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The Chicago Bears secured the services of veteran linebacker Lance Briggs, and will likely try just as hard in the coming months to lock up franchise stalwart Brian Urlacher, who has a year remaining on his contract.

The team still needs to prepare for life after Briggs and Urlacher, and could start the process of adding potential successors during the NFL Draft. Urlacher will be 34 once the 2012 season starts and Briggs turns 32 in November, but Bears coach Lovie Smith laughs off the suggestion his star players are aging.


“Every time I bring up getting younger with Brian… I mean, he gets a big chuckle when someone like you bring[s] it up,” Smith said at the NFL Combine. “Just look at what those players have done. I’ve heard that about Lance Briggs getting older, Julius Peppers, [and] Charles Tillman. All four of those guys were in the Pro Bowl this year. For me, we have other concerns. That’s not one of them.”

Perhaps not, but that hasn’t stopped the club from showing interest in a few prospects from the 2012 class of linebackers. The Bears have reportedly scheduled pre-draft visits for North Carolina’s Zach Brown and Notre Dame’s Darius Fleming. Brown, who ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, could be gone by the start of the third round, while Fleming -- a former St. Rita standout -- is considered somewhat of a tweener teams could take a chance on in the fourth or fifth round.

So while the interest seems to be there for the Bears, it’s unknown whether they will actually spend a pick on a linebacker. The club selected West Virginia linebacker J.T. Thomas last year in the sixth round, and the current roster features several young players such as Dom DeCicco, Patrick Trahan and Jabara Williams.

Besides that Briggs doesn’t appear to be comfortable with the idea of the team playing without him and Urlacher.

“Hopefully we can play until we’re 49 years old if that’s possible,” Briggs joked.

The next 10: 11. OLB Sean Spence, Miami, 6-0, 231; 12. ILB James-Michael Johnson, Nevada, 6-1, 241; 13. OLB Nigel Bradham, Florida State, 6-2, 241; 14. OLB Josh Kaddu, Oregon, 6-0, 239; 15. OLB Olivier Vernon, Miami, 6-2, 261; 16. OLB Demario Davis, Arkansas State, 6-2, 235; 17. OLB Terrell Manning, North Carolina State, 6-2, 237; 18. OLB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, 6-1, 246; 19. OLB Audie Cole, North Carolina State, 6-4, 246; 20. OLB Miles Burris, San Diego State, 6-2, 246. Note: Some of the prospects listed also project as 4-3 defensive ends.

Position grade: B-.

Analysis: Despite the criticism thrown at the Bears for executing out of the 4-3, one positive about the defense is strong linebacking prospects often fall to the club, in part because of the NFL’s current infatuation with the 3-4 look. Because so many teams have shifted to the 3-4, the talent pool for the run-and-hit types the Bears covet at linebacker opens tremendously. So if the Bears want to plan for the future at the position, plenty of options should be available in the later rounds.

In the relief and euphoria of his long-awaited contract extension, linebacker Lance Briggs described the Chicago Bears' offseason as "a miracle" and one that "on paper" has put him on the Bears' best team since he arrived in 2003. So as long as we're talking about ideal scenarios, we should consider what could be next for the NFC North's most active team this offseason.

From a contract perspective, at least, the Bears have at least two significant issues to address. One is a resolution to their increasingly stark standoff with tailback Matt Forte. The other is the expiring contract of linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Forte has not signed his franchise tag tender of $7.74 million for 2012, and without an injury waiver he'll be ineligible to participate in offseason workouts. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this week that Forte won't sign anything until he agrees to a long-term contract extension, which makes it quite possible the Bears won't see him again for a while.

One way or the other, someone will have to budge if Forte is going to be on the field when training camp begins at the end of July. By most accounts, the sides aren't close.

"He knows what his value is, and I think we all know what his value is," Briggs said, adding that he supports Forte's current stance.

Urlacher, meanwhile, is in the final year of a deal the Bears upgraded and extended in the summer of 2008. He'll earn $7.5 million in base salary with an opportunity earn a $500,000 workout bonus. It's hard to imagine the Bears doing anything other than extending him until they deem him unfit to play, and so his situation becomes a matter of timing more than anything.

Will the Bears let Urlacher play out the season with the understanding he will get a new contract next winter? Or will they move to extend sometime in the next five months before the 2012 season begins? For obvious reasons, players prefer security rather than waiting, especially for someone like Urlacher, who has no desire to play elsewhere.

"I think the Bears will do right by him," Briggs said. "He's coming off a great year. Hopefully we can play until we're 49 years old, if that's possible."

Hey Lance, we're talking about the ideal scenario, not fantasy.

Lance Briggs had no leverage last summer when he asked the Chicago Bears for a contract upgrade. As we discussed at the time, the midpoint of a market-level contract isn't typically a time when teams look to renegotiate.

Briggs had two choices when the Bears rejected his request. He could flip out and make himself into a yearlong distraction. Or he could buckle down and provide the Bears one more illustration of why he is a player worthy of further investment.

Briggs chose the latter, and I have to believe that decision at least partially explains why the Bears circled back and complied Wednesday with a new deal that settles Briggs' concerns for the foreseeable future. The numbers were not monumental -- Briggs got about a $2.5 million raise for 2012 and would earn $5.5 million in 2013, according to multiple reports -- and for the Bears it was a relatively cheap way to demonstrate loyalty to a cornerstone player who just wanted a little love.

"I'm grateful," Briggs said in a conference call with reporters. "I'm just very appreciative right now that the work has been recognized and that it got handled as fast as it did. … We all had a number in our head and they had the same number."

Briggs earned his seventh Pro Bowl honor in 2011, but just as impressive to me was the fact that he played in every Bears defensive snap from the beginning of the season to the end. Pushing through minor injuries is probably the best way for a player to demonstrate a commitment to the team. Briggs did his part, and as it turns out, all he was looking for was the most modest of rewards. If all it took was a few million dollars to placate a key player, it was a no-brainer for the Bears to comply.

Briggs was the first to admit that his contract was a unique situation, so this is not to suggest that Bears tailback Matt Forte would benefit from a similar strategy. It will take much more money to satisfy Forte than it did Briggs. And if Forte sits back and plays under his franchise tag in 2012, the Bears wouldn't be any more compelled to offer him the rich extension he is apparently seeking.

But in Briggs' case, at this moment, there was no real crisis, and neither side treated it as one after last summer's theatrics. And voila, here we are. As is the case in so many of these "issues," all's well that ends well.

Earlier: Briggs' contract was one of several Big Decisions facing NFC North teams this offseason.

The Chicago Bears announced Wednesday they had agreed to terms with linebacker Lance Briggs on a one-year extension that will lock up the veteran through 2014.

Read the entire story.

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.

Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Lance Briggs, who said Thursday he's not going to make waves with contract demands, will make a huge splash on Saturday.

Read the entire story.

INDIANAPOLIS -- One key issue the Chicago Bears need to resolve is the future of perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs, who stated before the start of last season he either wanted a new deal or to be traded. Briggs has yet to publicly back down from that demand after he led the Bears with 147 tackles in 2011 and was named to his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl.

The 31-year-old linebacker is currently under contract with the Bears through 2013 after he signed a six-year deal in March, 2008. He is due to make a base salary of $3.75 million in 2012 and could pocket an additional $1.33 million in likely to be earned incentives. Briggs' base salary jumps to $6.25 million in the final year of the deal.

At the core of the problem is the fact Briggs pocketed the bulk of his guaranteed money in the first three years of the contract. From 2008-2010, Briggs took home $11.8 million in the form of roster bonuses and made a combined salary figure of $6.445 in 2010. However, the final three years of Briggs' contact do not include any roster bonuses, and the linebacker saw his pay drop to $3.650 million last season, despite maintaining the same high level of performance on the field.

Smith said he briefly spoke with Briggs last week while the two attended funeral services held for the wife of ex-Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris.

"I did have a chance to talk to Lance a little bit," Smith said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Lance is family to us. Again, you're talking about a guy who's been here every day I've been here, and plays better football every year. He knows how much we like him and want him to be a Bear forever. So yes I've talked to him. Hopefully things are getting better on that front."

This is the eighth 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.

When Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey, president Ted Phillips or new general manager Phil Emery speaks about the team’s situation at linebacker they’re usually working to pry off the hourglass always attached to the discussion.

Age isn’t a factor they say. The duo of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs -- 33 and 31, respectively -- only serve as evidence of the brass’ assertion.

“I’ve heard the rumblings that there’s a lot of age on our roster, defensively,” Emery said when asked specifically about Urlacher and the linebacker position. “I kind of look at it this way: it’s not a numerical number we’re looking at [when determining whether a player is getting too old to contribute]. It’s the way you’re making plays. Are you being a productive player? If it was just a miracle number, and the number of gray hairs, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Urlacher and Briggs combined in 2011 for 282 tackles, four interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 11 quarterback pressures in being named to their eighth and seventh Pro Bowls. Briggs eclipsed 100 tackles for the eighth consecutive season while Urlacher accomplished the feat for a franchise-record 11th time.

Are they slowing down? Maybe, but the duo continues to find ways to compensate for physical limitations by sharpening the mental sides of their games. Still, at some point, the Bears need to find the duo’s eventual replacements.

Emery has made it clear he’d prefer to replenish the talent pool through the draft. But it’s unlikely the Bears will use a high pick in April to draft a linebacker.

The new GM will also have to at some point address Briggs’ demands for a new contract.

THE CURRENT ROSTER

•Brian Urlacher: Enters the final season of a five-year extension signed in 2008, and is set to receive $7.5 million in base salary ($9.7 million cap charge). Still one of the NFL’s best middle linebackers, Urlacher hasn’t discussed his contract status. But surely Urlacher would like to finish his career in Chicago and appears healthy -- and skilled -- enough to play at a high level for multiple years beyond 2012. Urlacher tied for third in interceptions (3) in 2011, and is one of just four players in NFL history to post more than 40 (41.5) career sacks and 20 (21) INTs. Urlacher sprained the MCL in his left knee in the season finale, but the injury won’t require surgery or a lengthy rehabilitation process that would put his availability for 2012 in question.

•Lance Briggs: Was vocal prior to the 2011 season about the desire to receive a raise, or at least have the team flip the base salaries for 2012 ($3.75 million) and 2013 ($6.25 million). Given that two years remain on the deal, Briggs doesn’t appear to have much leverage in this situation and the Bears won’t be inclined to succumb to the linebacker’s demands. Briggs has said that he’d like to be traded if the Bears can’t accommodate his request. But he’s made such statements in the past, and ultimately returned to the team. Before the start of last season, there were rumblings about a potential trade between the Bears and New York Giants involving Briggs and defensive end Osi Umenyiora. But former general manager Jerry Angelo told ESPNChicago.com at the time that while logical given the needs of both teams, those rumors were untrue.

•Nick Roach: Signed a two-year contract worth approximately $4 million prior to training camp in 2011, and will receive $1.715 million in base salary for 2012. Roach started 15 games at strong side linebacker last season, and contributed 61 tackles to go with three pass breakups. Interestingly, there were rumblings the Bears were considering bringing in players such as Pisa Tinoisamoa and Lofa Tatupu last season to man Roach’s spot. Tinoisamoa’s health remains an issue, but there’s a chance the team could still be eyeing Tatupu, who reportedly visited the New Orleans Saints on Monday.

•Dom DeCicco: An undrafted free agent, DeCicco played in all 16 games as a rookie and tied for second on the team in special teams tackles (17). He is No. 2 on the depth chart at middle linebacker behind Urlacher. It’s still too early to tell whether DeCicco might be Urlacher’s future replacement at the position. He needs a full offseason to improve strength while learning all the nuances of the team’s system.

•J.T. Thomas: A sixth-round pick in 2011, Thomas received essentially a red-shirt season when the Bears placed him on the injured reserve on Sept. 3 because of a back injury. Sources said the team was somewhat unpleased with Thomas’ physicality, and wanted him to improve in that area. Thomas further muddled his situation early Monday when he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

•Patrick Trahan: Signed to the active roster on Nov. 29, Trahan played five games and contributed five tackles on special teams. Prior to joining the Bears for training camp, Trahan spent 2010 on the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans. Trahan possesses the traits of the run-and-hit linebacker the Bears covet, but needs more seasoning to become a legitimate threat to crack the lineup.

•Jabara Williams: Claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 17, and played five games for the Bears, making five stops on special teams. The Rams drafted Williams in the seventh round, and he played two games with the club before his release. Also fits the run-and-hit mold.

Bears free agents: None

POTENTIAL FREE AGENT TARGETS

•MLB/OLB David Hawthorne, Seattle Seahawks, unrestricted
•OLB Leroy Hill, Seattle Seahawks, unrestricted
•OLB Manny Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals, unrestricted

WHY HAWTHORNE FITS

All three of the potential candidates listed could play SAM linebacker if the team thinks it needs an upgrade at Roach’s spot. But of the three, Hawthorne possesses the most versatility and upside. A four-year veteran, Hawthorne notched 115 tackles in 2011 to go with two sacks and three interceptions, one of which he returned 77 yards for a touchdown (with a Grade II MCL sprain). Bears coach Lovie Smith, a native of East Texas, is no doubt familiar with Hawthorne, who grew up with former safety Danieal Manning in Corsicana, Texas.

Nicknamed “Heater”, Hawthorne has posted more than 100 tackles and led the team in tackles each of the last three seasons. What’s more is he’s played all three linebacker spots. Coincidentally, Hawthorne’s first NFL start came against the Bears in 2009, and he posted 16 tackles in that contest.

Normally a middle linebacker, Hawthorne has also led the Seahawks in tackles from the weak side. In Chicago, Hawthorne, 26, could potentially play Roach’s spot where he’d be an upgrade against the run and in pass coverage, and simultaneously serve as the heir apparent to either Briggs on the weak side or Urlacher in the middle.

Under the last personnel regime, the Bears expressed some interest in Hawthorne. But it’s unclear now how Emery views him.

It took longer than expected. Preliminary decisions were questioned. Debates extended into the wee hours. We went through a first draft, then a second and even a third. Countless observers were consulted. It wasn't until I had a full week to mull the 2011 All-NFC North team that I was prepared to make the big reveal.

Via Twitter, @jpberthiaume asked: "Do people really care about these 'teams?'" I guess it's a fair point. I doubt few, if any, of the players listed in the chart wrote a fifth-grade essay about their plans to one day make the All-NFC North team on ESPN.com, even if it was only because the NFC North hadn't yet been formed in those days and ESPN.com was operating out of a Bristol-based closet.

So I'll let you be the judge. This is annually a fun exercise, even if it doesn't lead to a deep understanding of the human condition or even reveal any breakthroughs about the just-completed season. If nothing else, it offers us a blank template to recognize the best-performing players in the division without the hindrance of the politics and reputation.

Some notes on some of the tight decisions, for which I seriously received input from multiple angles:

• One of the fiercest debates came at wide receiver. Everyone agreed that the Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson deserved one spot, but there was a split about the other two. Did the Green Bay Packers' Greg Jennings, who missed three games because of a knee injury, deserve an automatic bid? And if he did, should the Packers' Jordy Nelson or the Minnesota Vikings' Percy Harvin get the third spot? I thought Jennings' 67 receptions, 949 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games merited a spot. And ultimately I chose Nelson over Harvin. I realize Harvin caught 87 passes in a punchless offense and added 345 rushing yards to his total, but in the end I couldn't overlook a player who scored more touchdowns (15) than all but four players in the NFL this season. Plus, as Hatterbot pointed out: "Rushing yards don't count in the WR category."

2011 All-NFC North Team

Pos.	Player, Team
OFFENSE
WR	Calvin Johnson (DET)
WR	Greg Jennings (GB)
WR	Jordy Nelson (GB)
LT	Jeff Backus (DET)
LG	Rob Sims (DET)
C	Scott Wells (GB)
RG	Josh Sitton (GB)
RT	Bryan Bulaga (GB)
TE	Jermichael Finley (GB)
QB	Aaron Rodgers (GB)
RB	Matt Forte (CHI)
DEFENSE
DE	Jared Allen (MIN)
DT	Kevin Williams (MIN)
DT	Ndamukong Suh (DET)
DE	Julius Peppers (CHI)
OLB	Clay Matthews (GB)
MLB	Brian Urlacher (CHI)
OLB	Lance Briggs (CHI)
CB	Charles Tillman (CHI)
CB	Charles Woodson (GB)
S-NB	Tramon Williams (GB)
S	Louis Delmas (DET)
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK	Mason Crosby (GB)
P	Tim Mastay (GB)
PR	Devin Hester (CHI)
KR	Percy Harvin (MIN)
ST	Corey Graham (CHI)

• I went with the Lions' Rob Sims at left guard in part on the advice of John McTigue of ESPN Stats & Information, who noted that Sims was the only NFC North left guard to play the position for 16 games this season. Sims also had the best pass-sack ratio (19.7 passes per sack) of the group, based on video study.
• There is no doubt that the Lions' Brandon Pettigrew (83 catches) had a more productive season than the Packers' Jermichael Finley (55). But the Lions often used Pettigrew as a substitute for their punchless running game, and that's why his per-catch average of 9.4 yards was lower than any other tight end with at least 30 catches. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the average pass to Pettigrew this season traveled 6.5 yards in the air. The average pass to Finley traveled 11.4 yards. Finley caught five passes of at least 30 yards. Pettigrew's longest was 27. Both players had their share of drops, combining for a total of 15, but I thought Finley made a bigger impact on his catches than Pettigrew did.
• I really debated the Bears' Julius Peppers and the Lions' Cliff Avril at defensive end. Avril (11.5) had a half-sack more than Peppers (11) and forced twice as many fumbles. But one of the advantages we have on this team is investigating beyond the conventional numbers. Our friends at Pro Football Focus (PFF) credited Peppers with 53 quarterback pressures, the second-highest total in the NFL. Avril ranked No. 8 with 37, but in a close race I chose the maximum number of plays impacted over Avril's slight edge in "playmaking" statistics.
• I used a similar approach in choosing the Vikings' Kevin Williams and the Lions' Ndamukong Suh as my defensive tackles. It's true that the Bears' Henry Melton led the NFC North's defensive tackles with seven pressures, but PFF had Suh with 27 quarterback pressures, an NFL high for an interior lineman. Williams tied for No. 3 with 25. Melton wasn't that far behind at 23, but I also took into account that the Bears nearly benched him for inconsistency at one point in the season. (Coach Lovie Smith in November: "He hasn't showed up as much. Whether teams have adjusted to him or whatever, we need to get more production from him because he's capable of it.") Meanwhile, I thought Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji took a step backward in 2011. PFF credited him with only 10 stops (the cumulative number of plays made that constitute an offensive failure) in 842 snaps.
• If you want to say I chickened out at linebacker, go ahead. I originally left open the middle and one of the outside spots, but in the end I went with our division standbys: Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. For starters, Briggs was one of six non-offensive linemen to play 100 percent of his team's snaps in the NFL this season. There's something to be said for being available to your team. And while I do think that the Packers' Desmond Bishop and the Lions' Stephen Tulloch had good seasons, I couldn't find a statistic or an opinion that convinced me they were better than Urlacher. Someday, there will be turnover among NFC North linebackers. But it didn't happen this season.
• Safety play was poor throughout the NFC North, so I'm not at all ashamed to have chosen a third cornerback to replace one of the safeties on this team. It came down to the Lions' Chris Houston and the Packers' Tramon Williams. Both had their ups and downs in coverage. Houston had five interceptions and two touchdowns in 14 games, while Williams had four interceptions and one touchdown in 15 games. In the end, I chose Williams because I think it was pretty clear he was pushing through a really limiting shoulder injury for much of the first half of the season.
• I chose the Packers' specialists, kicker Mason Crosby and punter Tim Masthay. Crosby converted 24 of 28 kicks, including a 58-yarder, and ranked third in the NFL with 49 touchbacks. Masthay downed a division-high 23 punts inside the 20-yard line despite a division-low 55 punts.
• I mistakenly left off a coverage specialist from our original post. There should be no debating that the Bears' Corey Graham deserves that spot.
• Go ahead. Rip away....

Coming later this week: Some supplementary NFC North awards, including our top coordinators.

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.

Recently fired Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo won 95 regular-season games and four division titles during his 11-year tenure in Chicago. But most critics will point to Angelo's draft record as a primary reason the veteran talent evaluator was let go on Tuesday. Here is a list of the top five hits and misses since Angelo took full control of the Bears draft in the spring of 2002.

Hits

1. Lance Briggs -- third round (2003) -- This season marked the seventh straight Pro Bowl selection for Briggs, the perfect fit at weakside linebacker in the Bears Cover 2 defensive scheme. Briggs and veteran Brian Urlacher are widely considered one the best, or the best, linebacker tandem in the entire NFL.

2. Matt Forte -- second round (2008) -- Selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2011, Forte has established himself as one of the top all-around tailbacks in the league. However, his unresolved contract situation, plus the negative attention it received in the press, might have been one of the factors in Angelo losing his job.

3. Charles Tillman -- second round (2003) -- A model of consistency at the cornerback position. Tillman finally earned a Pro Bowl nod after years of solid play. Tillman's uncanny ability to strip the football and force turnovers has made him one of the core members of three division winning defenses.

4. Devin Hester -- second round (2006) -- Hester never developed into a upper echelon receiver, but he is the best return man in the history of the NFL. Enough said.

5. Johnny Knox -- fifth round (2009) -- Once again, Knox has flaws as a wideout, but in the fifth round, he is considered a steal. Knox made the Pro Bowl his rookie year as a return man, and has made enough big plays in the passing game the last three years to be considered a viable weapon.

Honorable mention: Alex Brown (fourth round, 2002), Tommie Harris (first round, 2004), Bernard Berrian (third round, 2004), Nate Vasher (fourth round, 2004), Chris Harris (sixth round, 2005), Kyle Orton (fourth round, 2005), Greg Olsen (first round, 2007), Corey Graham (fifth round, 2007), Earl Bennett (third round, 2008) and Henry Melton (fourth round, 2009).

Misses

1. Michael Haynes -- first round (2003) -- The defensive end last only three seasons in Chicago and never came close to making an impact. He finished his Bears career with 5.5 sacks.

2. Dan Bazuin -- second round (2007) -- Bazuin suffered a pair of injuries right out of the gate, went on injured reserve as a rookie, then was cut the following summer. He doesn't even appear on the Bears official all-time roster.

3. Michael Okwo -- third round (2007) -- Lovie Smith deserves much of the blame for the Bears selection of Okwo, who they touted as the heir-apparent to Briggs. The only problem: Okwo couldn't play and some wondered if he even liked football.

4. Mark Bradley - second round (2005) -- Bradley showed promise early his first year before tearing his knee up at Ford Field. He never recovered. To make matters worse, Bradley acted like he was entitled. That lasted until 2008 when the wide receiver was finally released.

5. Cedric Benson -- first round (2005) -- Benson went on to have a nice career with Cincinnati, but he was a disaster in Chicago. Another member of the entitlement club, Benson was handed the starting job in 2007 and flopped. A few legal issues later and he was gone. And to think; the Bears traded Thomas Jones to make room for this guy.

Honorable mention: Roosevelt Williams (third round, 2002), Dusty Dvoracek (third round, 2006), Marcus Harrison (third round, 2008), Jarron Gilbert (third round, 2009) and Juaquin Iglesias (third round, 2009).

BEARS (7-8) AT VIKINGS (3-12) Noon Sunday at Metrodome on FOX

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The disappointment of unrealized potential thrusts the Chicago Bears into thoughts of 2012 despite one game -- which the team calls the beginning of next season -- still remaining on the schedule Sunday at Minnesota.

“We’ve already put up our goals of course for the 2012 season,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “We want to be 1-0 for it.”

Despite the team's recent five-game skid after a winning streak of the same magnitude, the Bears insist they’re not far off from seriously competing for a title even though they’ve missed the postseason now in four of the last five seasons. Sweeping changes might be on the horizon. But the players think such moves -- outside of the normal transactions associated with roster turnover -- could possibly do more harm than good.

"It’s not going to solve anything if you get rid of all the folks who put this team together,” Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said. “This year was unfortunate for us all, and even though we didn’t get in the playoffs, we are still a championship-caliber team. We’ll get there. It’s just not going to happen in the year of [20]11.”

It's legitimate to ponder whether it’ll ever occur. The recurring factor in the last two seasons -- which both came to disappointing ends -- was an injury to quarterback Jay Cutler. Although the team refused to make that an excuse for this year’s late-season collapse, the prevailing thought within the locker room is that a quarterback of Cutler’s caliber is irreplaceable regardless of the talent of the backup waiting in the wings.

Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher admitted as much. It’s also worth noting that in addition to Cutler, the Bears lost four other starters -- right tackle Gabe Carimi, running back Matt Forte, receiver Johnny Knox and left guard Chris Williams -- to season-ending injuries. Cutler’s favorite target, Earl Bennett, missed five games.

In all, 10 players -- including seven starters on offense, defense and special teams -- are currently on the injured reserve.

“[Injuries] have a lot to do with it,” Urlacher said. Everyone has that issue, though. We’ve had some pretty good players go down at bad times during the season. They’re hard to replace. Jay, you’re not going to replace, Jay, obviously. Jay’s an elite player. Matt [Forte], obviously, [is elite] running-back wise as well.”

So the lost season of 2011, Briggs said, wasn’t about “a bad team that need[s] to rebuild,” because “this team is very capable.”

But what’s next after the Bears walk off the field Sunday at the conclusion of their matchup against the Minnesota Vikings? Receiver Roy Williams says roster turnover is “just part of this business.”

“Every year, something is changed,” Williams said. “There’s no football team that keeps the same 53, nowhere in the league. There are going to be rookies coming in. They’re going to have a first rounder, second rounder. I mean, it’s going to be a new team. But I think we’re going to play well next year.”

Perhaps that’s why the team is already in the planning stages for 2012 despite being in the midst of 2011. Urlacher doesn’t expect the inevitable roster turnover to purge the team of core players.

“There will be some guys gone that are here now, obviously, and just like every year there will be a lot of turnover,” Urlacher said. “But I don’t think we’re far away. You’ve seen when we’re healthy what we can do. We’re pretty close to being one of the better teams in the NFL. We’ve just got to stay together and keep playing hard. I think the consensus around the locker room is we’re pretty close to where we want to be.”

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs utilized some cunning Thursday in reiterating his desire for a new contract without actually doing it.

Recently named to his seventh Pro Bowl, Briggs was asked if the team received the message of his wish for more money by way of his enhanced play in 2011.

Briggs slyly asked the reporter to repeat the question, saying “I didn’t catch the question.”

Then Briggs cracked a smile, and repeated the reporter’s question nearly verbatim.

“I believe that you said that earlier in the year [I] mentioned contract issues, and [I] decided to put that under the rug and forgot about that. It seemed to enhance my play this year. Do I hope the Bears get the message going into the offseason?

“I’m going to leave that as a ‘no comment.’ ”