UPDATE: Chicago Sun-Times reports Bears interest in Sharper is not mutual.

The Bears need a free safety. Darren Sharper is a free safety. So I guess it’s only logical the Bears would be considered a “serious suitor” for Sharper’s services.

But then again, per the Pioneer Press, Sharper’s not sure if he’s an ideal fit for the Vikings’ Tampa Two scheme, which sounds coincidentally a lot like the Bears’ Tampa Two scheme.

Sharper recorded just one interception in 2008, but that was probably due to him playing out of position at strong safety, giving up the free safety spot to rookie Tyrell Johnson. Sharper himself, concedes he’s more of a playmaker as opposed to a protector — a role the Vikings expected him to fulfill.

Well, one thing the Bears could definitely use at safety is a playmaker, even if he is 33. Sharper is scheduled to visit the Saints on Monday.

Courtesy of a member at Football’s Future – Chicago Bears forum

Everybody has a links post. So why not us? Unfortunately, we didn’t think the official title all the way through.

S Brandon McGowan and RB Kevin Jones are garnering interest from the Bucs. (Pewter Report)

Kurt Warner doesn’t play well in cold, bad news for the Bears. (Phoenix New Times)

Houshmandzadeh’s agent says he hasn’t heard of Bears’ interest in his client. (Inside The Bears)

Signing Frank Omiyale won’t affect Bears’ efforts to re-sign John St. Clair. (Chicago Daily Herald)

Bears named in Houshmandzadeh sweepstakes, but were they ever really in the mix? (Cincy Jungle)

The Bears made their first activity in free agency this morning, signing Panthers T Frank Omiyale to a four-year, $14 million deal.

Omiyale is a young guy at 26, with four years of NFL experience under his belt, two with Carolina, two with Atlanta. But the 2005 fifth-round draft pick out of Tennessee Tech has started only one game — last year when T Jordan Gross went down — and played in just 10 during his short NFL career.

At 6’4-310 lbs., Omiyale is projected to play right tackle and possibly compete with John St. Clair for the starting job.

Free agency officially begins tonight at 11:01 PM CT and the Bears should have their eye on a few prized possibilities.

Topping the list is quarterback Kurt Warner, who at one time had said he’d either play in Arizona or retire, now seems open to the possibility of playing elsewhere.

The major factor in if and where Warner goes will be money. Warner’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, hasn’t ruled out that Warner could land somewhere other than Arizona, and with free agency hours away, it doesn’t seem like the Cardinals will stop him from testing the market.

Other unrestricted free agents the Bears could be interested in: S Eugene Wilson, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR Marvin Harrison, T Stacey Andrews, RB Derrick Ward, DT Jovan Haye and a slew of others.

First off, I wish I could give proper credit for the logo design. So if you’re the genius behind it, get in touch and we’ll be sure to give due credit.

Rex Grossman’s six-year career in Chicago is over almost as soon as it began. In only 31 career starts, Sexy Rexy threw a very average 33 TD’s and 35 INT’s for just over 6,000 yards with a 70.2 QB rating.

As the clock strikes midnight ET on Thursday, Grossman will officially become a free agent and end the love-hate (mostly hate) relationship between himself and the Bears faithful.

It made me wonder, as ridiculously detested as he was, what might Bears fans hate less? I present “Ten Things Hated Less Than Rex Grossman.” (more…)

Five solid players from the Bucs of ye old Tampa Bay were let go today meaning two things: Tampa Bay will suck next year and Lovie Smith is obliged to add at least one of the released, if not just by association alone.

Lovie is probably most likely to use the former-coach card on 35-year old linebacker Derrick Brooks. Smith was Brooks’ linebackers coach from 1996-2000 when the Tampa 2 defense developed.

Even at his age Brooks can still play, evident by his Pro Bowl berth last season. Put him alongside Urlacher and Briggs and you have arguably the best linebacking corps in the NFL.

Wide receiver Joey Galloway could be on the Bears radar as well. At 37, he’s obviously on the downside of his career, but before last year, he amassed three straight 1,000-yard seasons. Galloway would instantly become Chicago’s No. 1 receiver.

Everybody has a links post. So why not us? Unfortunately, we didn’t think the official title all the way through.

Kyle Orton will start in 2009. No shit. (NFL.com Blogs)

Numerous journalists are bringing up Mike Vick to Bears talk. (The Chicagoist)

Charles Tillman is staying put at cornerback; won’t move to safety. (Inside the Bears)

New clothing line pays tribute to the late, great Walter Payton. (Tampa Bay Online)

Bears will “strongly consider” Illinois CB Vontae Davis if he’s available at No. 18. (RotoWorld)

When the Bears signed tackle John St. Clair in 2006, it was to add competition and depth to a then solid offensive line. John Tait and Fred Miller were the aging, but stellar, bookends and St. Clair was brought in to be, along with Terrence Metcalf, an insurance policy.

Boy, how times have changed. Now, Miller is gone, Tait just retired, and the Bears currently have only last year’s first-round draft pick Chris Williams and Cody Balogh — who? — available to play tackle.

Re-signing St. Clair is a must and with the necessity comes added extra dollar value for the nine-year veteran. Miami T Vernon Carey just inked a six-year deal worth $42 million, and if that is any indication, the Bears will have to pull together something around the $4-5 million per year mark — the supposed low-side, going rate for starting tackles –to bring St. Clair back.

Do you think Jerry Angelo is willing to make a six-year, $33 million offer for St. Clair? Then why aren’t they getting close yet?! By all accounts, the Bears haven’t made any significant movement in talks with St. Clair although he’s made it clear he would like to come back.

Asked about his contact with the Chicago Bears at the NFL combine, early first-round prospect Michael Crabtree said, “I talked to about three of the Chicago guys at one time. They just wanted to get to know me. And I just told them what they wanted to hear.”

Hmmm, I wonder if that included, I’d love to follow in the footsteps of David Terrell, Mark Bradley, Airese Currie, and Bobby Wade.

Why are the Bears even bothering talking to Crabtree anyway? They’re not going to give up what it would take to jump 10-11 spots in the draft.

UPDATE: Lovie Smith added this doozy in regards to Crabtree’s value not diminishing despite a suffered stress fracture in his foot: “He has a history and it’s pretty good.”

Just short of the full seven-round mock we promised. Hey, what do you expect from a blog with a conscience so small?
Round 1, Pick 18

DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY, WR MARYLAND

If Jerry Angelo refuses to pull out the checkbook during the offseason and get one of the marquee wideouts available, Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey will be the man.

Round 2, Pick 17

PATRICK CHUNG, S OREGON

Chung doesn’t have quite the speed the Bears secondary needs, but he can cover the entire field nonetheless. He has free safety size but packs strong safety punch, and could be the heir apparent to Mike Brown. (more…)

It’s Valentines Day but it feels more like Friday the 13th, which was ironically, his 31st birthday. And while it was no surprise, the Bears’ decision to part ways with Mike Brown will be particularly difficult for me to take.

I’m too young to remember the glory years of the Ditka-led teams of the 80′s. And while I remember watching games early in the 90′s, my deepening association with the team didn’t truly begin until the Wannstedt era (I know, lucky me).

Since then, I’ve had my share of favorite players; Curtis Conway, Brian Urlacher, Ted Washington and Chris Zorich; but of all, I fell in love — albeit a very manly kind of love — with Mike Brown.

Never has a player impacted a team with such inspirational play. His contributions to the defense were obvious, but his contributions to the team were priceless.

Urlacher would even admit, Mike Brown is was the heart and soul of the defense. I’ll always remember his jaw-jarring hit on Detroit TE Marcus Pollard, his sack of Brett Favre, and his back-to-back, game-winning overtime pick six’s in 2001.

Oh, it’s a sad day in Bearland indeed. Godspeed, Mike Brown. Godspeed.