Chester Taylor likely will be the Bears' starting running back next season. (Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune)
By Brad Biggs
Two down. One to go.
The Bears reeled in their second free agent of the day at Halas Hall as running back Chester Taylor agreed to terms Friday on a contract that likely will make him the favorite to be the starter while also weakening the backfield in Minnesota.
Taylor agreed to a $12.5 million, four-year contract with $7 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. That's not far off the figures of $14 million in total value and $8 million guaranteed that a league source said the veteran back was gunning for last night.
Taylor flew in this morning along with defensive end Julius Peppers, who is expected to reach an agreement with the team at any moment. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna had a deal in place for a five-year contract with $6 million guaranteed and a total value of more than $17 million before he landed this morning at O'Hare.
Taylor was a third-down back for the Vikings behind Adrian Peterson the
last three seasons, but he rushed for 1,200 yards in Minnesota in 2006.
Bears starter Matt Forte struggled this past season, failing to equal
his rookie season totals when he averaged 4.0 yards per carry and ran
for 1,238 yards.
New offensive coordinator Mike Martz has talked about the magic number being 4.2 yards per carry. Taylor is an effective receiver out of the backfield and, at the worst, the Bears now have a solid 1-2 combo. The signing also casts into doubt the future of veteran Kevin Jones, who is rehabilitating from an ankle injury suffered in August.
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bwahaha, da bears are going to go 0-16, Peppers and Taylor add nothing to an aging defense.
Chester Taylor is a SOLID running back and a class act! It's unfortunate for his career that he's playing under WTF kind of name is lovie "comatose" smith. The Bears can bring in Pro Bowl players to fill every position but as long as "comatose" smith is the coach the Bears will be fortunate to play 500 ball.
Taylor had flashes of promise in Minnesota but the reality is that he always had the luxury of running behind pro bowl blockers. Even in 2006 when he gained 1200 yards, he ran behind pro bowlers o-linemen Steve Hutchinson, Matt Birk, and (future pro bowler) Bryant McKinnie. We'll see how he does behind the Bears line.
Great day to be a Bears Fan!
Enough with the O-line.....The TE we got today IS a lineman. Olsen will be a draft day trade as they didn't cut Clark before his roster bonus.
The Bears won 7 last year without Urlacher and Piso. With a healthy Urlacher and Piso with Peppers and Harris, the Bears will be awesome on defence. Switch Tillman to free safety and pick up a good corner to complete the making of a excellent defence. Lance Louis will excell on the offensive line giving the chance, he's a tough man and a battler, so is Kevin Shaffer. So relax Bear fans, this team will be successful.
Decent pickups, but we still need offensive linemen!
I guess Lovie Smith has finally stood up for himself and has told the Front office.If you want a Winning team we have to spend the money. Good Job Bears.. Dam Good Job!
What's truly amazing is the Bears for once are showing some life. They have rarely ever gone after rhe elite free agents, and now have picked up the ELITE free agent. That being said, many of you are complaining after day one. Both Jerry and Lovie's jobs are on the line this year. We have a good-great quarterback, he needs some protection and I believe that after todays signings the Bears will get it. The league will take notice of the moves made today, many of the FA that want to win will probably check out Chicago before the make a decision.
WOW!!! I can't remember the last time that I have been pleased with the Bears actions in free agency. First Cutler last year and now Taylor and maybe Peppers too?
Great signings. I am eating my words!!!
Wow, and I thought the Bears was cheap, great day today. I think the Bears can address their offensive line need via the draft. Now they need to pick up a FS and trade Olsen.
"Are the Bears ignoring the fact that they need help on the O Line???"
Absolutely right, Jack.
They're going to throw Matt Forte under the bus because he had no blocking last year?!?!
How do you think Chester Taylor--or any other back--would have done with that O Line last year?
Which, as of right now, is still the same...
BEARS SIGN PEPPERS!!
Chill out about the o-line already. It's the first friggin' day of FA. Thy needed to get the big names first.jez...always finding something to complain about!!
nice signings. but Cutler still has no offensive line to keep him safe, and he still has no one to whom he can throw the ball. prediction: Bears go 8-8, no one is fired, no football in 2011.
Are the Bears ignoring the fact that they need help on the O Line???
Wait what? A 30 y.o. RB gets $7 mil guarantee. I know he's not terrible but REALLY? What about the O-Line? Can we upgrade our weakest link? With the status quo we will probably go through 4 or 5 RBs next season not to mention all of our QBs.
I wonder if Hester can play in the backfield and throw the ball to himself?...
Totally agree with SayItAin'tSoJoe. There will always be fans who won't be happy with anything the Bears do. That's just the reality. Listen, Bears have lots of money, no first and second round picks, and just raised ticket prices. The Bears better sign some free agents. The more the merrier. During this free agent period I don't care about coaching just sign some people who can stabilize this team. The Bears' management is doing just that on the first day of free agency.
Give them credit for that. They're signing free agents like their jobs depended on it because it does.
I hear Mike Brown is available after a good year in KC. Fills a need
I see the usual euphoria amongst my fellow Bear fans. Some of you are not so naive, however. Some of you are asking, "who's going to play O-Line". Answer: no one; we will be even worse this year. And that's not their only problem.
It's great to see the Bears doing something but the nucleus is simply not there. The Bears, even with Peppers, are not an elite team, sorry. Many of you are in for big letdown (again).
Must we go through this charade every year?!?
Trade Olsen. Get Boldin. Next.
Nice signings. Can't fault the Bears for the effort.
That being said, where are the guys we really need? If only the Bears didn't pretty much ruin Anderson and Brown then we wouldnt need Peppers. Heck, it seems they may have ruined Harris too. What are they going to do to Peppers? They have also ruined every running back in recent memory. Are they just giving up on Forte? Did they ruin him too? Honestly, how many YOUNG players have gotten worse over their tenure with the Bears? Obvious answer is too many if not most. We better pray the new coaches do better with our players than the last clowns did. I'm not counting on my prayers being answered.
Great signings, now they should trade Olson for a 2nd roung draft choice and trade their 3rd round pick for A. Bolden. Also need a safety.
5 months. bring it on.
Cubs in 2108 on March 5, 2010 2:23 PM
Good to see the Bears going for it, let's just hope these moves work out.
=========================
If by "it" you mean mediocrity, you are in for one fun year.
Good to see the Bears going for it, let's just hope these moves work out.
I agree with Bob and Bearsdown ad jimmy and tj. Why are the Bears trying to improve the team? I'd be so much happier if they just brought back the same guys as last year and just hoped they'd get better.
I don't get it. Some Bears fans bitch and moan the Bears don't make deals and when they do they still bitch. If you hate what the Bears are doing go support another team, we don't need you anyway.
The Bears website is a joke. They still haven't announced Manumaleuna (Yes! Spelled it right first time out of the box!) let alone Taylor. Other than homer slobbering, there's no reason for that site to even exist.
Hey Alan, Chicago is NOT full of cry Babies. It just happens the few cry babies like bob or whoever there are in this great city have the biggest mouths and always Yap. The Bears are signing some of the best Free Agents out there and they are some very good football players.
After today, the Bears may have caught up to the Lions.
Geez Bob angry much? The Bears are actually grabbing up some top free agents. Try to enjoy it.
I dont think Chester Taylor quite understands the O-Line that will be blocking for him next season. Or else he wouldnt of signed.
So does this mean we will win 5 games next year instead of the 4 everyone thought we would win?
Only would cornball bears fans actually complain when they go out and sign the top defensive player and a very underrated great RB from your division rivals.Chicago is full of lame crybabies.
So we still need a defensive line, a defensive backfield, an offensive line, receivers and coaches (never mind we got Martz FROM Detroit and SF and our new DC doesn't want the job because he is WINNER!). This is great we have signed 2 guys in spots that won't matter becuase we have an OC who likes to throw and according to Lovie nothing needs to change with the defensive ... what a darn joke. Bears fans ready to see Lovie in the post game talking about getting better, being preppared and taking the blame ... Dummie, Dummie, Dummie!
Source: Peppers, Bears finalizing deal
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4969071
Do NOT trade Greg Olsen, unless you somehow can get a mid 1st round pick. He is to good to let go at this stage of his career
Can anyone give me the directions to Lake Forest, Illinois?
YES - Thank You Mgmt for stepping up and getting both deals done, great job. Now we just need to get a safety (or 2) and then draft an O-linemen with our top pick. PLEASE do not ruin this by going after Brandon Marshall - great talent but no chance should we risk team unity with this clown
I likes..........
Do any of these guys play offensive line?
The Bears are doing the exact opposite of what winning teams do. No teams win by building their core through free agents, winners build through the draft and add free agents to fill the left over holes. The Bears trading away draft picks and paying top of the market money for these guys is what Oakland has been doing for years.
I'm hearing Julius Peppers signed for 6 years, 72 mil --40 mil in the first 3 yrs. That's not obscene. I was thinking A. Haynesworth money. Now, who's up next?? any thoughts?
I may have missed it, but who did we get to play on the O-Line?
Why so gloom and doom dumb fans?
We are signing the best players out there.
Be happy!
Thanks for the phony "imminent" deal buzz on Rolle Biggs(Spaz). If we signed Peppers and Rolle along with a good O line blocker in ManuaManu that would be sweet. Taylor (3.6 yds per carry last season)is not much better then Forte who is very average at best. Thomlinson we're not worthy! Seriously it's a shame we coudln't get WR stud Brandon Marshall who's available as well. Attitude, schmatitude, Come on, come on, you know you'd wet your pants if we signed him.
These are 2 very strong signings!! Chester Taylor will be a very strong starting back and Finally a Great Blocking tight end. The Bears lock up Peppers?? and this may be the best offseason the Bears have ever had as a whole.
NOW i know why the ticket prices went up :) I thought they were crazy when they raised them again but...... They had to with all the money flying out of Halas Hall these days. Did i Really just say "MONEY flying out of Halas Hall?"
Chris, I'd rather trade Olsen for a 2nd round draft pick to get some desperately needed O-line talent. We still need to protect Cutler, especially with the 5 and 7 step drops we'll see in Martz's offense.
I think trading Olsen and a third rounder for Boldin is a bad idea. We have too many other needs to address with third rounder, i.e. free safety, left guard. Plus, will Boldin be nearly as good without Fitzgerald?
Anybody here think it would be a good idea to trade Olsen and our 3rd round pick to Arz for Boldin if they're willing to bite?
this is awesome but knowing the bears we will still suck
If the Bears get J. Peppers, this will bring som excitment to all Bears fans. Now we need some receivers for Cutler. How about getting ride of Hester and bringing in an established receiver. Time to let Hester go, he is a joke.
loading up on the 30 yr olds. that works every time. 6 months of bears superbowl talk is about ot begin, then it will be follow by 4 months of fire lovie talk.
HOLY CRAP. I heard a cheer of absolute delight all the way down here in Washington MO so I logged into my email to see what all the yelling was about. CHESTER TAYLOR!!!!! POSSIBLY J.PEPPERS?!!!! I'M IN HEAVEN- TAKE THAT RAMS FANS!!!!
If they get Peppers to sign the dotted line, they have a few other items to address. Adding a Safety and O-line to the team would truly make this FA a success! There are guys available that won't break the remaining bank and especially once they know the full contract with Peppers, hopefully they can continue this momentum!