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.
April 12th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
[...] The Bears brought Pisa Tinoisamoa into the mix last season thinking he would fit in great with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. He never really got the chance to fit in because in week one he suffered a knee injury, that happened to be the same game that Brian Urlacher broke his wrist. Tinoisamoa tried to come back in week six, but he re-aggravated his knee. [...]
April 12th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
[...] The Bears brought Pisa Tinoisamoa into the mix last season thinking he would fit in great with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. He never really got the chance to fit in because in week one he suffered a knee injury, that happened to be the same game that Brian Urlacher broke his wrist. Tinoisamoa tried to come back in week six, but he re-aggravated his knee. [...]
April 12th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
[...] The Bears brought Pisa Tinoisamoa into the mix last season thinking he would fit in great with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. He never really got the chance to fit in because in week one he suffered a knee injury, that happened to be the same game that Brian Urlacher broke his wrist. Tinoisamoa tried to come back in week six, but he re-aggravated his knee. [...]
April 12th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
[...] The Bears brought Pisa Tinoisamoa into the mix last season thinking he would fit in great with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. He never really got the chance to fit in because in week one he suffered a knee injury, that happened to be the same game that Brian Urlacher broke his wrist. Tinoisamoa tried to come back in week six, but he re-aggravated his knee. [...]