The Bears wouldn’t budge on a one-year contract offer with Olin Kreutz, but it might have been because they wanted to add Chris Spencer to the fold. Other teams were said to be interested in his Spencer’s services.

By offering Kreutz a contract it makes Kreutz leave on a good note rather than a bad one. You don’t want to end a 13 year relationship with one of your most loved player on a bad note. Jerry Angelo made the tough, but right decision replacing Kreutz.

But, they could regret letting Kreutz go in one of the shortest training camps in NFL history. Spencer will have to learn Mike Martz’s offense quick. Most importantly, he will have to become a leader because Kreutz was a great one in his 13 seasons with the Bears.

Here’s what Kreutz had to say about a possible retirement and contract talks with the Bears:

“That is a decision I am still making. I am sure I will have an opportunity,” Kreutz said Sunday night. “I am just not sure if I want to play for anyone else. Retirement is definitely an option.”

“Jerry has been good to me too. He’s given me a lot of money and I’ve been there a long time,” Kreutz said. “It felt like maybe it was time to move on. I just got that feeling. If I was right, if I was wrong, if the offer was fair. I have enough money. So the offer wasn’t a big hurdle for me. It was a feel I had, just maybe they wanted to move on no matter what the offer was.

“At this point in my career, the offer of money is not a big deal to me. It’s just a feel I had. I don’t want to taint anyone. Both sides have won since I’ve been here. I’ve won. They’ve treated me good. They’ve given me everything I’ve asked for and I think I’ve played my ass off for them.”

All quotes from Chicagotribune.com.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears move.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears added some height today by scooping up two former Dallas Cowboys receivers in Sam Hurd and Roy Williams.

Roy Williams stands at 6’3″, 215 pounds while Sam Hurd stands at 6’3″, 209 pounds. Roy Williams has appeared in 100 games reeling in 355 receptions for 5206 yards and 42 touchdowns.

In his seven seasons in the NFL, only once has Williams gone over the 1,000 yard mark. That came in 2006, when he played under Mike Martz as the head coach. He reeled in 82 receptions for 1310 yards and seven touchdowns that season.

In three seasons in Dallas, Williams was labeled a bust, not even breaking 600 yards in one of the seasons.

Hurd, has spent all five of his NFL seasons with Dallas appearing in 62 games, reeling in 45 receptions for 630 yards and two touchdowns.

He will likely take over Rashied Davis’s role on special teams, he will have to earn his way into the offensive plans.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears move.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears traded former first-round pick TE Greg Olsen away to the Carolina Panthers for a 2012 third-round pick late yesterday.

Talks of trading Olsen occured all day yesterday after his agent Drew Rosenhaus sent out a message to all the NFL teams telling them he was available.

“The Bears have granted me permission to seek a trade for Greg Olsen,” Rosenhaus wrote in the first email, sent at 8:56 p.m. EDT. “Please let me know if interested. Sounds like the Bears will be very reasonable on the compensation in return for Greg.”

Olsen will play next to veteran TE Jeremy Shockey in a much improved Carolina offense. Fans were surprised that Olsen was traded away, it definitely made some scratch their heads.. Bears country were big fans of him, but he never really lived up to the potential everyone knew he had.

Some games Olsen just simply wouldn’t show up, but some games he was the player the Bears thought they drafted in 2007 out of Miami.

Olsen appeared in 62 games, reeling in 194 passes for 1981 yards and 20 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bears. The Bears currently have Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth under contract after trading Olsen and releasing Brandon Manumaleuna. Another tight end could be brought on, maybe the Bears will decide to bring back veteran TE Desmond Clark.

Olsen had this to say about his “bittersweet” departure from the Bears:

“I did everything that I was asked,” Olsen told “Chicago’s Gamenight” on ESPN 1000. “Playing fullback and pass protection and blocking. That was kind of the wrap going in. I proved all that wrong and showed that I could play every down and did everything I was asked to do. At the end of the day, it just wasn’t really a fit. And that’s fine. Everyone has their ways of doing things and I have no hard feelings towards it at all, and I’m just happy and satisfied that I have the opportunity to go play somewhere where I feel like I have a better opportunity.”

Former Bears WR Rashied Davis, who signed with NFC North rival Detroit yesterday had this to say about the Bears:

“I have no clue what is going on with the Bears organization.”

All quotes from ESPNChicago.com

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears move.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears inked their fifth and sixth-round picks to four-year deals on Wednesday. QB Nathan Enderle (5th) and LB J.T. Thomas (6th) were happy to wrap up their deals with the Bears.

Today, DT Stephen Paea (2nd-round pick), and safety Chris Conte (3rd-round pick) signed four-year deals.

Paea will have a chance to contribute right away with Henry Melton, Matt Toeaina, Marcus Harrison and Tank Taylor as the only defensive tackles signed on. So, Paea has a legit chance to get some serious time this season.

DT Anthony Adams is a free-agent, but the Bears are looking to bring him back considering he is a steady veteran who can show some of these young guys the ropes.

Safety Chris Conte sits behind FS Major Wright and SS Chris Harris on the depth chart. Conte will likely contribute on special teams in his first season because he is so raw at the safety position.

Craig Steltz is the only other safety on the roster. Veteran Josh Bullocks played last season for the Bears, but he’s a free-agent.

The Bears are likely to bring in a veteran safety for depth purposes. Look for the Bears to wrap up first-round pick offensive tackle Gabe Carimi in the coming days.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears signing.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

Will the Bears bring back veteran center Olin Kreutz?

The veteran center is entering his 13th NFL season. He has spent all 12 of his seasons with the Bears.

Kreutz was voted to six straight Pro Bowls from 2001-2006. He’s not the elite center he once was, but he is a leader and the Bears want to keep the offensive line intact.

The Bears offensive line last season gave up a league high 56 sacks, including nine in one game against the NY Giants. But the line improved down the stretch and with the drafting of tackle Gabe Carimi, the Bears believe bringing some veterans in and the line could be much better.

Olin Kreutz wants to return to the Bears, he wants to retire a Bear. Fans love him, he has been steady for 12 straight seasons. The Bears have some competition with the San Francisco 49ers, who are looking to sign him.

The 49ers have already sent out a contract to Kreutz. The Bears are looking to bring him back to the mix and keep the line steady, but if Kreutz gets a much bigger offer from the 49ers don’t be surprised if he departs.

The Bears will have to make a decision soon because Kreutz is expected to announce which team he will choose tomorrow.

If I had a vote, I would say keep Kreutz, he is great in the locker room and will teach the offensive line to play harder. He might not be the same center he once was, but he is better than any of the free-agent centers.

Other options:

If Kreutz doesn’t return look for the Bears to move guard Roberto Garza over to center. Former first-round pick Chris Williams, who was drafted to be a tackle, played guard last season could also possibly transition to center as well.

Kreutz will make the decision that he believes is right, he is a straight up guy. Tomorrow we’ll know the answer.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears move.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears have reportedly released TE Brandon Manumaleuna and his monster contract that he signed last off-season.

This move makes sense considering Manumaleuna was not at all what the Bears thought they got when they signed him.

He signed a five year, $15 million deal last off-season, but Manumaleuna wasn’t the blocking tight end they desired. He reeled only five passes for 43 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last season.

He was known as the “best” blocking tight end in the league when the Bears brought him in, but the Bears added Matt Spaeth today and he will likely take over as the blocking tight end.

What does this mean for Greg Olsen?

All the rumors about Olsen being traded could easily be false now that the Bears dumped Manumaleuna. Olsen, Spaeth and Davis will likely be the three tight ends the Bears have on the roster this season.

It’s a smart move to keep Olsen considering he is one of the better tight ends in the league. Plus, he commands double teams which could help out the other tight ends or other receivers in Mike Martz’s offense.

I know Mike Martz doesn’t like to use tight ends as anything more than a blocker, but Greg Olsen is an above average receiver and a much improved blocker. Honestly if he can’t figure out how to use Olsen, he would be considered a waste of a first-round pick. Martz is smart enough to figure out how to use Olsen.

In other news:

The Bears were said to be interested in WR/KR Brad Smith, but he will be heading to the Buffalo Bills after receiving a four-year deal worth $15 million.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears move.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears have made an interesting move today. They signed former Steelers TE Matt Spaeth to a contract. Tight end wasn’t considered an area of need for the Bears with Greg Olsen, Brandon Manumaleuna and Kellen Davis all signed on for the season.

Spaeth, a third-round pick from the 2007 NFL Draft has appeared in 60 games, reeling in 36 receptions for 275 yards and five touchdowns since 2007. Spaeth, 6’7″  is considered a very good blocker in the passing and running game.

Is this the end of Greg Olsen?

Greg Olsen, who will be a free agent after the season, has always been considered a hybrid tight end. He is an above average tight end, who catches a lot of passes when used correctly.

He was very dangerous in the playoffs, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz typically uses his tight ends as blocking tight ends more than receivers.

Since coming to the Bears in 2007 as a first-round pick, Olsen has appeared in 62 games, reeling in 194 passes for 1981 yards and 20 touchdowns. In two post-season games last year, Olsen caught six passes for 143 yards and one touchdown.

Trading Olsen wouldn’t make sense unless the Bears received a legitimate wide receiver in return.

If Olsen departs, the Bears would be left with Spaeth, Manumaleuna and Davis as the tight ends on the roster. Those three tight ends combined for 15 receptions for 142 yards and three touchdowns last season.

If I were the Bears I would think about moving Brandon Manualeuna’s contract, either through a trade (if someone actually wanted his big contract) or by releasing him.

It will be interesting to see what the Bears will do with Olsen. Fans don’t want to see him go and he doesn’t seem like he wants to go.

Olsen had this to say about the Bears:

“Not happy at all [with the] trade talk” because he “wants to play his entire career in Chicago,” Olsen said.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears signing.

All quotes from NBCChicago.com

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears added a position of need today by signing  former Jaguars punter Adam Podlesh.

It might not be the flashiest move, like adding a big wide receiver or an experienced offensive lineman, but the Bears made a good decision by adding Podlesh. The deal is reportedly worth $10 milllion over five years, giving him an average of $2 million per season.

Podlesh, 27, was a fourth-round pick in 2007 out of the University of Maryland. He has appeared in 59 games, punting 229 times, while averaging 42.6 yards in four seasons in Jacksonville.

He landed a career high 26 times inside in the 20-yard line and eight inside the 10-yard line last season.

Podlesh is excited to be a member of the Bears, he tweeted this moments before the signing was official: “I knew it was a done deal when they included a dinner with Abe Froman #thesausagekingofchicago,” Podlesh wrote.

Podlesh will come in right away and gel with kicker Robbie Gould, LS Patrick Mannelly and special teams coach Dave Toub.

In other news:

Veteran wide receiver Rashied Davis has signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions. I thought the Bears would make a play for Davis once the lockout was lifted and free agency begun, but the Bears didn’t see him as a priority.

Davis was a fan favorite, who will surely be missed by the real Bears fans. Some fans will likely be happy considering this opens up a roster spot for a “legit” wide receiver.

Here’s what Davis had to say about his departure:

“I just want to thank the city of Chicago, and the fans,” Davis said Thursday. “I want to thank the team for giving me an opportunity to play in this league, and for all the great memories with the Super Bowl run, the NFC Championship, and even the rough years.

“I definitely wish they would have stepped up to the plate and tried to get a deal done,” he said. “I’m obviously not in their plans. But I’m in someone else’s plans. One man’s trash in another man’s treasure.

The Bears will now be looking for a veteran wide receiver on the market. I’m sure they’ve been looking, but now is the time to make a move.

Maybe one of the undrafted free agents they added could take over Davis’s role on special teams. Maybe Canadian star Andy Fantuz could as well. It remains to be seen, but as bad as losing Davis is to some fans, it could be a good thing for the Bears.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears signing.

All quotes from Chicagotribune.com.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

The Bears have many things to do now that the lockout is over. Just like the other 31 NFL teams, they want to re-sign their own and get going with the best free agents at the positions of need.

The Bears added 26 undrafted free agents yesterday, two drafted players today, leaving only three drafted players left to sign and free-agents.

Here are the Bears positions of need: OL, WR, LB, DL

The Bears are interested in a lot of free agents according to sources.

Center Olin Kreutz, DT Anthony Adams and LB Nick Roach are just some of their own free agents they’re working hard to bring back. CB Corey Graham and WR Rashied Davis are a couple other of their own their still interested in.

WR: Mike-Sims Walker, Brad Smith and Steve Smith have all been possible receivers linked with the Bears during this hectic free agency. Mike-Sims Walker wants to come to the windy city, while the Bears want WR/KR Brad Smith to come to town.

OL: T Jerome Bushrod, T Willie Colon, G Justin Blaylock and G Harvery Dahl are just a couple offensive linemen the Bears have their eyes on.

DL: DE Jason Babin, DE Cullen Jenkins are a couple of pass rushing ends the Bears are looking at.

LB: Justin Durant is being looked at as a starter and the Bears really want to add him alongside Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Nick Roach will likely be brought back as a backup.

S: Not much talk about a veteran coming into the mix, but the Bears might want to start looking considering Chris Harris will play strong safety alongside Major Wright at free safety. A veteran backup will be needed.

P: Steve Weatherford. With veteran Brad Maynard gone, the Bears will look at bringing him in as his replacement.

Keep reading Bearsbacker.com for more info on each Bears signing.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.