Bears to sharpen up their defense?

BasX · Mar 5, 2009

In February, Jerry Angelo put Lovie Smith on the hot seat by indicating that he would not pursue any big-name free agents in trade or free agency and that whatever fate befalls the Chicago Bears this season, it will be on the coaching staff. So it is with a tinge of surprise that a rumor has emerged via the Chicago Tribune that Darren Sharper might be brought in to solidify the defensive backfield.

"That's a possibility," Sharper told the Tribune's Vaughn McClure. "I have been there before. I know the city. I know the players on the team."

The Bears currently have a wild card slated to start at free safety in Craig Steltz. Steltz had a reasonably solid college career at LSU, earning a slot as the finalist for the Jim Thorpe award in 2007 before being taken by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. Steltz was active for 11 games during the 2008 season, and accumulated 18 tackles and one interception while primarily being used for special teams assignments. Sharper started all 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings this season, collecting 69 tackles and one interception. But even in the face of this obvious numerical upgrade, one would have to return to Angelo's contention that the team won't be looking outside to fill the safety role, and it's likely that Steltz will be the starter this fall.

Sharper visited the New Orleans Saints this week but left without signing a contract. The Saints are looking to fill the role opposite Roman Harper at the safety level and Sharper is believed to be the kind of veteran presence that could help improve the mindset of a defensive unit that was the NFL's tenth-worst in yards against in 2008.

So far, the Bears and Saints are the only two teams that have generated any heat for Sharper in the rumor mill, so a decision could come quite soon for the 33 year-old playmaker.
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors

MikeDC · Mar 6, 2009

Wow, a 33 year old safety. That's gonna get us to the promised land.

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Bears to sharpen up their defense?

BasX I Win

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Bears to sharpen up their defense?

BasX I Win

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