Chicago Bears 2015 Offseason Preview
Published by Bear Heiser on November 4, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Much of the disappointment that currently surrounds the Chicago Bears right now is due to the high expectations that were set when the team made a few big splashes in free agency.
Two seasons ago, the Bears offense needed to be upgraded. So what did general manager Phil Emery do? He upgraded the offense by signing left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett, both of whom now play big roles in the Bears offense.
Last season, when the defense ranked near the bottom of the league, what did Emery do? He went out and signed defensive ends Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen and Willie Young, with the hope of improving the pass rush. All three players have fared very differently this season, with Young and his team-leading seven sacks leading the way. We all know the bit of irony Houston found himself in the last time the Bears took the field.
All of these signings, along with a handful of draft picks, put the Bears in position to take the next step on the path to a Super Bowl appearance. That step clearly hasn’t happened, as the team now sits at 3-5—stuck in the basement of the NFC North—through the halfway point of the season.
With a tough road matchup against Green Bay on Sunday night, the Bears are in make-or-break mode. The next few weeks will be instrumental when it comes to deciding how the 2015 roster will shake out.
So why don’t we take a look at a few players who could be staying, a few who could be going and even a few who might require new contracts.
The list will be broken down into the following categories:
1. No way, no chance, no how—this guy WILL NOT be re-signed!
2. A guy whose fortune will be impacted by performance in the second half
3. A guy who the Bears need to take a chance on
4. A guy the Bears would love to have back…at the right price
5. A guy the Bears would love to move on from…if they can get out of the contract
6. A guy who gonna get paid!
