Who's in there? A limo arrives at Halas Hall this morning. (Chris Walker/Tribune)
Staff report
The Bears' aggressive pursuit of free agent Julius Peppers -- coach Lovie Smith personally escorted the pass rusher from Charlotte, N.C., to Halas Hall on Friday -- appears to be paying off.
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer tweeted that Peppers and free-agent running back Chester Taylor are undergoing physicals, which our own Brad Biggs points out on his Twitter feed is a positive sign for the Bears.
"Deals have to be imminent," Biggs writes. "They're not going to take physicals and watch
market begin to close in other cities where other players are signing just so doctors can poke and prod. Deals should be in place soon."
While earlier reports said the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots also have made offers to Peppers, CSNPhilly.com is reporting sources with the Eagles are expecting Peppers to sign with the Bears.
The Bears were the first to make Peppers and offer and his agent Carl Carey told the Gaston (N.C.) Gazette that if both sides can't hammer out a deal, Philadelphia is a definite backup plan.
Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter and WGN-AM 720's David Kaplan both tweeted the deal with the Bears should be finalized this afternoon.
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This team isn't cheap anymore. These moves may or may not work, but the effort and aggressiveness is impressive. There is definitely a hope for next season. Packer fans: Get lost! GO BEARS!!
Sammy, Defensive ends have a much longer shelf-life than a RB or a linebacker. He could have 4-5 good years like Simeon Rice, Strahan, Reggie White, Jason Taylor and Bruce Smith.
Chester Taylor was a Marshall Faulk-like back in Minnesota, which makes him a good player to have in this offense.
Yippy the Bears won 7 games despite missing two linebackers, Free Safety and a suspect running game...
Joe Felicelli it is 4 year for 12.5 million and 7 mil guaranteed.
Lighten up Bob...I agree that Lovie is the perfect McCaskey coach. Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil....But at least we got a shot. That is more than we could have hoped for. Let us see how this plays out.
We can always rip them later....
If Peppers was won over by Lovie that means we are in big trouble. Who in the NFL today would want to be coached by Lovie and Rod, we saw that no one want to coach for him, who in their right mind would play for the guy if you have ANY talent? Peppers signs he will be a BUST in this town, BANK on it! Think about it what is your driver to be in the NFL if you are willing to play for Lovie and his Merry Band O'Clowns??????? If you think for ONE minute that the Bears are stepping up to make a run you're lost!
Peppers could have two or three good seasons left. Chester Taylor averaged 4.0 and 3.6 yds per carry the last two years with about 380 yds rec. per yr. Not impressed at all. Maunamanu or whatever his name is caught just a few more passes then years he's been in the league. A blocking specialist who started off with Martz. Peppers and Manu could make quite a difference. I just wish they would have signed Rolle as Biggs intimated his signing with Chicago was "imminent"/in the bag. Thanks Biggs( Mr. Hype-Spaz). Fantasyland would have been Rolle and Brandon Marshall from Denver. But they want a 2010 No.1, and they already have ours for Slutler.
I wonder if this guy will be able to take of from a 4 win team to a 5 win team next year.
If these two are done deals, how soon can we expect to hear the official news? and details of the contracts? So that we can start dreaming/speculating on other FAs. On to safeties and O-line!! I'm all about counting my chickens before they hatch.
SayItAin'tSoJoe now thats funny. They must be Cubs fans also!
The Bears went after one other defensive FA this aggressive before.....Bryan Cox. Hopefully this one turns out better.
Its, its done, its done, Bears ink TE Brandon Manumaleuna. What where people expecting someone else?
Are there rooms availabe in Arlington for the Super Bowl? I'll get back to yous and let you know. We're going.
Creighton,
They are looking for back injuries, bum knees, maybe trick elbows..>They get roster bonuses for each one they have when they join the team...
This would be huge, getting both on the first day. Now all they have to do is go after Atogwe and put together a decent offer that the Rams won't match.
Hey Biggs,
Any idea on what the deal looks like for Taylor?
How long can it take for a Bears physical, they don't check anything, they look in your ears and poke you with stick a couple of times, they may ask you to touch your toes and you are out the door.
Wow thanks for the info.
smokescreen...