By Brad BiggsFor the third consecutive season, the Bears will try to replace Thomas Jones.
They did a pretty good job in 2008 when Matt Forte had one of the finest rookie season for a running back in franchise history. But Forte and the running game struggled a year ago and now the team has to re-evaluate what it is doing, especially in light of the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
The club is likely to seek a complementary back for this season and what better back to replace Jones than, well, Jones? As Dave Hutchinson of the Newark Star-Ledger reports, Jones could be forced to take a pay cut - or else - by the New York Jets, the team general manager Jerry Angelo gave Jones to in 2008 for the small price of moving up in the second round of the draft.
Photo: Thomas Jones breaks free for a 52-yard gain in Super Bowl XLI (Tribune file)
Jones is coming off the finest year of his career. He rushed for 1,402
yards and 14 touchdowns, both career highs, and was a steadying
influence in an offense that was directed by rookie quarterback Mark
Sanchez. The Jets fell one win shy of Super Bowl XLIV with the league's
top-ranked rushing attack.
But Jones is due a solid salary in 2010 and the top-ranked running game was also bolstered by rookie Shonn Greene. The former Tribune Silver Football Award winner out of Iowa became the go-to man in the backfield during the postseason. He led the league with 304 yards rushing in the playoffs, and now the Jets have to decide whether they want to pay Jones a $3 million roster bonus next month and then a base salary of $2.8 million.
If the Jets cut Jones, who will turn 32 before the season, he would become the best back on the open market. LaDainian Tomlinson is no longer in his prime. There are serious health questions about Brian Westbrook. Jones, who keeps himself in tip-top shape, still looks to be in his prime.
Why not the Bears? Well, for a number of reasons. First, if Jones is cut, he's going to want to be paid. If the Bears are seeking a complement to Forte, that's not going to happen. Second, to bring Jones back would be to admit a terrible blunder in the first place. Third, Jones might not be the ideal back for Martz's system. A healthy Westbrook, though, would be ideal. Jones would figure to be an ideal fit for Miami if the Dolphins let Ronnie Brown go. He'd also look pretty good in Philadelphia or New England.
Don't look for the Bears to enter the picture. That doesn't mean the team still doesn't need to replace him.
But Jones is due a solid salary in 2010 and the top-ranked running game was also bolstered by rookie Shonn Greene. The former Tribune Silver Football Award winner out of Iowa became the go-to man in the backfield during the postseason. He led the league with 304 yards rushing in the playoffs, and now the Jets have to decide whether they want to pay Jones a $3 million roster bonus next month and then a base salary of $2.8 million.
If the Jets cut Jones, who will turn 32 before the season, he would become the best back on the open market. LaDainian Tomlinson is no longer in his prime. There are serious health questions about Brian Westbrook. Jones, who keeps himself in tip-top shape, still looks to be in his prime.
Why not the Bears? Well, for a number of reasons. First, if Jones is cut, he's going to want to be paid. If the Bears are seeking a complement to Forte, that's not going to happen. Second, to bring Jones back would be to admit a terrible blunder in the first place. Third, Jones might not be the ideal back for Martz's system. A healthy Westbrook, though, would be ideal. Jones would figure to be an ideal fit for Miami if the Dolphins let Ronnie Brown go. He'd also look pretty good in Philadelphia or New England.
Don't look for the Bears to enter the picture. That doesn't mean the team still doesn't need to replace him.
Register with Chicago Tribune and receive Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks newsletters for free. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
Get our updates on 
God forbid the Bears bring back a player who actually played well while here.
First of all, I think you're all on crack. Seriously. Chris Henry? Yeah, that's the answer. And all the Brandon Marshall idiots...if you knew anything about real football, you'd know that he's an RFA, meaning the Broncos will require a 1st AND 3rd RD pick from anyone who wants him. That means no Bears.
Second, no one would trade for Briggs, Hester or Urlacher (except maybe the Raiders), and at best you'd get a mid 2nd RD pick who won't help any more than Briggs, Hester or Urlacher, even in the best case scenario. We have one realistically tradeable commodity, and that's Olsen. I think trading him is not a good move, period. He's more of a receiver than a blocker (which Ron Turner was intent on using him as) anyway. I think he can be a weapon in the Martz system if he uses him correctly.
The only smart things the Bears can do in the offseason go as follows (they might do one of these, and most likely none, by the way):
-Pick up either the best receiver under 30 that becomes that becomes an UFA. Most will be RFA's due to the CBA nonsense. And that might mean waiting until after cuts are made late in the offseason to get a guy. I doubt it will happen. If they bring in Holt or anyone like that, I'm going to go nuts.
-Get a #1 CB, or a FS. If you pick up a corner, maybe they'll move Peanut to FS and have a true CB and whoever wins the Bowman/Graham battle. They really missed the boat when they didn't go after Sharper or Dawkins last year...must've made too much sense. Dunta Robinson and Leigh Bodden are the only real choices, and I'm eh on either.
-Grab either Julius Peppers or Aaron Kampman. I wasn't sold on the Gaines Adams plan, but losing him was huge. We get to wipe up the slop in the draft, and you know the Angelo will spend at least 4 picks on the likes of the Jarron Gilberts, Ervin Baldwins and Michael Okwos of the world. I love Goon, but it's time for something new. He's a 6 sack guy at best.
-Get Brian Westbrook. Worst Case Scenario; he gets hurt again (Kevin Jones anyone?), and he retires. Best Case; a split-time role is just what he needs instead of getting 30-40 touches a game. He/Forte combine for a great passing attack out of the backfield, neutralizing blitzes. Forte carries the bulk of the rushing load, which shouldn'y be much anyway now that we have Martz Face.
Wow, I love Urlacher and Hester too guys but no one, I mean NO ONE is going to give the Bears 1st or 2nd round picks for an almost 32 year old LB coming off a year when he didn't play but half a game and an undersized WR who is basically a KR/PR who can play the slot and run WR screens. As far as Olsen goes, we would get a 3rd rounder at best for him, Clark is getting older and is a better blocker but we will not find a better TE than Olsen with any pick we would get in return for him. Can't we just accept the inevitable 6-10 or 7-9 record we MIGHT have in 2010 and hope maybe Martz's "Medicore Show on the Shore" can give us a few highlights and be happy?
I never understood why Jones was let go in the first place. When Benson couldn't/wouldn't answer the call in the Super Bowl, Jones did. The Bears gambled and they lost out on a top notch running back. Forte is a big disappointment. I believe that he played hurt last year, without the Bears acknowledging same. I don't think he can be the explosive running back that the Bears need to compliment the passing game. He's too slow and can't break through even weak blocks. Pay Jones whatever he wants and bring him back.
False, the best available back is Pierre Thomas. But it would be worth grabbing anyone of these guys. I know that Pierre is out of the bears price range.
I would also like to see them go after Brandon Marshall. We neeeeed a big number 1 receiver, and he is the best you can get out there, bar-nunn.
Sign Jones who is in his prime! Forte will never be as good as Jones in his prime.
If the Bears want to win Jones is the "man" for Martz!
Chris Henry has 4.3 speed. Trade Hester or Urlacker for him and some draft picks. We get a sick althlete and some draft picks.
@Dan:
Thanks for the correction.
Howewver, that still does not explain why all those players comming back to the Bears were marginal at best.
What about Kahleel Green? I thought the guy did GREAT with the limited time he had at the end of last year. I still can't understand how a guy that breaks one of the longest running plays for the Bears last year, with that horrible o-line does not get a second look. This could also go down as one of the Bears bad evaluations. I agree with the guys here suggesting the Bears look for offensive line help instead.
Frank Wilson,
Booker didn't leave for Miami, he was traded for Ogunleye.
Adam Archuleta played for Lovie in St. Louis, and was anything but serviceable in Washington. He was benched (and eventually benched on special teams too) and then cut, but Lovie thought he could resurrect him.
@ Rocco
The Bears did not need to draft Benson in the first place -- they already had a productive Jones. But then, to justify the drafting of Benson, they dumped Jones after he had 1200+ yards in 2006. So, no, they shouldn't have traded him in the first place, and to bring him back now would be admitting they made a mistake. Go find another hobby.
@ Creighton:
Good points. Very good post.
Well maybe Forte will be good. He will be no Faulk by any means but you never know, Forte may just have enuough "umphh" to do at least half the things Faulk did under a Martz offense.
Why not spend money on OL help rather than getting RB's in their 30's? While Forte does have his drawbacks, you have to admit he was not able to replicate his fine rookie season because of a shaky OL. Losing John Tait was a huge loss, Orlando Pace was doomed from the get-go, and Kreutz is slowing down. You cannot have a productive running game without a decent OL. Bringing in Tomlinson, Westbrook, or Jones with no help in the OL department would only hasten the end of their careers.
If you want to work in the Martz system, you need two things as a RB, speed and good hands. Marshall Faulk had sub 4.3 speed, he was the main reason the offense worked so well. Faulk was so good at running and so good at recieving that he had to be doubled on every down, teams where so affraid of Faulk that the Recievers saw single coverage most of the game. Without Faulk Martz system is one demensional, a deep threat passing attack. With Faulk teams were forced to honor not only the run, but the screen, the check down, every misdirection play was a threat, the short passing game. He changed the whole nature of the offense he was a threat to score everytime he touched the ball.
The Martz offense has never worked really well without him, sure you still get a deep passing attack and your QB will rack up some yards, but the runnig game is gone and so is the short passing game. Look at detroit Kitna put up some yardage with him, but the backs did little on that team and the running game was horrible. None of those guys had the speed to turn the corner in detroit. None of them were close to being a Faulk. Frank Gore had his worst second worst season with Martz at the helm. He had a solid year but again he is not Faulk and not a threat to score everytime he has the ball. Every passing game he has coordinated has gone for 3800 yards or more but without that special back keeping teams honest you will never see the greatest show on turf. You also won't see a ton of points, middle of the pack without Faulk, 500+ point offense with him in his prime.
After Faulk began his decline in 2002 the Rams where never the same. You need a Faulk to make it work, he was perfect for the system. None of the guys who have been mentioned were or are as good as Marshall Faulk, their not even close. That guy was special, and his speed was insane. Forte, Jones, Westbrook all have good hands, but none of them has his speed and none of them not even Westbrook has that shimmy he had, Faulk was far and away a better pure runner and reciever then any of these guys. The system just won't work right without him.
Chris Henry. Drafted by the Titans. With the Texans, and I believe on the practice squad. This guy lacks game experience because he started football late. He could be a late bloomer. He is very fast and very powerfull. He is young and if he had the right coaching this guy could be a very very good tailback. What do the Bears have to loose. The Bears need some luck because their brain trust as it is , well, it's crap. This guy was so good at the combine he was drafted very high even though he did not do much in college. He always had someone with less skills and more experience in front of him. And whoever called Forte soft. Go soak your head man, that guy is 100% tough. You can not question that unless you are not paying attention.
If we don't take back Jones, Look to LT or Brian Westbrook!!! Our running game is going to continue to be number 1 in this offense!!
Look at the trends.
1. The Bears had Marty Booker. He left for Miami and came back after some successful seasons in Miami. What happened to Booker's second tenure on the Bears? Nothing...
2. The Bears brought in Orland Pace. Oh yes, a hall of famer indeed. The Rams let him go. The Bears got him in his 30's. What did Pace now older being on the Bears did for the Bears? Nothing...
3. The Bears brought in Adam Archuletta after a successful seasons I believe was in Tampa Bay. Then he left for the Redskins, did not do so well but serviceable nonetheless. The Redskins let Archuletta go after many injuries, and ends up on the Bears. What did Archuletta do for the Bears? Nothing...
4. The Bears got WR Mushin Muhammaed from the Panthers after a super season on the Panthers. Muhammaed comes to the Bears and what did Muhammad do? Nothing....
Get the trend here? The Bears keep getting players past their prime. These players are worn out.
Thomas Jones is going to be the same thing. Jones is leaving after a 1400 yard season at 32 years old. People what makes you think he is going to have another 1400 yard season at 33 years old?
No to Jones and I'm glad the Bears are not interested in him.
If a NFL team wants good players, that team needs to scout them, draft them sign them and train them themselves. No other NFL team is just going to drop some marquee player on the free-agent lines for some other team to benefit from. No way and a lot of fans forget that. They see some worn out player such as Orlando Pace and they go all "goo-goo and ga-ga" not realizing they are past their prime. Some fans don't realize that a lot of these former top players in the NFL are not the same players they were 5 years ago.
No to Jones. I bet you if the Bears resign Jones, he will be a dissappointment because he is too old, lost his skills and past his prime.
Think people, think.
Angela would never admit he screwed up royally by letting Jones go in the first place.
As I recall, Thomas Jones could block, he could dig for that extra yard, he could bounce out, he could do everything Cedric Benson could not do in the Superbowl year. On his first touch of the Superbowl, he ran for 44 yards. Then, in someone's infinite wisdom, he was pulled for Cedric the rest of the game. Thank you Mr. Turner.
Cedric was a head case and Mr. Turner could not straighten his act out. Look at Cedric go now.
I'd take Jones back in a heartbeat. Maybe he could teach Matt Forte, just as he did Shonn Green, how to run, block, catch, etc.
Biggs,
Please let it go. Thomas jones is 3 yards and a cloud of dust. He has not been able to break the 1st tackler and can't hold Tomlinson's jock. It is also apparent that Benson was the better back all along, but we and you need to get over it. The bears need a STUD running back that has break away speed. I do not know where they will get him from, but Forte is too soft as an every down back. Move on to something else and let go of the past.
Briggs, why would bringing back Jones mean da Bears are admitting a "terrible blunder." How could they have known Benson, picked in the top 5, would not work out? You said yourself Forte had a fantastic rookie year, but his production last season was below average. Who didn't have a bad year? Does that mean they shouldn't have released Jones in the first place? I'm getting sick and tired of hearing fans and sportswriters act like all the personnel decisions were wrong. This is professional sports. Athletes are responsible for performing just as management should be held liable for acquiring smart, talented players. Let's forget the past, and I'm sure Jones would too. He is a team player that would be a great complimentary back. Briggs, if you want to say Jones won't come here then WRITE THAT! A "terrible blunder???" Come on man.