Hello Peppers, Goodbye... Brown?
Some say the writing was on the walls, especially after the blockbuster signing of Julius Peppers this offseason.. but does this move really make sense? Why would the Bears further weaken one of the most disappointing aspect of an overall underachieving defense?
Recently Bears head coach Lovie Smith stated that Israel Idonije would move from defensive tackle to defensive end, with the expectations of young defensive tackle Mark Anderson and the plethora of draft picks that have yet to see the field.. there just simply isnt enough snaps for everyone. Why though?
Why take a chance on playing younger, inexperienced players when you have a proven veteran and vocal leader already on your current roster who has shown he can still produce at his age?
The only reason this would benefit the Chicago Bears would be if they received a decent WR in return, a decent draft pick(s) or if they used the cap for Browns 2011 season (5.5 million) and spent it on one last free agent signing (a veteran safety). The cap they would save, along with the money they have saved by cutting players like Nathan Vasher, should be enough to pry someone like O.J. Atogwe away from the Rams.. something that even the Chicago Bears players are being vocal about.
In the end, this is a sticky situation for the Bears. Alex Brown has given everything he has to the Chicago Bears Organization for the past 9 years, since he was drafted in the 4th round, and desereves to retire a Bear. Let's hope the Bears organization has a bigger plan that will improve this team immediately, because expending a proven player such as Brown for late round draft prospects (potential busts) will only waste another year of a defense that is getting older and closer to rebuilding an entire team. The window is closing for this Bears team.. Let's hope they know what they're doing.
