Bears Pro Bowlers

[Moriarty]

This is sharp forward thinking. But sign and trades just don't happen due to the amortization of signing bonuses. But he could very well walk into the negotiating table asking for $10M/year. What potentially makes this even more interesting is that he and Lovie both have 1 year left on their contracts. I could easily see them letting both ride next year. If Lovie is re-signed, Melton probably would be. If not, you likely let him walk unless the incoming defense remains the T2 or it's a 3-4 and the new coach loves Melton as a DE.

Melton is a FA

http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/chicago-bears/

(from a month or so ago):

OL 8
Webb(1), Louis(FA), Garza(1), Spencer(FA), Scott(FA)
Carimi(2), EWilliams(1) Rachal(FA)
Brown(PS), Brandon(PS)

QB 3
Cutler(1), Campbell(FA), McCown(FA)
Blanchard(PS)

WR 6
Marshall(2), Hester(1)
Bennett(3), Jeffery(3)
Weems(2), Sanzenbacher(1+1)
Knox(PUP)
Anderson(PS), Radway(PS)

TE 3
KDavis(1), Spaeth(1), KAdams(1+1)
Miller(PS)

HB 3
Forte(3), Bush(3), Allen(1+1)

FB 1
Rodriguez(3)



DL 10
Idonije(FA), Melton(FA), Paea(2), Peppers(3)
McClellin(3), Okoye(FA), Collins(RFA), Toeaina(1), Wootton(1), Ozougwu(FA),

LB 6
Roach(FA), Urlacher(FA), Briggs(2)
Thomas(3), Costanzo(2), Hayes(1)
Trahan(PS)

S 4
Wright(1), Conte(2)
Steltz(2), Walters(RFA)
Hardin(3-IR)

CB 6
Tillman(1), Jennings(1), Hayden(FA), McMannis(1), Bowman(FA), DJMoore(FA)
Frey(PS)

3
LS
Mannelly(FA)
K
Gould(1)
P
Podlesh(3)

KR
Hester, Weems
PR
Hester

[Moriarty]

Bears seriously may want/have to Franchise him for 2013 at 8.3M, so that they can

a) then let him go when they rebuild
b) sign to monster contract, after seeing him put up 2 yrs of numbers
c) sign a better contract, if he dips

If they sign him this year, a 26 yr old Pro Bowler, with top sacks at DT is going to cost out the ass.

[Mikefive]

I went to here and saw that he only has 3 years of stats and assumed he had 1 year left. My bad.

[Navin101]

Bears seriously may want/have to Franchise him for 2013 at 8.3M, so that they can

a) then let him go when they rebuild
b) sign to monster contract, after seeing him put up 2 yrs of numbers
c) sign a better contract, if he dips

If they sign him this year, a 26 yr old Pro Bowler, with top sacks at DT is going to cost out the ass.

Yeah, I agree. Franchising him might by ideal (of course it invariably pisses off the player if you don't eventually sign him long-term).

[Navin101]

Melton is a FA

http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/chicago-bears/

(from a month or so ago):

OL 8
Webb(1), Louis(FA), Garza(1), Spencer(FA), Scott(FA)
Carimi(2), EWilliams(1) Rachal(FA)
Brown(PS), Brandon(PS)

QB 3
Cutler(1), Campbell(FA), McCown(FA)
Blanchard(PS)

WR 6
Marshall(2), Hester(1)
Bennett(3), Jeffery(3)
Weems(2), Sanzenbacher(1+1)
Knox(PUP)
Anderson(PS), Radway(PS)

TE 3
KDavis(1), Spaeth(1), KAdams(1+1)
Miller(PS)

HB 3
Forte(3), Bush(3), Allen(1+1)

FB 1
Rodriguez(3)



DL 10
Idonije(FA), Melton(FA), Paea(2), Peppers(3)
McClellin(3), Okoye(FA), Collins(RFA), Toeaina(1), Wootton(1), Ozougwu(FA),

LB 6
Roach(FA), Urlacher(FA), Briggs(2)
Thomas(3), Costanzo(2), Hayes(1)
Trahan(PS)

S 4
Wright(1), Conte(2)
Steltz(2), Walters(RFA)
Hardin(3-IR)

CB 6
Tillman(1), Jennings(1), Hayden(FA), McMannis(1), Bowman(FA), DJMoore(FA)
Frey(PS)

3
LS
Mannelly(FA)
K
Gould(1)
P
Podlesh(3)

KR
Hester, Weems
PR
Hester

FYI, Mannelly just signed an extension.

[Wounded Bear]

This is sharp forward thinking. But sign and trades just don't happen due to the amortization of signing bonuses. But he could very well walk into the negotiating table asking for $10M/year. What potentially makes this even more interesting is that he and Lovie both have 1 year left on their contracts. I could easily see them letting both ride next year. If Lovie is re-signed, Melton probably would be. If not, you likely let him walk unless the incoming defense remains the T2 or it's a 3-4 and the new coach loves Melton as a DE.

He'd be about perfect as a DE in a 3-4.

[DaSuperfan]

He'd be about perfect as a DE in a 3-4.

But DE's in a 34 scheme aren't paid the kind of money he's going to seek.

[karhu]

But DE's in a 34 scheme aren't paid the kind of money he's going to seek.

Tyson Jackson? Nah. JJ Watt and Richard Seymour Classic? Sure, they get paid.

[Bigwill]

Don't DLineman get a single franchise number, regardless of position? Thus, we'd be paying Melton based on what Mario Williams and Julius Peppers are making?

[DaSuperfan]

Tyson Jackson? Nah. JJ Watt and Richard Seymour Classic? Sure, they get paid.

I was really speaking more in a general sense. Watt and Seymour are freaks of nature and quite frankly, I think those two players can be categorized as anomalies than the rule for 34 DE's.

[Coolhandluke]

No doubt about Briggs. The HOF talk about him his absurd.

[janos_51]

Briggs had a couple of big time games where he fell short on coverage and missed tackles. Fair or not, you have to shine in the games that the most people see.

[Moriarty]

Don't DLineman get a single franchise number, regardless of position? Thus, we'd be paying Melton based on what Mario Williams and Julius Peppers are making?

http://boltbeat.com/2012/12/27/franc...-to-use-it-on/

Doesn't appear so

[Bigwill]

http://boltbeat.com/2012/12/27/franc...-to-use-it-on/

Doesn't appear so

Couldn't read the article linked. But I did a search and found 2012 numbers. Looks like it's OFFENSIVE linemen that are treated as one position. My bad.

[Moriarty]

Couldn't read the article linked. But I did a search and found 2012 numbers. Looks like it's OFFENSIVE linemen that are treated as one position. My bad.

Don't know why it wouldn't show. FYI

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported today that the franchise tag numbers for 2013 have been tentatively set. Here are the numbers for each position (in millions):

CB: $10.668
DE: $10.984
DT: $8.306
K/P: $2.926
LB: $9.455
OL: $9.660
QB: $14.642
RB: $8.079
S: $6.798
TE: $5.962
WR: $10.357