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Chicago Bears

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

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

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

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

Detroit Lions

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

Key losses: Cornerback Eric Wright.

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

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

Green Bay Packers

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

Key losses: Quarterback Matt Flynn, center Scott Wells.

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

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

Minnesota Vikings

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

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

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

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

CHICAGO -- Free-agent cornerback Zack Bowman has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Read the entire story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CURRENT ROSTER

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bears free agents: Bowman, Graham, Jennings

POTENTIAL FREE-AGENT TARGETS

• Brandon Carr, Kansas City Chiefs, unrestricted

• Brent Grimes, Atlanta Falcons, unrestricted

• Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee Titans, unrestricted

WHY CARR OR GRIMES MAKE SENSE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STREAKING

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

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

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

SLUMPING

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

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

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

Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings said Friday the team informed him earlier in the week about plans to go in a different direction at his position, and Zack Bowman will start in is his place Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- Even without starting nickel back D.J. Moore, the Chicago Bears secondary showcased its depth Sunday as no fewer than seven defensive backs saw action in a 31-20 win over the San Diego Chargers.

Besides the four usual starters, reserves Corey Graham, who started in place of Moore at nickel, Brandon Meriweather and Zack Bowman were all used in various situations to help combat the Chargers’ passing attack, which entered the game ranked No. 4 in the NFL.

"The secondary is real deep," Tim Jennings said. "We got guys that can start anywhere in this league. We got confidence in each and every guy. The coaching staff is going to put us in great positions. Doesn't matter what personnel, who is in there, we believe in each guy that goes in there and know he is going to play his behind off. We feel really comfortable about it."

Moore was in good spirits outside the locker room following the game and appeared to be moving around OK on his injured ankle, raising the hope he can make a speedy recovery, but the defense didn't skip a beat with Graham at the nickel position. The special teams standout intercepted Phillip Rivers late in the game, his second pick in the last two weeks while subbing for Moore.

"We have as just as much confidence in Corey as we do in D.J," Jennings said. "We knew in training camp he was a good cornerback/nickel back. We knew he can do it all. He's got two turnovers in two games, that says a lot about him. He did great."

The same could be said for second-year safety Major Wright, who has now intercepted a pass in three consecutive games, with two of the thefts occurring in the red zone. Wright is the first Bears player to pull off that feat since Bowman nabbed three passes in three straight games back in 2009.

"It was time for somebody to make a play, and I was the one that did it," Wright said. "We're out there having fun, that's really it. We basically had to come in after the first half and get back to playing defense. That's what we do, create turnovers and get after the quarterback. Really, at any point, anybody can make a play on this defense."

Bears safeties have now recorded a turnover in each of the last four contests.

Bowman entered the game Sunday whenever the Chargers placed wideout Vincent Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates on the field at the same time. The Bears used this 'TANK' personnel to try and combat a potential height mismatch if Jennings were forced to guard either of the two San Diego offensive threats.

"We prepped during the week for that," Jennings said. "It worked OK, they really didn't get many big plays off it. It was just a matchup thing."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J -- The Chicago Bears released their list of inactives for Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, and it includes cornerback Zack Bowman, linebacker Lance Briggs, running back Harvey Unga, defensive tackle Anthony Adams and defensive end Corey Wootton.

Read the entire story.

Chicago Bears cornerback Zack Bowman said Monday he was "good to go" and didn't suffer a concussion Saturday, but then Bowman was held out of practice.

Bowman said he was out for about 15 seconds after delivering a hard hit against the Buffalo Bills' Paul Hubbard in the third quarter.

"It was the second play of the third quarter, and they did a boot," Bowman said. "I saw the receiver coming across, so I just took a shot. He was my buddy, so after the game, I had to send him a text message telling him that I'm sorry. But it's part of the game. I was checking on him. But he's fine and I'm fine, so that's all I can tell you all right now."

Bowman stayed on the ground for several minutes after the hit, and he walked off under his own power. He did not return.

"I’ll tell you this: It was a bang-bang [play], and I laid on the ground for a second, got stable, and that’s when [head athletic trainer Tim Bream] and all the doctors and stuff ran out," Bowman said. "I was fine. They were making sure that I was stable and stuff like that, but everything checked out good, so I should be ready to go."

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- It's too early to handicap the battle at cornerback, according to Chicago Bears secondary coach Jon Hoke.

"Best players play," Hoke said. "Whoever is playing the best will play."

If the Bears stand pat with their roster, Tim Jennings and Zack Bowman appear to be the two likely candidates to compete for the starting cornerback job opposite veteran Charles Tillman. Bowman burst onto the scene in 2009 picking off six passes -- the fourth-highest total in the NFC -- in only 12 starts. But after being elevated to left cornerback the next offseason, Bowman lost his starting job to Jennings in Week 4.

Jennings promptly made the most of the opportunity, finishing sixth on the team in tackles (66) and third in passes broken up (nine).

"I think we got a great group of guys who work hard," Hoke said. "Zack has plenty of talent, he loves to play football. He had a couple of things go wrong, a couple of bad breaks early in the year, and we gave Tim a shot. Tim played well. You couldn't say, 'All right Tim, we're going to go back.' He earned his job.

"As long as we make sure the players know the best players play, and everybody earns a position ... they're fine with it. They see the tape, they are all smart guys. Tim was playing well, so that's kind of where it is right now. So he ended up the starter."

When the Bears reported to camp late last week, Jennings opened up on the first team, while Bowman ran with the second unit. That fact, however, means little this early in training camp, considering the Bears don't release an official depth chart until right before the first preseason game, Aug. 13 against the Buffalo Bills.

"We got four weeks now for it all to shake out," Hoke said.

Q: I speak for all Bears fans when I say I want to know why Brian Urlacher doesn't get off the couch and organize workouts for the defense. Let's go Urlacher! If he's too busy to do his job, then my friends and I will drive up, put on the pads and run these guys through drills. This is getting ridiculous. -- Jorge, Joliet, Ill.

A: It's getting ridiculous all right, starting with this e-mail. At the risk of having Jorge drive to my home and conduct a makeshift dive drill in my backyard or bull-in-the-ring on my patio, let me try and explain why it isn't necessary for defensive players to attend these unsanctioned offseason workouts. As we reported two weeks ago, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler began throwing to other skill position players during small, informal workouts in the suburbs surrounding Lake Forest. The purpose of the workouts was to knock off the rust, run a few routes, catch some passes, then head off to finish players' training at the health club/facility of their choosing. It's not a very complicated process. Even though I mentioned in a previous mailbag that I didn't view Cutler and fellow quarterback Caleb Hanie hooking up with their receivers in May as critical to the team's future success, there is some value since the offense is still learning the timing of the Mike Martz offense.

But what would the defense gain from these workouts? Extra practice covering air? Urlacher (11), Lance Briggs (eight), Charles Tillman (eight) and Chris Harris (six) have a combined 33 years of NFL experience, most of that time spent playing in the Cover 2 defense. These guys haven't forgotten their drops, keys and reads since the lockout began. Plus, if you add defenders to these non-padded workouts, the risk of injuries on both sides of the football skyrockets. If the Bears are going to lose a starter to an injury, I'd much rather it happen during the actual season as opposed to some Tuesday in June on a local high school field without any trainers or support staff to help out in the event of an emergency. And why would any player in their right mind want to take that risk during the lockout?

What really matters is when the lockout ends, players report to work in good enough physical shape to begin football-related activities. Most Bears players have spent the bulk of the offseason staying in excellent condition, and while there could be a few guys who eventually show up to camp overweight or out of shape, that number is expected to be small. So take it easy, Jorge. A seven-on-seven passing drill at the end of May isn't going to help the Bears in September versus the Atlanta Falcons or New Orleans Saints.

Q: Guys, what are the Bears' top two areas of need in free agency? -- Buster, Chicago

A: In my mind, it always starts up front on the offensive and defensive lines. Even though the Bears drafted offensive tackle Gabe Carimi in the first round, and defensive tackle Stephen Paea in the second round, I think GM Jerry Angelo needs to take a hard look at offensive guard and defensive end in free agency. That's where I'd start because I don't view Chris Williams as a serviceable left guard. Maybe the Bears should let Williams and Carimi compete for a starting tackle job in the preseason (if there is a preseason) and let the best man win. I realize that's not ideal for the Bears, especially since Williams was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, but money and draft status shouldn't stand in the way of protecting the quarterback.

When it comes to harassing the opposing quarterback, the Bears still need help at defensive end to complement Julius Peppers, who faces at the minimum a double team on almost every snap. Not to take anything away from the season Israel Idonije had in 2010, but the Bears still need more sacks from the end spot opposite Peppers. Also, Idonije is only under contract through 2011.

Of course, the Bears could use depth at wide receiver, cornerback and linebacker, but I'd be OK if the Bears opened up the regular season with a starting lineup that included Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and a healthy Earl Bennett (something we did not see last year) at receiver, Nick Roach at strong side linebacker (if the Bears don't attempt to bring back Pisa Tinoisamoa) and Zack Bowman at cornerback.

Q: What happens to Frank Omiyale now that Carimi got drafted in the first round? Are they going to get rid of Omiyale for once and for all? Please, Bears nation is dying for some good news during this stupid lockout -- Brady, Winnetka, Ill.

A: Actually Brady, I believe the Bears should keep Omiyale on the 53-man roster as a backup swing tackle and guard. This might surprise people, but a lot of Bears players thought Omiyale did a decent job at left tackle last season, even though his sacks allowed numbers tell a different story. Unfortunately for Omiyale, those somewhat positive reviews didn't extend upstairs to the coaching staff, so I imagine his days in the starting lineup are over, barring an injury to J'Marcus Webb or Carimi.

But there is great value to having a backup with 31 career starts (including playoffs) at left tackle, right tackle and left guard. Maybe things would have turned out differently if the Bears hadn't signed Orlando Pace in 2009 and allowed Omiyale to play offensive tackle, the position he was brought to Chicago to play. Instead, Omiyale was moved inside and struggled badly at left guard before being bounced back outside the following season. I'm not asking anybody to feel bad for Omiyale -- he did get paid a nice chunk of change to sign a four-year contract with the Bears -- but in my opinion, he's been the scapegoat for a lot of the team's problems on the offensive line the past two years. Omiyale is a serviceable player, certainly a better tackle than people give him credit for being, and somebody the Bears would be wise to keep around for another season.

Q: When do you think the Bears will start handing out contracts to players like Matt Forte? Will it happen before the next offseason? -- Robert, Crest Hill, Ill.

A: Once business resumes in the NFL, I expect the Bears will try to hammer out a deal with Forte either before the season or early in the regular season. Once Forte is locked up to a lucrative deal, the Bears will probably turn their attention to tight end Greg Olsen. I view Forte and Olsen as the must-deals for the Bears during the actual season, but I'd also keep a close eye on Earl Bennett, Chris Harris and Bowman, who like Forte and Olsen, are entering the final year of their respective contracts.

Bennett and Harris certainly seem like strong candidates for extensions at some point, but Bowman's situation is completely up in the air. If he returns to the starting lineup and begins to make plays a la 2009 (a team-high six interceptions) the Bears might be interested in getting something done. But that all hinges on Bowman's performance on the field and ability to stay healthy. Tight end Kellen Davis and veteran guard Roberto Garza are also in the final season of their deals with the Bears.

Johnny Knox is signed through 2012, but could be in-line for a new deal at some point if he keeps producing.

Q: This probably sounds like a silly question in light of all the hardcore NFL news right now, but what are coaches doing during the lockout? -- Ted, Paxton, Ill.

A: Ted, the only silly questions are from middle-aged men who volunteer to be tackling dummies for Urlacher. This is a good question, but the answer is kind of boring. Coaches, at least the Bears coaches, have been going to work during normal weekday work hours. Most just go through their playbooks, change a few things and wait for the lockout to end. Most coaches plan their vacations around the time OTAs end (the Bears last OTA is tentatively set for June 23) and training camp begins (report date is scheduled for July 22), but if the NFL doors are forced back open by the court system in early July, there will be no vacations for coaches in 2011. That stinks for them, but I'm sure most would welcome the return of football activities regardless of the personal inconveniences.

Submit your questions for the next Bears mailbag.

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith envisions four players competing for two starting cornerback spots when business resumes in the NFL.

That number, however, could swell if the Bears address the cornerback position in the draft or free agency, a strong possibility since Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has selected a cornerback in each of the past four years.

"Charles Tillman has been injured quite a bit, but this past year, no injuries,” Smith said earlier in the month at the NFL owner’s meetings in New Orleans. “The guy played so well with what he brought to the table, stripping the ball and just being a tough guy. Tim Jennings, you know, he was on the outside looking in. Zack Bowman was the starter, Tim was a backup. [We] picked him up [as a] special teams player, you know. But he made so much progress and he was competing so hard, we got great corner play out of those guys. We still haven’t given up on Zack Bowman. Zach’s size, speed and hands, he has all those things. I can’t wait to see that competition.

“Then Josh Moore, we like Josh Moore, a player that you didn’t get a chance to see last year. Those four, I’m anxious to see what they can do. But just like I say with the defensive line, you’re always trying to improve your cornerback position and add a player to the mix.”

It’s tough to imagine the Bears pushing Tillman out of the starting lineup -- barring injury -- after the veteran finished 2010 tied for the team lead in interceptions (5) and forced fumbles (3), while ranking third in tackles (101) and second in passes broken up (11).

That likely leaves just one spot open for the other challengers.

The most intriguing of the current bunch is Bowman. Despite leading the Bears with six interceptions in 2009, which led to Bowman being elevated to the team’s No. 1 cornerback (LCB) the following offseason, the 2008 fifth-round draft choice lost his starting job in 2010 following the Bears’ 20-17 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.

Bowman began to fall out of favor with the coaching staff after Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson caught what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown in the season opener at Soldier Field. Even though the play was ruled a non-catch and the Bears won the game, Bowman took the heat for allowing the near completion, despite the fact Smith made a poor defensive call on the play. Although the Bears head coach claimed in a postgame news conference the unit was playing its signature Cover-2 defense on the play in question, it was later revealed Smith called for a three-deep style coverage, which left Bowman without help over the top versus the 6-foot-5 Pro Bowl wideout.

After failing to record a takeaway against Detroit, Dallas and Green Bay, Bowman, whose first interception in 2009 came in Week 5, was pulled in favor of Jennings after he missed an open-field tackle during the Packers game. The cornerback appeared to be working his way back into the rotation when the Bears hosted Seattle on Oct. 17, but Bowman suffered a foot injury in the meeting with the Seahawks, and subsequently missed the next three contests.

Initially, the foot injury wasn’t believed to be serious, but Bowman wasn’t cleared to return by the Bears medical staff until Nov. 18 when the club traveled to Miami. Smith, who famously tells reporters “he’s not a doctor” to deflect injury questions, seemed to take issue with the amount of time Bowman was forced to miss, which led to the defensive back falling deeper into the head coach’s doghouse.

Where that leaves Bowman for 2011 is unclear.

“You can’t be real excited about a guy’s play that year when they’re beaten out by someone else,” Smith said. “Zach went into the season as the starter, and didn’t play as well as he needed to early on, which allowed Tim to take advantage of that opportunity. So Zach needs to come back [strong] this year, which he’s capable of doing.”

Moore, a 2010 fifth-round choice out of Kansas State, is expected to receive a strong push from the coaching staff, and from a talent standpoint, has the necessary skills to be a starting caliber player. However, questions continue to linger about Moore’s upper body strength -- he managed only two reps at 225 pounds in front of scouts at the 2010 NFL Combine. Plus, entering only his second year in the league, Moore still needs a little seasoning, which is perfectly understandable for a player who received few reps at practice.

Signed by the Bears as a free agent last offseason, Jennings performed admirably much of the year despite standing at 5-8. An above average tackler, Jennings’ 2010 campaign ended on a sour note after he struggled in the NFC Championship Game versus the Packers. Although Smith continues to publically support Jennings, the veteran forced only two takeaways in 15 starts, including the postseason.

“Tim did some good things, but we lost to the Super Bowl champion,” Smith said. “They have good receivers. We didn’t lose the game based on Tim’s play. We didn’t lose any games based on Tim Jennings’ play. I’m pleased with how he played.

“A lot of times you talk cornerback play. We’re going to talk about our defensive line, too. Pass coverage is both. If we can just keep getting players that play as hard as Tim, and brings to the table what he brought, we’ll be OK.”

As ESPNChicago.com reported last month, cornerback Corey Graham plans to leave Chicago if he reaches unrestricted free agency. Graham, however, only has four accrued NFL seasons, and might be classified as a restricted free agent -- the Bears tendered Graham a restricted free agent qualifying offer -- when a new collective bargaining agreement is reached or if an injunction is issued by the courts to lift the lockout.

Graham is not expected to be in the mix at cornerback if he returns to the Bears for a fifth season.

“Corey has been more of a specialist for us,” Smith said. “To say he can’t play [cornerback], I wouldn’t say that. He’s gotten his opportunity to play for us, and didn’t play as well as we probably would’ve liked.”

INDIANAPOLIS -- The general rule in the NFL is to wait three full seasons before evaluating a draft class. With that in mind, let's take a quick look at the Bears 2008 draft and the contributions made by the first seven players selected that year by Bears general manager Jerry Angelo.

Round 1 (No. 14); Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: Drafted as the Bears' left tackle of the future, Williams has bounced around from right tackle, left tackle and left guard the past three years. Entering 2011, his role on the offensive line is unknown. The Bears insist they want to put the five best offensive linemen on the field next season, but is Williams in the top five? The former first-round pick missed the first seven games of his rookie campaign with a back injury that flared up almost right after Williams signed his contract and reported for training camp. Ironically, that pre-existing injury caused Williams to sit out only a handful of practices in college. It was a bad stroke of luck for the Bears, who flipped Williams to the right side in 2009, moved him back to left tackle to start 2010, only to slide him inside after he returned from an early-season injury. Confused yet? Think how the Bears feel when discussing Williams' future.

Round 2 (No. 44); Matt Forte, RB, Tulane: An excellent pick by the Bears, Forte became the first player in franchise history with at least 1,400 scrimmage yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. He also joined Hall of Famer Walter Payton as the only players in franchise history with multiple seasons with 1,600 scrimmage yards. Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, Forte is in line for a serious raise, probably around the tune of $20 million in guarantees.

Round 3 (No. 70); Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt: Bennett failed to see the field as a rookie, but he has developed as a dependable and tough receiver the past two seasons. He's not flashy, but Bennett runs excellent routes, possesses great hands, and has a nose for finding the first-down marker. The Bears tend to shy away from selecting receivers in the early rounds -- Angelo did take Mark Bradley in the second round in 2005 -- and this year’s crop of wideouts isn't considered all that strong. However, if the Bears can find a Bennett-type in the mid or late rounds, that would be a strong addition to the roster. Overall, Bennett is looking like a very solid selection.

Round 3 (No. 90); Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas: Not good. Harrison battled weight issues the past two years, and was inactive 11 times in 2010. The odds of him making the roster appear to be slim. People raved about Harrison's first-round talent leading up to the draft -- an off-the-field incident contributed to the defensive tackle falling to the third round -- but the Bears haven't seen much productivity from the tackle.

Round 4 (No. 120); Craig Steltz, S, LSU: A hard worker with an excellent attitude who excels on special teams, Steltz was given a few opportunities to win a starting job in the secondary, but it just never worked out. With the emergence of Major Wright and the signing last year of Chris Harris, it'll be tough for Steltz to see the field in 2011. The Bears, however, could be losing several key guys on special teams (Corey Graham, Garrett Wolfe, Nick Roach, Danieal Manning, Pisa Tinoisamoa and Rashied Davis) so it might be a good idea to keep Steltz (signed thru 2011) in the mix for another season.

Round 5 (No. 142); Zack Bowman, CB, Nebraska: 2011 will be a really big year for Bowman. After leading the team with six interceptions in 2009, Bowman fell out of favor with Bears head coach Lovie Smith and was replaced in the starting lineup by Tim Jennings in Week 4. A lingering foot injury seemed to put Bowman deeper in Smith's doghouse as the year progressed. Clearly, the Bears aren't sold on the idea of Jennings starting at cornerback in 2011, but the organization is very high on former fifth-round pick Joshua Moore. Even though Bowman has the best combination of size and speed at the position, there is no guarantee he'll be allowed to fairly compete for the job in training camp. If that's the case, what's the point of him being in Chicago?

Round 5 (No. 158); Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State: Davis' effort was a little spotty early in his career, but after rededicating himself last summer, the tight end has become a pretty nice player. His role on offense could increase next year, but if nothing else, Davis is a valuable contributor on special teams.

Later selections in the 2008 draft included: Ervin Baldwin, DE, Michigan State; Chester Adams, G, Georgia; Joey LaRocque, LB, Oregon State; Kirk Barton, T, Ohio State; and Marcus Monk, WR, Arkansas.

Analysis: It's debatable whether or not Williams will be a long-term fixture on the Bears' offensive line. His murky status lowers the overall grade of this particular draft class, but Forte almost makes up for it. On the heels of the Cedric Benson debacle, the Bears had to hit on a running back in the 2008 draft, and they did just that with Forte. Bennett is one of the best receivers on the team, Davis and Steltz are dependable special teamers, and Bowman did show flashes of brilliance in 2009. The selection of Harrison hurts the class for obvious reasons.

Grade: B-

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- One of the few blemishes for the Bears' defense during Sunday's 10-3 loss occurred in the fourth quarter when Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit Greg Jennings on a 46-yard completion that gave the Packers the ball on the Bears 1 yard line.

Jennings beat cornerback Zack Bowman and safety Danieal Manning on the play, which ultimately set up the winning Green Bay touchdown, as Rodgers found tight end Donald Lee in the endzone on the very next snap.

"They ran a wheel route with the No. 2 receiver and the No. 1 ran a post, so I was off my landmark like two yards inside [the numbers]," Manning explained. "Aaron Rodgers was looking to the post, but he checked back and saw the wheel route open, so he threw it to the wheel.

"It was both of our faults, and I'll take most of the blame because I'm supposed to be over the top. But some routes carry you out there, however, I should have stayed on my landmark longer than I did."

Jennings led all receivers with 97 yards.

CHICAGO -- Here are five things we learned following the Bears embarrassing 36-7 defeat to the New England Patriots.

1. The Bears need to burn the tape: It was just one of those days when nothing went right. The Bears were whipped on both sides of the football and bombed out before a national audience. But at the end of the day, it's still a loss to an AFC team that means little in the grand scheme of things. What matters for the Bears is beating the Vikings next week, because if that happens, the Bears will at the very least own the tiebreaker over Green Bay in the NFC North. The worst thing would be if this ugly defeat lingers or carries over to the Minnesota game. The Bears, a veteran-laden team, must find a way to move on and forget this ever happened. Maybe the Bears also get blown out by the Jets in two weeks -- highly unlikely -- but if they beat the Vikings and Packers, who cares.

2. We need to stop any and all Bears-Patriots comparisons: The Bears are not the Patriots. They don't draft like New England, they don't coach like New England, they don't play like New England, and they don't win like New England. I have a lot of respect for Lovie Smith and think he's done an excellent job this season, but were people actually trying to put Smith in the same category as Bill Belichick this past week? Are you serious? The Patriots, under Belichick, have 10 straight winning seasons and three Super Bowl rings -- almost four titles if not for a miraculous catch by New York's David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII. There isn't a coach in the NFL in the same category as Belichick, or an organization as well run as the Patriots. If there is such a franchise, it's not the Bears, who's last championship came 25 years ago. I'm not hating on Smith -- he never made those Belichick comparisons leading up to the game -- but to say the two men are similar in terms of success is just plain crazy. And just so we're clear -- Belichick is now 5-0 versus Mike Martz since Super Bowl XXXVI.

3. You still can't totally trust Jay Cutler: The Bears got blown out for a variety of reasons, but for the first time since the bye week, their quarterback play was poor. Cutler made a few nice throws during the game. His two interceptions, however, were awful. Please tell me again why Cutler feels the need to throw into triple-coverage? I give Cutler all the credit in the world for leading the Bears on a five-game winning streak. He was on fire the past few games, making great plays with his arm and his feet. But every so often, he goes back in the tank, and performs like he did against New England -- a 32.9 quarterback rating. Maybe Cutler bounces back and lights up the Vikings, Jets and Packers. It very well could happen. But I'd hate to see Cutler play this way in the playoffs. If he does, the Bears have no shot to win, regardless of how the defense performs. But if he plays like he did in previous weeks, the Bears certainly can advance in the NFC.

4. Smith needs to hold the secondary accountable: The worst thing the Bears could do is overreact after this game, but fair is fair, Smith ought to mix a few things up in the secondary moving forward. I think Major Wright has a bright future, but would Chris Harris have been burned on that Tom Brady pump-fake touchdown pass to Deion Branch at the end of the half? Haven't Harris and Danieal Manning done well enough to remain on the field at all times? And what about Charles Tillman? Shouldn't Zack Bowman be inserted back into the mix at cornerback? The Bears really can't do much to jump-start the lines, because let's face it, there aren't many options besides the starters. But the secondary is a different story. The lack of a pass rush didn't help the Bears in coverage, but Branch and Wes Welker were wide open for almost the entire game.

5. Brady is the MVP: Hands down. Brady is the best player in the league. The Patriots looked like they were playing in a dome - not freezing temperatures, snow and wind gusts up to 50 mph -- because the quarterback was completely un phased by the elements. Brady threw the ball like it was 90 degrees in Miami, and torched the Bears defense for 369 yards, 2 touchdowns and a 113.4 quarterback rating. The top player in the game plays for the best team in the game. Very fitting.