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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Of the 51 players the Chicago Bears brought into rookie minicamp at Halas Hall, 34 are attending on a tryout basis, and coach Lovie Smith hinted Saturday there’s a chance a couple could find roster spots with the club based on some standpoint performances.

Smith expects the final day of rookie minicamp on Sunday to provide a clearer picture.

“We have a couple of the tryout guys that are also making us take notice,” Smith said. “So I’m glad we have one more day to make sure on what we’re thinking right now.”

While Smith didn’t single out any of the tryout players as potential signees, the first two sessions of rookie minicamp have yielded promising showings from players such as tight ends Brandon Venson and Ali Villanueva, as well as receivers Joseph Anderson.

Here’s a list of all the tryout players in attendance at rookie minicamp, which comes to conclusion on Sunday:

QB Matt Blanchard, Wisconsin-Whitewater

QB Ronnie Fouch, Indiana State

RB Embry Peeples, Georgia Tech

WR Joseph Anderson, Texas Southern

WR Willie Clark, Northern Illinois

WR David Mosley, NW Missouri State

WR Keith Nichol, Michigan State

TE Brandon Venson, Illinois State

TE Ali Villanueva, Army

OG Mike Garrity, Eastern Illinois

OT Tyler Hendrickson, Concordia

OT Jarvis Jones, Oklahoma

C Anthony Mihota, Virginia

OT Trevor Olson, Northern Illinois

OG Nick Pieschel, Central Florida

DT Myles Caragein, Pittsburgh

DT T.J. Greenstone, Vanderbilt

DT Eli Joseph, Temple

DE Josue Ortiz, Harvard

DE Jason Peters, Georgia Tech

DE Zary Stewart, Morgan State

LB Josh Biezuns, Wyoming

LB Archie Donald, Toledo

LB Tyler Holmes, Massachusetts

LB Youri Yenga, Southern Methodist

S Matthew Pearson, Kansas State

S Brian Peters, Northwestern

K Kevin Goessling, Fresno State

K Ryan Quigley, Boston College

K David Teggart, Connecticut

K Phillip Welch, Wisconsin

LS Brad Fortney, Carthage

LS Kyle Wojta, Wisconsin

NFL executives and coaches descended on their annual meetings last week, just three months removed from the most prolific passing season in NFL history. Quarterback play has never had a more direct link to team success, and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith could stride confidently through the halls of the Breakers Hotel knowing he has a high performer who should be entering the prime of his career.

Which brings up an interesting dichotomy. Smith, of course, is the coach who for years described his team as one that "gets off the bus running." He appeared to change course in 2010 by hiring pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but for two years he and Martz played tug-of-war over the Bears' schematic focus. Martz is now retired, replaced by former offensive line coach Mike Tice -- who once famously referred to Chicago as a "tough guy town" that required a power running game to succeed -- and the Bears appear headed for another offensive re-set.

So here's the question: How much will the Bears pull back on their passing attack to satisfy Smith's philosophical requirements in the running game? The Bears' offseason moves to this point don't give us a clear idea, so the owners meetings seemed like a good time to ask Smith directly.

Yes, the Bears acquired Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, giving quarterback Jay Cutler the first true downfield threat of his Bears tenure. But they also guaranteed $7 million to their new backup tailback. New general manager Phil Emery would not have allocated the resources it took to sign Michael Bush if he weren't confident that Smith needed two high-quality running backs (along with starter Matt Forte) for his offense.

He didn't say it in so many words last week, but it seems clear that Smith wants to open the 2012 season with the compromise he eventually worked out with Martz in each of the past two seasons. In 2011, in fact, it led to almost a 50-50 pass-run ratio that corresponded with a five-game winning streak.

"During the course of the season," Smith said, "our offense had a different look from time to time. When we leaned on the run, we could move the ball as well as anyone. … As far as how much different it will look, I think we'll just see consistently what we want to be, a little more than occasionally. More that as much as anything."

You might remember that the Bears threw on a higher percentage of their plays last September than any team in the NFL. Smith and Tice eventually persuaded Martz to balance his play-calling, and as the chart shows, the Bears didn't throw more than 32 passes in any game during that winning streak. But they also didn't tilt too far toward the run, with the exception of a windy Week 10 blowout of the Detroit Lions.

If I had to guess what the Bears will try to accomplish this season, that five-game window is the snapshot. If anything, Smith wants to maintain the course correction that Martz accepted only in fits and starts over the past two years. Tice has a professed love for the power running game, and Smith said simply: "Our philosophies mesh."

Smith added: "[Martz] and I had a long background together. So I knew what I was getting at the time. So, when I say 'philosophies mesh,' I'm talking about the direction I want to go now as we go forward. I knew what we were getting into. I wanted Mike, and I knew exactly what he would bring to the table. No more than that. Going forward, I felt like that was the direction we wanted to go with personnel and our running back position, and what I felt we needed to do to get back to where we belong. So, no more than that."

That's about as close as you're going to get to hearing Smith say he plans to do something differently. I don't mind saying I was in favor of Smith's initial decision to hire Martz, mostly because the Bears weren't in a position to make a gradual shift to an untested offensive coordinator or scheme. I just thought Smith would achieve better and more consistent oversight than he did.

That shouldn't be a problem with Tice, who is as strong-willed as Martz but more likely to push in Smith's direction.

The Bears are competing in a division that features two of the most explosive passing offenses in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. I'm not sure whether the Bears will be able to compete throw for throw with either team, but I'm positive they don't want to. What the Bears hope to achieve is the NFC North's most balanced offense. They are well on their way.

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith considers the offseason "the time to go through the negotiation and get what you feel you deserve," and that's why he's not overly concerned about running back Matt Forte again voicing displeasure about his contract situation.

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Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday it's "a little early" to cast accurate predictions on the potential return for receiver Johnny Knox, who continues to rehabilitate from a serious back injury suffered in December.

Read the entire story.

The manner in which Bears head coach Lovie Smith heaped praise on Kellen Davis this offseason made it sound as if the club would aggressively try to re-sign the free agent tight end.

"I think if you want to feature Kellen Davis you can do that," Smith said last month at the NFL Combine. "Great size, great in-line blocker, skilled enough of an athlete to be able to move outside and do some things. I really like him."

The Bears could still bring back the 2008 fifth-round draft choice, but they will have competition.

A league source confirmed Tuesday night that Davis is scheduled to visit the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The news was first reported by ProFootballTalk.com.

After the Bears traded away Greg Olsen last summer at the start of training camp, Davis started a career-high 15 games in 2011. An above-average run blocker, Davis caught just 18 passes for 206 yards and five touchdowns. However, those numbers did come under former Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who has always failed to truly utilize the tight end position in the passing game.

If Davis decides to not re-sign with the Bears, the club did express interest in tight end John Carlson on Tuesday, per a league source, but the former Notre Dame standout is currently scheduled to first visit the Kansas City Chiefs.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears right tackle Gabe Carimi said his surgically-repaired right knee is now pain free, and he’s aiming to participate in the team’s first offseason camp in April.

“That’s what we’re looking for,” Carimi said Saturday night at a charity event for the Jewish National Fund. “We’re making good progress. Getting me out there as soon as possible is a major thing.”

Carimi, the Bears' first-round pick in 2011, injured his right knee in the second game of the season. He tried to rehab the knee without surgery. But after a setback, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee in early November and went on injured reserve list. He had a second surgery in late December to repair connective tissue around his patella and medial collateral ligament.

Carimi said he’s rehabbing five days a week at Halas Hall along with Johnny Knox and Patrick Mannelly. But the former civil engineering major wouldn’t put a firm number, percentage-wise, on his condition.

(Read full post)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bears coach Lovie Smith joined offensive coordinator Mike Tice in support of left tackle J’Marcus Webb, who remains “a part of our future” despite an up-and-down 2011 season.

“J’Marcus is a heck of a football player,” Smith said Wednesday from the NFL Combine. “I’ll just start out with that. We like him. As far as having a couple bad games, I had a lot of bad games. I think everybody on our team had more bad games than we needed to this past year.”

Webb seemed to experience more shaky outings than the rest of his offensive line counterparts in 2011. But late in the season Tice lauded Webb for his play against some of the game’s best pass rushers, while acknowledging the rising third-year tackle’s penchant for technical lapses.

According to Pro Football Focus, Webb ranked as the league’s worst full-time starter at left tackle as he allowed 38 pressures. Webb also racked up a team-high 15 penalties for 82 yards, which resulted in eight stalled drives.

Still Smith -- like Tice -- seems to think that Webb’s natural talent combined with experience and a full offseason with the team might lead to the tackle elevating his game in 2012. Webb’s prowess as a run blocker should give him a leg up on the team’s new offensive system, which will feature more of an emphasis on the rushing attack than in years past.

Smith said that Tice won’t “get too far away from the offensive line” in the new role as offensive coordinator, which could also pay dividends for Webb’s development.

Here’s what Tice said about Webb’s development back in December:

“I thought he's having a good year. Last week I thought he had a little bit of a setback. He struggled a little bit in the pass protection. I think he's been blocking extremely well in the run game, especially on the back side of runs. On the back side of runs, he's cut out the backside of the defense time and time again; the whole season. He's developed into a solid run blocker, and an excellent run blocker on the backside, which is what we do. Pass-wise, he got beat inside on that first third down [against Seattle], and he kind of went into a little funk. I couldn't get him to snap out of it. It was some technique things that fell apart on him.”

INDIANAPOLIS -- Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith expressed uncertainty Wednesday about Gabe Carimi's potential availability for the start of the team's April offseason conditioning program.

"He's working hard. When I say hopefully, I don't know exactly when Gabe will be ready right off the top of my head," Smith said. "I just know I see him every day working and everything is going as planned and there's no reason to think [his absence could be an extended affair]. We're excited about what Gabe Carimi will bring."

Carimi underwent surgery in December to stabilize his right knee, and according to sources the procedure could require up to four months of rehabilitation. Sources said the club expected Carimi to be ready to return to action for the start of its offseason conditioning program.

Teams can start conducting offseason workouts on Apr. 16.

Carimi approached the team prior to the end of last season about receiving medical guidance on ways to improve the stability his right knee. Carimi suffered subluxation of his right kneecap in the second quarter of the team's Week 2 loss at New Orleans, and on Nov. 11 underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the injury.

The 29th pick of the 2011 draft, Carimi attempted to return after a five-game layoff, and participated in a full practice prior to the team's Nov. 7 win at Philadelphia. The week before that, the team worked Carimi into limited conditioning sessions.

Ultimately, Carimi's right knee didn't respond the way the team initially expected, and the Bears placed him on the injured reserve on Nov. 19.

Because of Carimi's long absence, Smith thinks of the rising second-year player as somewhat of a free-agent acquisition.

"We talk about adding pieces, and I look at him as a free agent we're adding to the mix," Smith said. "He's a first-round pick who barely played for us last year. "

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.

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 second 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.

Matt Forte shook off disappointment in contract negotiations and trepidation about his long-term future with the franchise in 2011, and put together his first Pro Bowl campaign before a knee injury knocked him out of the last five games.

All throughout last season and thus far this offseason, contract negotiations between Forte -- a pending unrestricted free agent -- and the Bears dominated most discussions regarding the franchise. The question now is whether the sides can consummate a deal. New general manager Phil Emery declined to tip the club’s hand in negotiations, which are expected to pick up in the coming days.

Team president Ted Phillips said there’s no way the Bears let Forte hit the open market.

“We’d like to [work out a long-term contract with Forte],” Phillips said. “But as Phil [Emery] pointed out, we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him.”

That’s fine by Forte, as long as the team uses the tag to buy it more time to strike a long-term deal.

The team will have to designate Forte its franchise player -- or work out an extension with the running back -- between Feb. 20 and Mar. 5. If the Bears tag him, they have until July 16 to sign Forte to a new contract.

The running back hinted that “people probably wouldn’t know where I was” if the sides don’t reach a long-term agreement.

THE CURRENT ROSTER

•Matt Forte: Despite contentious negotiations with the team prior to the season opener, Forte decided to prove his worth on the field by out-producing players such as Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson and Oakland’s Darren McFadden -- both earning more than 10 times Forte’s 2011 base salary -- in total yards from scrimmage (1,487) despite missing more than a month of action.

Forte finished the season ranked 10th in the NFL -- at all positions -- in total yards from scrimmage, and led the league in that statistical category prior to suffering a sprained knee on Dec. 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Given the team’s expected shift to more of a run-oriented offense, Forte’s value remains high. Emery has already touched base with Forte’s agent, Adisa Bakari, and it appears the team will finally make a legitimate effort at striking an agreement with the Pro Bowl running back.

•Marion Barber: Barber is set to receive a $100,000 workout bonus this offseason, and is scheduled to earn $1.9 million in base salary for the 2012 season. While Barber has proven to be a dependable backup/complement to Forte, his salary -- although not high -- might be too much because there appears to be a younger, less expensive, and potentially better option waiting in the wings in Kahlil Bell.

Bears coach Lovie Smith pointed out that Barber’s injury history is cause for concern. Lingering calf issues led to Barber being inactive in five games.

•Kahlil Bell: If Bell didn’t outright earn the No. 2 job behind Forte with his play down the stretch, he should at least receive a real opportunity to compete for the spot in training camp.

A restricted free agent, Bell likely will receive a low tender from the team, which might lead to Barber’s departure, especially if the Bears also manage to sign Forte.

Bell averaged 4.3 yards per attempt in 2011 and produced his first 100-yard outing on Christmas at Green Bay. Interestingly, Bell blends some of the attributes of Forte (elusiveness) and Barber (power), which surely bodes well for his future with the Bears. Bell acknowledged that fumbles were somewhat of a problem during the season, but it’s not a situation that can’t be remedied.

•Armando Allen: Could wind up sticking as the No. 3 running back if he can contribute on special teams. He showed promise in the final two games of 2011, rushing 11 times for 40 yards on Christmas against the Packers.

Because of Allen’s size -- 5 foot 10, 190 pounds -- he'll definitely need to use the offseason to add bulk and strength.

•Tyler Clutts: The Bears entered last offseason looking for a true fullback, and they uncovered a gem in Clutts, a punishing lead blocker who can also be a threat out of the backfield (eight catches for 48 yards in 2011).

The lone fullback on the roster, Clutts also contributed on special teams in 2011, making three stops on coverage teams. His role may grow in the new Tice-led offense.

•Robert Hughes: A Chicago native, Hughes spent time last season on the team’s practice squad and might be a longshot to make the 2012 roster. A strong showing in the preseason finale of 2011 led to Hughes winding up on the practice squad.

Bears free agents: Forte, Bell (restricted)

POTENTIAL FREE AGENT TARGETS

None

WHY THE BEARS MIGHT STAND PAT

Even if the Bears don’t sign Forte to an extension, they’ll still be on the hook for approximately $8 million with the franchise tag. Tack on Barber’s $1.9 million base salary and a likely tender offer for Bell, and the Bears will have more than $10 million committed to salaries of running backs.

So if the Bears decide to keep Barber and Bell, don’t expect them to make any moves in free agency at the position. The club may wind up cutting Barber loose and keeping Bell as the No. 2, while adding to the position with a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.

The Bears unveiled the successor to Jerry Angelo on Monday when Phil Emery was introduced as general manager. He returns to Halas Hall, having spent seven seasons with the Bears, including a brief overlap with Lovie Smith.

Traditionally a new GM wants to hire his own coach, but the McCaskey family made that decision before Emery was even hired, declaring that Smith will be on the job at the start of the 2012 season. After that it's up to Emery, who has the authority to hire and fire the head coach.

Does Emery's familiarity with Smith bode well for the coach and his future with the Bears? And will the Bears put the franchise tag on Matt Forte or work out a long-term deal before the Feb. 20 deadline?

Our Four Downs panel weighs in on that and more:

Fact or Fiction: Lovie Smith's status beyond 2012 is more secure with the hiring of Phil Emery over the other candidates.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Smith needs to make the playoffs. Another failure to reach the postseason would mark the fifth time in six years the Bears were on the outside looking in under Smith. It can't happen. Emery can talk all he wants about admiring Smith's leadership, intelligence and passion, but mark my words, Emery will be hiring a new head coach if the Bears don't win more games. Every general manager wants to hire their own head coach. Emery might have been forced into this relationship, but he does not have to stay in it forever.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. Contrary to the sentiment locally, Smith is highly regarded among his peers and Emery, and it's not hard to see why. Smith has been able to do more with less throughout his tenure, winning three division titles and taking the Bears to a pair of NFC title games over eight years. All Smith has to do to maintain his standing as the NFL's fourth-longest tenured coach is to continue fielding the same types of teams he's produced throughout his tenure: physical, hard-nosed groups that put forth maximum effort regardless of the circumstances. Emery will take care of the club's talent deficiencies, and that will only enable Smith to do his job even better. One of the most attractive aspects to the GM job for Emery was the consistency within the coaching staff. Emery won't want to disrupt that by bringing in a new coach. Besides that, it's highly unlikely Smith will give Emery a reason to go that route. Smith's ability to lead the Bears and Emery's talent-evaluation acumen will only strengthen the coach's job security in my estimation.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. Sure seems to be, not just because of Emery’s brief past history with Smith when both were with the Bears when Smith was first hired, but because of Emery’s seeming need to blend in rather than rock the boat. He spoke of the importance of “consistency of teaching,” in his introductory press conference, saying that teams with less turnover on the coaching staff played faster. It would be a major upset if the Bears don’t extend Smith under Emery’s regime.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. Emery wasn’t going to start his press conference by being a podium tough guy and challenge the incumbent coach, but if you listened closely he sounds amenable to long-terming Lovie. When I asked him what changed from when he left the Bears in 2004, five months after Smith took over, he said continuity. He said guys play faster when they’re comfortable. He also said that he will finalize draft plans with Smith. Sounds like he loves Lovie. I’m not sure Jason Licht would have been as amenable.

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Fact or Fiction: The Bears will franchise Forte.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Perhaps the Bears eventually do work out a long-term deal with Forte. But hammering out such a complex and contested contract might take time. For that reason, it seems likely the Bears will slap the franchise tag on Forte in the allotted time period to do so according to league rules. However, the Bears could always lift the tag and sign Forte to a new deal. That should be both parties' goal moving forward.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. It sure sounded that way during Emery's introductory press conference on Monday, when he said, "It is a tool that has been collectively bargained that is fair to the player and fair to the club" when asked specifically about Forte and the franchise tag. More than likely ownership -- feeling stung by the bad public relations from last season's contentious negotiations -- increases the original offer submitted to Forte before the start of the 2011 season. But it's difficult to gauge whether Forte will accept the deal or opt to play one year under the tag. There's a chance Forte might feel so beaten down by all he's been through during negotiations that he'll accept the club's next offer. But that's highly unlikely given the stance Forte has taken since negotiations broke down. So that means the franchise tag is the next destination for the team and Forte. "In terms of using franchise tags or where we're at in that process, that's an internal manner," Emery said Monday. "We won't discuss those things. We won't discuss contract status of a player, where he's at on our team in terms of our needs and where his talent is. Those are internal matters that we will not discuss just from a competitive aspect, and now showing our opponent our cards." Is the opponent in this case Forte's agent?

Melissa Isaacson Fiction. This is an almost impossible one to predict under a new boss with no track record in negotiations to use as a barometer. On one hand, you can envision the new GM wanting to create goodwill all around by striking a deal with the Pro Bowl running back. On the other hand, Emery might agree with Angelo’s logic that Forte and his agent have over-valued him. Still, Ted Phillips seemed to indicate that he hope a change at GM will help get a deal done to keep Forte in the fold for the long term.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. I think Emery is a conciliatory guy and he will work, with no baggage, on getting Forte signed. Yes, the rest of the Bears' financial braintrust is still around, but I think the Emery Era gets off on right foot with this deal. I hope it gets done, because while I support a player’s right to get paid, I’m sick of Forte’s media tour about it.

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Fact or Fiction: Emery’s familiarity with many of the Bears' scouts is a good thing.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. No question about it. Emery is a career scout who held the title of college scouting director for a pair of NFL teams (Atlanta and Kansas City) so he should know a good scout when he sees one. He should also know a bad scout when he sees one. But scouts are paid to give input, not make final decisions. That is the job of the general manager. So were the Bears scouts giving Angelo sound advice and he simply chose not to listen? Or were they pounding the table for Dan Bazuin, Michael Okwo, Juaquin Iglesias, Jarron Gilbert, Marcus Harrison and the other mistakes over the years? Tough to say. But we should have a better idea after the regime change.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. Emery spoke highly of the team's scouting staff Monday, and for good reason: it's a good staff. Many don't realize how small a world the scouting community is. But Emery's familiarity with the Bears' staff not only stems from his time with the organization in the past, but also from his time spent out on the road working alongside them. Like pretty much everything else, there's a ton of gossip circulated throughout the scouting community, and word travels fast when a team's personnel department is incompetent. But that's not the buzz around the league regarding the Bears, which Emery well knows. Given this team's track record over the years throughout the draft and free agency, it's definitely fair to question some of the moves made. But even that should be scrutinized with a grain of salt. One thing I did hear during Senior Bowl week from several personnel staffers around the league was that the team's former general manager, Jerry Angelo -- partially because his extensive experience in personnel -- often didn't follow the recommendations of his scouting staff. That won't transpire with Emery as the GM partially because of his familiarity with Chicago's scouts, but also because of his philosophy of empowering the folks working underneath him and holding them accountable.

Melissa Isaacson: Fiction. Again, could go either way. Yes, Emery will be able to judge his staff’s abilities a bit quicker than someone who has never worked with them. On the other hand, this could have the Lovie effect, meaning that Emery may be hesitant to make changes even if they’re needed (though he did, by mutual agreement, presumably do that with Tim Ruskell). There’s also something to the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt and that too much of a history may undermine Emery’s authority.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. He’s been gone for awhile, so I think he can look at them with a clear eye. After this draft, he plans to change the system to be more like the “Patriots way” he learned in Atlanta and Kansas City. Basically, it’s a different way of grading and organizing players. Emery has shown that he won’t be beholden to the past, judging by the quick exit of his former boss, Tim Ruskell.

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Fact or Fiction: The Bears’ top priority in free agency should be a No. 1 receiver.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. The Bears can go a variety of different ways at No. 19 in the upcoming draft (provided they select an impact player) but in free agency, the team needs to spend money to land a top-flight wide receiver. There is a good chance, barring a surge in the use of the franchise tag, that numerous upper-echelon wideouts will hit the open market. Earl Bennett is a solid receiver. Johnny Knox, whose health status is a mystery, is a weapon when used properly. But after those two, the Bears need serious help at the position. Look at the NFL landscape. The good teams have multiple threats in the passing game. The Bears need to catch up, and it starts in free agency.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. I view this similarly to buying a Ferrari (Jay Cutler) and putting tires from a minivan (Chicago's receiving corps) on it. You just don't do it. For the Bears to see the type of return on their investment in Cutler they desire, they have to protect him -- which they've done -- and put dangerous weapons around him. Until then, Cutler's production on the field won't ever match up with his immense physical gifts. In 41 games with the Bears, Cutler has posted a franchise-best 82.1 passer rating, throwing for 9,259 yards and 63 touchdowns with 49 interceptions. Now go back to the receivers he's thrown to since 2009, and honestly tell me that Cutler's numbers wouldn't be much higher with at least one legitimate game-breaking target. The encouraging aspect of all of this is the fact recently-promoted offensive coordinator Mike Tice has been somewhat vocal about the team's need to add a dynamic threat to the group of receivers. Adding just one makes the current group even better because the Bears can move players around such as Earl Bennett and Devin Hester to take advantage of matchups with teams being forced to devote more coverage to the No. 1 receiver. As it stands now, opposing defenses can play man to man against Chicago's receivers and win most of the individual matchups. Emery and the coaching staff know that, and will act accordingly.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. ES. Get the best player available come draft time. In free agency, go for needs and need No. 1 for the Bears is a top-flight receiver, which also happens to be a position in which you’d rather have a veteran than a rookie. The window for your franchise quarterback is a fragile proposition and the best teams in the NFL have shown clearly that a superior passing game is a must. So yes, the Bears should and obviously will keep their eyes open for deals on offensive linemen, defensive lineman, safeties, corners and perhaps a tight end, if his name is Jermichael Finley. But for the love of all that is sacred, find a receiver this offseason.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. That should be the focus in the draft too, as Emery has to decide where he should allocate money for a Cutler target. Would it make more sense to spend a valuable pick on a receiver, dole out money for whoever’s on the market, or look for a receiver in a trade? Chicago should be a top landing spot for a free agent receiver, so this shouldn’t be as hard as Angelo made it in the past.

The search for the next Chicago Bears general manager is underway, but the team may not have to go far. Former Seattle Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell worked alongside Jerry Angelo the past two years and could be an option for Bears president Ted Phillips.

But given his close ties to the previous administration, should he be considered? Our Four Downs panel weighs in on that and more:

Fact or Fiction: Ruskell should be a viable candidate for Bears GM

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. It sounds as if Ruskell is the Bears' absolute last resort. Which he should be. How can you sell the fan base on the idea of closing the talent gap within the division if you simply promote Angelo's right hand man? If Ruskell ends up with the job, why did they fire Angelo in the first place? Say what you want about Angelo, he won four division titles and made the Super Bowl during his tenure in Chicago. It wasn't all bad. Angelo was a much more accomplished NFL general manager than Ruskell, who had success early in Seattle after he walked into an excellent situation with a Super Bowl-winning coach (Mike Holmgren), but after a rough 2008, was forced out 11 games into the 2009 season. Ruskell landed in Chicago the following spring and has been a mystery to those of us covering the team. He's been made available to speak to the media only twice. What does he do? How involved has he been the past two years? We simply don't know. All we know for sure is that Ruskell is an Angelo guy. Which is why it makes no sense for the Bears to hire him for this job.

Michael C. Wright: Ruskell’s batting average in talent acquisition and retention isn’t good enough for me. Sure, Ruskell started his tenure as Seattle’s president and general manager with the best run of postseason success in franchise history, which included four playoff victories from 2005 to 2007. Upon Ruskell’s ousting, however, the Seahawks had stumbled to an 8-19 from 2008 to his departure. In addition, the Seahawks yielded only one Pro Bowler (LB Lofa Tatupu, who is no longer with the team) in five drafts presided over by Ruskell.

Ruskell didn’t perform better outside of the draft, either. In his second season, the Seahawks let all-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson walk for no compensation, then re-signed aging running back Shaun Alexander to a huge contract, only to cut him two years later. In an attempt to remedy the Alexander fiasco, Ruskell brought in T.J. Duckett and Edgerrin James. Uh, no; that’s not going to get it. Considering Chicago’s need at the receiver position, we can take a look at Ruskell’s track record there, too. In 2006 Ruskell gave up a first-round selection in the 2007 draft to sign Deion Branch. After surrendering the first-round pick, Ruskell signed Branch to a six-year, $39 million extension. Branch, in turn, gave the Seahawks five forgettable seasons in which he never started all 16 games. He never caught more than 53 passes in a season for the Seahawks or gained more than 725 yards. So if Phillips values job security, he’ll pass on Ruskell.

Melissa Isaacson Fiction. To make a major move and fire Angelo, only to replace him by Angelo’s recent hire, good friend and someone with less-than-stellar reviews in his last job would not be the change Bears brass have promised. And how can the Bears feel that Ruskell would give them his complete loyalty? Weird that he is even being considered.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. New blood means new blood. At the goodbye Angelo press conference, Bears’ Head Accountant Phillips said what fans have been saying for years: The Bears need to better utilize the draft to build the team, and Ruskell’s record is spotty. Not terrible -- he hit on some picks in Seattle -- but it’s far from sterling. At this point, the Bears need to start fresh with some fresh eyes, not settle for Angelo’s hand-picked deputy.

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Fact or Fiction: Lovie Smith hurts the Bears' chances of landing a prime GM candidate.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. I think Reggie McKenzie settled that debate out in Oakland. General managers want to hire head coaches, not inherit them. Angelo felt the same way about Dick Jauron when he took over the Bears in 2001, but was forced to extend Jauron's contract after a surprise division title that first year. The McCaskey family's mantra that Smith be retained in 2012 makes the job much less appealing to potential candidates around the NFL. That's just reality. Now, the Bears could still end up getting the right guy despite the head-coaching road block, but if Lovie was out of the way, GM candidates across the league would be fighting to get to Halas Hall for an interview. It's still a good job, but it could be so much better.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. Part of me definitely sees Phillips’ point of Smith being an actual selling point to the general manager post. The ownership-imposed caveat on any potential GM of retaining Smith as the head coach might turn off some candidates. Just as easily it can be seen as a positive. Smith receives hefty criticism for a variety of issues, but his ability to hold together a team in difficult circumstances is unquestionable. The players respect Smith immensely and will always play hard for him, as seen during the disappointing end to this past season. Besides that, ownership’s one restriction is that Smith remains the head coach in 2012. Phillips and chairman George McCaskey never said the coach has to remain beyond next season. So surely prospective GM candidates would have leeway to jettison Smith if, for whatever reason, the two can’t co-exist or the 2012 campaign is unsuccessful.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. If not, then he should. Why would a GM with a mind of his own -- the type the Bears should be looking for -- want to come in with the strong impression left by management that not only will Smith take part in the hiring process but also wield the kind of power that leads to conflicts? Yes, the new GM will apparently be told he can also fire Smith after next season if he wants, but that essentially turns the head coach into a lame duck and that’s not the ideal situation to walk into either. Not allowing a new GM to hire his own head coach is not a good way to start a new regime.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. Smith is signed for two more years, and he’s only guaranteed to be around in 2012. For all Smith’s flaws, he’s still the right coach for the team in place. It’s his defense, and the players respond well to Smith’s leadership. I see no reason why he’s an albatross. The only sticking point is, how much sway does he have over the McCaskey family and Phillips? If a GM senses that Smith is out to win a power struggle first, then he might have some concern.

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Fact or Fiction: Wide receiver is the Bears' biggest need in the offseason.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Just look around the league. The 2011 NFL playoff teams all have legitimate playmakers at the wide receiver position. The Bears must look to upgrade that spot either via the draft, free agency, or both. It's a very good crop of free agent receivers expected to be on the market, including Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and Marques Colston. If the Bears stay at No. 19 in the draft, they could select Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, Baylor's Kendall Wright or South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery. Although everybody hopes Johnny Knox will recover from a major back injury in time for training camp, the Bears need to protect themselves at the position and find at least two new quality wideouts. If the new GM has the green light to spend money, the Bears should be able to accomplish that goal.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. Recently-hired offensive coordinator Mike Tice has repeatedly talked about the need to exploit matchups, whether it’s through the running game or the passing game. Well, when the roster doesn’t contain any potential matchup problems for opponents at receiver, that eliminates one facet -- a major one at that -- in Chicago’s potential attack. So receiver is absolutely the biggest need at this point because, realistically, running back Matt Forte is the only consistently dangerous threat teams must always account for. By acquiring a legitimate receiving threat, the Bears actually add multiple weapons to the arsenal in the form of their other receivers such as Earl Bennett and Devin Hester. That’s accomplished in a number of ways schematically. If the Bears acquire a legitimate receiver (he doesn’t necessarily have to be a true No. 1), based on Tice’s track record, look for the team to start using Hester -- because of his deep speed -- in the slot more to take opposing safeties out of the tackle box, which opens up the run for Forte and takes pressure off the outside receivers.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. How about two or three wide receivers? Though the Bears certainly have other needs, wide receiver has to move up on the list of priorities for several reasons. One, it is unlikely they would find the top-flight receiver they need in the lower rounds of the draft (even though Angelo kept trying) if that’s the route the new GM decides to take. But more importantly, the team needs to give Jay Cutler every chance to reach his full potential while he’s still in his prime. And with the NFL clearly becoming a passing league, the Bears have to at least make an effort to stay competitive.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. There are myriad positions that need addressing on both sides of the ball, but it is past due to give Cutler an elite weapon. The offense is dependent on Cutler, as we found out in the aftermath of his injury, and while he can make average receivers better, it would be nice to give him a taller receiver that can stretch the field vertically. Offensive line, safety, defensive line and linebacker are other positions that require scrutiny.

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Fact or Fiction: Forte should skip the Pro Bowl.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Go ahead, Matt, knock yourself out. Who wouldn't want a free trip to Hawaii for a week? I've been to the Pro Bowl (2002), and trust me, it's a blast unless you head across the Pacific in search of competitive football. The game itself is a joke. The risk of Forte getting hurt or re-injuring the ankle is extremely small. If the Bears had made the financial commitment to Forte and signed him to an extension, then I would advise against Forte participating in the Pro Bowl. But Forte is still without a new deal. He doesn't owe the Bears anything. He can do what he wants.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. I understand his importance to the team. But I also think it’s important to give Forte the opportunity to bask in this opportunity/honor/experience. There was a time during contract negotiations the front office used the fact Forte hadn’t made a Pro Bowl as a bargaining tool for a lesser deal. Surely that’s in the back of Forte’s mind as he prepares to play in this Pro Bowl. Besides that, who knows whether he’ll ever make another Pro Bowl? Obviously, there’s an injury risk associated with playing in this game. But for the most part, Forte has already assumed that injury risk over four years and 62 games while playing on a bargain-basement contract. One more game -- in which players don’t typically go full throttle -- isn't going to hurt anything.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. You have to admire Forte for wanting to work hard, rehab his injured knee and play in the Pro Bowl. And you have to appreciate the fact that he’s excited to play in his first one. But you wonder what else he’s thinking. Surely, if he were to re-injure the knee, it would do nothing to help his bargaining power. But the decision to play seems to suggest that his desire to prove something to the Bears and the rest of the league is his main motive and that just doesn’t seem worth the risk.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. Yes, the Pro Bowl is stupid. Yes, Forte is coming off a knee injury and looking for new paper. But as long as he doesn’t play flag football on the beach like Robert Edwards, I think his knee will hold up fine in Hawaii. If the doctors give him the OK, he can play. It’s a right he’s earned, even if it means absolutely nothing. It’s also a nice how-do-you-do to the Bears front office, who absurdly used his lack of Pro Bowl credentials in their contract negotiations.

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

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

1. Wide receiver

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

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

2. Defensive end

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

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

3. Secondary

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

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

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

4. Left tackle

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

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

5. No. 2 quarterback

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

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

Lovie Smith says he likes his team going forward, and expresses concern about Brian Urlacher's injury.