not just the responsibility of one player, one coach or one front office member. Everybody needs to do their job better in 2012, from the top on down. The front office needs to sign and draft better players, the coaches need to put the players in a better situation to win and the players need to execute better. Blaming just one aspect of the organization is the easy way out. The Bears need to show significant improvement on all fronts. Otherwise, the club will be forced to make radical changes after the 2012 campaign.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. The injuries definitely don't fall on the coaching staff. But the ability to evaluate and acquire quality replacements is the responsibility of the front office, which failed on that front with the backup quarterback situation. The front office seemed to be so hung up on acquiring a player with knowledge and experience in Martz's offense that it reduced the talent pool of potential quarterbacks. You could also look at the contributions of the team's free agent acquisitions in assessing the job done by the front office.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. Though it's not all on the quarterback, GM Jerry Angelo and his staff simply did not leave the Bears with an adequate backup plan. And they did Jay Cutler no favors with a sub-par receiving corps and offensive line, which was painfully obvious after he was sidelined. The coaching staff is certainly not blameless (someone should have reminded Marion Barber to stay inbounds, for example) but the front office is ultimately where the buck stops.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. I think the blame should be equally dispersed between the two camps. The front office deserves blame for not improving the offensive line and adding a better wide receiver. The coaches deserve blame for not adequately preparing a game plan to put Hanie in the right situations. And if Hanie wasn’t capable of running an NFL team, then the coaches should have made sure Angelo understood that.

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Fact or Fiction: Kahlil Bell has shown enough to be the No. 2 running back in 2012.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Bell plays like a winner. He runs hard, shows good vision and can help out on special teams. He is far more valuable than injury-prone Marion Barber. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d feel entering the season with Barber as the No. 1 in the event Matt Forte is traded or holds out, but as a complement to Forte, Bell is ideal. Another good game Sunday versus the Vikings will no doubt hammer home the point to any Bears fans still on the fence.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. In two starts Bell has performed with significant workloads. But what's also promising is the fact he's so similar to Forte in terms of what he brings to the offense. Like Forte, Bell can be somewhat of a slasher who can also contribute as a threat in the passing game. Bell has also shown he can be an inside runner that can move the pile in short-yardage situations.

Melissa Isaacson: Fiction. Love what Bell has shown so far, but have we not learned enough about backups in meaningful positions to at least have some healthy competition in training camp? Yes, Bell has looked promising and it will be fun to see him in another starting role against the Vikings, but don’t get too carried away with his 121 yards (on 23 carries) against the Packers either as the Bears media guide is full of guys like Brock Forsey, who in 2003 rushed for 134 yards (on 27 carries).

Jon Greenberg: Fact. Bell is fast and Bell is hungry. He could be a No. 1 back in the right system (think Denver during Mike Shanahan’s run), and he easily could be a factor for the Bears next season. And I guarantee you this, Bell will talk to the media after the game.

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Fact or Fiction: Barber and Roy Williams won’t be back in 2012.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Williams is gone. Let’s move the drill. But I can’t totally write off Barber until I know what is going on with Forte. Barber performed at a decent level before the meltdown in the Mile High City, and even in that game he rushed for 108 yards. If Forte gets a new deal, I immediately kick Barber to the curb and draft another running back or perhaps take a closer look at Armando Allen. However, as long as Forte is hanging in limbo, I probably keep Barber and his $1.9 million base salary in 2012.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. My head tells me both won't be back, but my gut says the Bears may try to re-sign Williams as insurance. Williams played his best game as a Bear against the Packers, and really he's been a fairly decent third-down receiver. If the Bears decide to totally revamp the receiving corps, I don't think Williams will be back. But my guess is the Bears won't be willing to spend the money it takes to do that. So if the club adds one or two more receiving threats, it might be a good idea to keep Williams if the front office can get him to agree to a veteran minimum type of deal. As for Barber, I think Bears coach Lovie Smith pretty much said good-bye to him on Monday without actually saying it. He's missed too much time because of injuries, cost the team two games with bone-headed plays, and has been outplayed by Bell, who will wind up being a cheaper option for the team.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. If Williams is back, then the entire front office needs to go, and I’d be a little worried about Angelo. Williams is an easy call as he was a relatively small ($1.5 million), one-year investment and the experiment obviously did not pay off. As for Barber, the Bears owe him approximately $2 million next season and the Bears will be in for a $2.875 million cap hit. But the injury-riddled Barber has missed four games with a bad calf and had as many negative moments as positives (with the mental gaffes against Kansas City and Denver enough to get a lot of players cut on the spot). There’s not a Bears fan around who wouldn’t say that it’s worth it to eat the $2 million and get rid of two more ex-Cowboys in one fell swoop.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. I don’t see any reason to bring both back. Mental gaffes aside, Barber has been solid, but I think Bell can back up Forte. Williams, a great postgame quote, hasn’t done much to elicit a return. I think the Bears can finish 8-8 without these two. And why wasn’t Sam Hurd included in this question?

STREAKING

1. Josh McCown, QB: Completing nearly 68 percent of his passes for a touchdown with two interceptions, McCown raised questions as to whether the Bears should have gone with him as the starter sooner. McCown appeared to be comfortable in the face of arduous circumstances against the Packers, leading the offense to its best performance -- in terms of yardage -- of the season. A strong outing against the Minnesota Vikings should ensure McCown a legitimate shot in 2012 at the No. 2 job.

2. Kahlil Bell, RB: Bell carried the ball 11 times in the first quarter alone against the Packers for an average of 5.4 yards per carry, finishing with a game- and career-high 123 yards, but with two fumbles. Green Bay’s lousy run defense isn’t an accurate barometer to gauge Bell’s worth, but the running back has proven in two starts that he’s capable of shouldering the load as the featured ball carrier.

3. Earl Bennett, WR: Going into the matchup with the Packers, Bennett had caught just three balls over his past four games. Bennett hauled in only one ball on Sunday, but on that 49-yard reception, the receiver showcased the elusiveness that prompted the team to sign him to an extension recently. With Johnny Knox out of action, Bennett is the team’s bona fide go-to receiver. McCown will likely lean on Bennett even more in the season finale.

SLUMPING

1. Major Wright, S: Wright led the Bears in tackles against the Packers, but his inconsistency has led to too many big plays for opponents. Wright missed a tackle on Ryan Grant in the third quarter that led to a 24-yard gain. Two plays later Wright watched Jordy Nelson blow past him for a 55-yard touchdown. Wright was playing in his first game since returning from a shoulder injury suffered on Dec. 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The rust definitely showed.

2. Zack Bowman, CB: Bowman made his first start since the 2010 season, and acknowledged things didn’t go as smoothly as he expected. The Packers targeted Bowman in coverage for three of Aaron Rodgers’ five touchdown passes, and the corner was called for a pass interference penalty on a play in which Nelson still made the catch. Bears coach Lovie Smith continues to give Bowman chances to win back his starting job permanently, but the corner hasn’t yet taken advantage of the opportunity.

3. Devin Hester, WR: Injuries have robbed Hester of his explosiveness in the return game. He’s definitely shown flashes of the game-changing return man he is, but a tender ankle has taken away his burst and cutting ability. What’s worse is that Hester hasn’t been able to contribute on offense after such a strong showing at training camp that indicated perhaps he had turned the corner as a receiver.