The Bills just cut Nick Barnett. While he is not a young player he is still a solid player who is familiar with the NFC. The Bears need someone who can get after it at the SAM position. Nick Roach is not really very good. Roach is versitile and can come in and spell people for a few blows but that should be it. For a short term investment the Bears can fill out their linebacker corps until they can develop someone to step in.
I know this isnt the most pressing need for the Bears but it needs to be addressed. A Briggs Urlacher and Barnett linebacker corps would be fun to watch.
For the right terms, I like the signing. I disagree about Barnett being a better option to start than Roach at this point in their career. Nick Roach is the fastest LB the Bears have and can play all over the field.
I do like Barnett as a better option than Geno Hayes.
Cheap and only cheap, we want to get younger at LB not older. If they sign him and resign Urlacher, out LB corp would be 31, 32 and 34 years old. In the day and age of mobile/pistol formation QB's, younger, quicker would be better. You could play a young LB next to Urlacher and Briggs. My gut feeling is no on this, go younger, especially if Urlacher comes back.
I have to vote no on this one. If we draft an LB in the first 2 rounds it would be wiser to let him play alongside Urlacher and Briggs like aggie just mentioned. He will be more expensive and older than Roach so I cant see this happening.
Another thing to consider is Urlachers health. The Bears need a realistic option in the middle. If they dont draft a MLB high in the draft then they need someone who can slide into that slot if Urlacher goes down which is very possible. I know you cant plan for injuries but lets be honest here. Urlacher cant play every snap anymore. Nick Roach isnt that guy. I dont care about dudes speed or atheticism. Roach is a 4th linebcacker.
Im not saying throw a rainmaker at Nick Barnett. But he has had real good back to back seasons for a bad Bills team. Hes worth at least a look and is infinately better than Roach.
Roach is not up to snuff with Urlacher or Briggs but he is a starting LB for most of the league. He stepped in and did a good job for Urlacher when he went down. As Bears fans we are spoiled when it comes to LBs. We have almost always had a HOFer in the group. For the price Roach is a much better option than Barnett who has not been the player he was early in his career with the Pack. We all think its time to find the next in a long line of great MLB's and we have to be ready to accept that it might not just happen like that. There isnt a true stud LB in the entire draft. Guys with potential yes but sure things no. Having Briggs and Urlacher, two Hall of Famers in my book, play next to each other their entire careers just isnt something that happens all the time. Ill take Briggs, Urlacher and Roach/rookie over anyone available in FA.
He will be more expensive and older than Roach so I cant see this happening
I don't think that they can lose if they find a good linebacker in the draft in the 1st or 2nd round. Where they play the guy leaves them with several real options. I think that they need to upgrade Roach and have him as the 4th LB. They also will have to consider maybe bringing in Urlacher's replacement right now. Then there is the fact that Briggs is going to have to be replaced in a few years also. So I guess what I am saying is that they could make a solid case for using either the 1st or 2nd pick this year for the best LB available for a 4-3 set period. This will also be an important priority for the following two drafts.
Roach is a 4th LB looking at his stats. Even at 31 years old Nick Barnett is better head to head comparison. He would be able to spell Urlacher and Briggs because of his versitility.
Yes Urlachers replacement needs to be drafted. If URlacher goes down again (a very high probability) what would be the outcome today? Nick Roach at MLB. What is the record again when Urlacher doesnt start again?? Exactly. Nick Roach sucks. Who would you rather have? Roach who proved he isnt up to snuff or Barnett a proven commodity who was a cap casualty and has 2-3 years of quality productivity and knows the NFC North very well?
Ill compromise. If Urlacher cant be signed for whatever reason
Draft a replacement YES. Sign Nick Barnett and y'all can watch the new guy soak up Roach's snaps.
