The Bears signed free agent linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa to a one year deal on Friday.

Tinoisamoa worked with both Lovie Smith and Bob Babich in his first couple of seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

Tinoisamoa had a monster season last year, recording a career high 104 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Rams released Tinoisamoa because of his size, his contract, and his new coach Steve Spagnolo.

If Tinoisamoa wins the job at strong side linebacker for the Bears not only will they have the best linebacker corps in the NFL, but Hunter Hillenmeyer could be on his way out of town.

The Bears are expected to keep six or seven linebackers on the 53-man roster.

So with the projected starters being Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, and Pisa Tinoisamoa, that’s three already.

So, backups Jamar Williams, Marcus Freeman, Joey LaRocque, Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer will all be competing for a spot on the team.

One or two of the backups above could be released.

Jamar Williams and Nick Roach are locks to make the roster.

The Bears are very high on Marcus Freeman, so I don’t think he’ll be dumped.

Joey LaRocque was a seventh round pick last season, but a very solid special teams contributor.

Hunter Hillenmeyer was hurt for most of the season and when he came back he was used on special teams.

I know I’d rather have Hillenmeyer on the team over a seventh round pick, who has six career tackles.

But Hillenmeyer could be released because of his contract and his durability.

Who knows?

All I know is the Bears added a good player in Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Seven of Chicago’s nine picks agreed to four-year contracts Friday with defensive end Henry Melton, cornerback D.J. Moore, wide receiver Johnny Knox, linebacker Marcus Freeman, safety Al Afalava, offensive lineman Lance Louis and wide receiver Derek Kinder all coming to terms.

The Bears’ top two draft picks remain unsigned: defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert and wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.

Israel Idonije agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Bears on Friday. He is now signed through 2011.

Idonije had this to say about the contract extension:

“It’s exciting, it’s a pleasant surprise to get something done early. When you dream about how the picture would unfold going into the last year of your contract, this is the ideal situation. It’s perfect to get the deal done. I love Chicago, and I wanted to stay and continue to grow and develop here”

“It’s just warming to know that the team wants me here and wants me to be part of the picture moving to the next three seasons. It’s just a great feeling.

Idonije was due to make $1.75 million this year but received an added $2 million via a signing bonus. Each of the next two years, he is scheduled to make $2.5 million. In 2010, $1 million of his $2.5 is guaranteed.

Idonije’s agent Drew Rosenhaus had thus to say about the deal:

“He’ll be effectively doubling what his current contract was, he’s essentially one of the more highly paid backup defensive lineman in the NFL.”

Idonije has appeared in 71 games with eight starts in five seasons with the Bears, registering 99 tackles, 5½ sacks and 10 pass breakups on defense along with 29 tackles and four blocked kicks on special teams.

Idonije is down to 270 pounds from 306 last season and plans to play at 265 for the 2009 season.
all quotes from chicagobears.com

Bears defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury in 2006 and then suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2007 opener. He only played in 12 games last season, missing the last four games with a ruptured right bicep.

Dusty Dvoracek had this to say about the upcoming season:

“My bicep feels great, my whole body feels great. It was somewhat of a long rehab, but it wasn’t very strenuous. My bicep is back to full strength. I have no restrictions whatsoever. I don’t wear any type of brace, nothing. I’m as strong as I was. I’d say I’m 100 percent.”

“It’s frustrating and I’m sick of it, and that’s why I feel this is going to be a year of injury-free football, it’s obviously not the way I wanted to go about my career in Chicago, and as frustrated as I’m sure the fans and the media seem to get with me, I get just as frustrated.

“But that’s over. That’s already happened. I’ve been hurt. I’m healthy now and that’s how I’m looking at it. If I dwell on it, nothing good’s going to come of that. I’m just excited that I’m to a point where I’m healthy and ready to go and I have a great coach like Rod Marinelli to make me become the player that I’ve felt I always could be and that I’m going to be, so I’m just excited about that opportunity.”

Dusty has two newspapers hung up in his locker for motivation. The headlines read: “Bears future cloudy for injury-prone Dusty Dvoracek,” and “Dvoracek’s season ends early again.”

Dvoracek had this to say about new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli:

“He’s the best teacher of football I’ve ever been around in my life, he’s so knowledgeable and he does such a good job of explaining what he’s talking about to players and breaking everything down. He tapes every single thing we do, goes over it and teaches us how to be better players.

“He hammers the pass rush like nobody ever. We work pass rush every day over and over. Not that the coaches before hadn’t done a good job. I just think he’s amazing.”

all quotes from chicagobears.com

1) Mike Singletary- He was a beast for the Bears defense. He was a 10 time Pro Bowler, eight time All-Pro player, a super bowl champion and a Hall of Famer (inducted in 1998). His #50 jersey is retired by the Bears. He was named to the NFL 1980’s All-Decade Team. He was a second round pick by the Bears in 1981 out of Baylor. He started 172 games for the Chicago Bears. I’m excited for the Bears match up against Coach Singletary’s new team the 49ers this upcoming season.

2) Dick Butkus-He not only had his #51 jersey retired with the Bears, but he went to eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons in the NFL. He was also a six time selection on the First Team All-Pro team and a two time selection on the Second Team All-Pro team. He is a part of the NFL 1960’s and 1970’s All-Decade Team. He was a first round pick by the Bears out of the University of Illinois in 1965. He recorded 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries. He is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3) Brian Urlacher-A first round pick by the Bears has been a fan favorite since he came in the league. He has been elected to six pro bowls (2000-2006). He has been selected to four All-Pro teams (2001,2002, 2005, 2006). He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. He also has the most tackles in a season by a Chicago Bear. The 31 year old has played in 131 games, recording 1063 tackles, 37.5 sacks, 17 interceptions and eight forced fumbles. He’s not the same Urlacher that he was at the beginning of his career, but he is still a very good player.

4) Bill George- He was selected to play in eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 1955-1962. Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly called George “the meanest Bear ever.” In 1999, he was ranked number 49 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. It has been alleged that George was the first true middle linebacker in football and, inadvertently, the creator of the 4-3 defense. He was a First-team All-Pro selection eight times, (1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963) and was inducted to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. His  #61 jersey is retired by the Bears and he was inducted in to Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

5) Doug Buffone- He played 15 seasons at linebacker for the Bears, retiring in 1980 as the all-time leader in games played. In his professional career, Buffone gathered more than 1,200 tackles, going over the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons. He also had the honor of serving as defensive captain for eight seasons, beginning in 1972. Played 186 games as a Bear, the third most among Bears. He holds the Bears record for most career interceptions at linebacker and the Bears record for most sacks in a season (18 in 1968). Buffone was a fourth round pick by the Bears in 1966 out of Louisville and played with the Bears until 1979.

Honorable Mentions:

-Lance Briggs- He could be in this list once he finishes his career.
-Otis Wilson- He played eight years with the Bears and starred on the 1985 Bears.

You can read this article on Bears Scoop.

It looks like veteran linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (pronounced /PEES-oh tee-noy-SAW-mo-ah) will sign with either the Bears or Buffalo Bills.

Tinoisamoa visited New England on Tuesday but the Patriots signed Paris Lenon instead of the former St. Louis Ram.

According to two NFL sources, no visit is in the works for Tinoisamoa in Philadelphia, a spot which was said to be a landing spot for him.

The Bears looked to have an edge because Pisa Tinoisamoa played for Bears head coach Lovie Smith and Bears linebacker coach Bob Babich as a rookie for the Rams in 2003.

Pisa seemed at comfortable visiting with coaches and players alike during the OTA at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, IL last week.

If Pisa signs with the Bears, he will compete with Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nick Roach for the strong side linebacker position.

Pisa would probably have the edge because of his experience and his familiarity with the Bears coaches.

Pisa was a second round pick by the Rams out of Hawaii in 2003.

The 27 year old Pisa Tinoisamoa, has played in 84 games, recording 449 tackles, 10 sacks, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles in six seasons with the Rams.

I think this would be a good move for the Bears to bring in a guy, who has so much experience.

I mean I like Nick Roach, but wouldn’t you rather have a proven guy playing with Urlacher and Briggs?

I know I would. I’m excited for the Bears, hopefully he chooses them over the Bills.

Ron Turner was asked if there’s more pressure on him because of Jay Cutler being the quarterback, and this what he had to say:

“I don’t know if there is, but if there is I’ll take it. I’ll take a player like this any time. I’ve been around some really good quarterbacks and the last couple we’ve had I think were really good players, but I’ve never been around an arm like this.”

Turner had this to say about Cutler’s arm strength:

“His arm strength is rare, you don’t see that very often, and his ability to come in and learn [is impressive], really it’s everything—his demeanor around the guys, the way he’s been accepted, the way he’s handled himself coming in and saying, ‘I’m just one of the guys,’ yet he’s also showed great leadership, so he’s making the transition very well.”

Turner had this to say about the plays they’ll run with Cutler:

“We will have some designed movement plays, we’re moving the pocket with him, and then he has the ability to create things on his own when it’s not there—if the coverage isn’t what we wanted or if there’s a protection breakdown. That’s something the receivers will have to get used to and something we’ll work on definitely more than what we’ve done.”

all quotes from chicagobears.com

This week on Laugh of the Week, Bearsbacker brings you a funny moment in Rex Grossman’s career.

I thought it would be funny since Grossman has been reported to be trying out for the UFL, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus reiterated today that “He only intends to play in the  NFL this season.  The UFL is not a consideration.”

Anywho, Enjoy the short video.

all quotes from profootballtalk.com

Josh Beekman is currently practicing with the first team offensive line.

The Bears first team offensive line looks like this:

LT- Orlando Pace

LG- Josh Beekman

C- Olin Kreutz

RG- Roberto Garza

RT- Chris Williams

But the Bears didn’t sign LG/LT Frank Omiyale to big bucks for no reason, he’ll compete with Beekman throughout the off-season and will line up with the first team offensive next week.

This is what Josh Beekman had to say about the competition at LG with Frank Omiyale:

“It is a competition, Frank is a great guy and he is a competitor. He is going to make the Bears better. If he beats me out, he makes the Bears better. If I win my spot back, hopefully I make the Bears better. Competition breeds success. They brought him in and Frank is a hard worker.”

“We’ll see what happens at the end of the camp, Olin sat me down and coached me a lot. [Line coach] Harry [Hiestand] was a great influence on me. Luckily, I have he bar set high with Olin, with the example of what you need to do to be a great O-lineman. I get to watch every day and see how good I have to be.”

all quotes from chicagosuntimes.com

Earl Bennett spoke about his former teammate at Vanderbilt and now his new QB with the Bears:

“It’s great playing with somebody I’m familiar with; a great leader in the huddle and off the field, just his presence here has been great so far. I think he’s going to do wonders for this team.”

Devin Hester talked about working with new QB Jay Cutler:

“He’s just a very calm veteran quarterback and that is what you like, it’s a quarterback who doesn’t really put too much pressure on himself, but you look at him and can tell he’s been doing this for a long time. That’s what brings a lot of excitement and a lot of big plays to the offense.”

“I feel like we’re starting to click, he’s in a situation where he’s in a new offense with new receivers, so we’re polishing it up and getting used to the timing of it and the speed. Once we get that down, we’ll be good.”

Greg Olsen, who I think will benefit the most from Cutler, spoke about Jay:

“I think we have the ability to be a good offense we’ve added a lot of pieces to the puzzle. Obviously, it is really early now. We just have to keep putting work in. We’ve got a long ways ahead of us. Guys are excited with what we can do.”

This is what Rashied Davis had to say about Cutler:

“He’s a tremendous teammate, a good person and a good leader out on the field, he’s not a yeller-screamer, but he’s vocal. He’ll come and he’ll talk to you. He talks in the huddle. He’s just not a yeller. He doesn’t come to the sideline screaming and hollering.”

all quotes from chicagobears.com