Injuries pulled apart one of the NFL’s better defenses when a succession of Bears went out for varying periods of time, some for the better part of the season. Other factors could pull it apart more permanently by next season.
The exodus could start near the top, with defensive line coach Rex Norris expected to retire. Norris turned 63 on Dec. 10 and endured health problems during the season.
“I’ve been coaching 38 years, so we’ll see,” Norris said. “I’ve seen guys who’ve coached a long time, and their health doesn’t stay with them. I’ve got my health, three grandsons and another on the way, and lot of friends out there.”
Free agency could take away Rosevelt Colvin, the defense’s best pass rusher. Buffalo and Houston are expected to be among the suitors for Colvin.
Defensive linemen Phillip Daniels and Bryan Robinson know they could be asked to take pay cuts or restructure their contracts. If satisfactory deals aren’t reached, they know they could be gone.
Defensive tackle Ted Washington, whose foot injury in Game 2 two coincided with the start of the season-defining eight-game losing streak, wanted to discuss a contract extension after his Pro Bowl season of 2001, but did not after minor ankle surgery. Now he has one year remaining on his contract and would like to take the steps necessary to finish his career in Chicago. He’s active in charity work here and believes he can play three more seasons.
“I want an extension,” said Washington, 34. “Give me that extension and we’ll just go ahead and do what we need to do. I think I’ve earned my stripes enough to where I can play the rest of my career here.”
With a base salary of $1.65 million, Washington is the lowest-paid defensive tackle among the league’s top 10, despite being voted to four of the previous five Pro Bowls. Would he hold out if he doesn’t get the extension?
“No,” Washington said. “That’s not my style.”
However . . .
“You hope the Bears don’t just look at this as a situation of getting one more year out of Ted, then putting him out to pasture,” agent Angelo Wright said.
The Bears had preliminary discussions with Daniels about restructuring early in the season. Daniels, who added weight before the season, has played right end, left end and defensive tackle this season. He was a competitive powerlifter earlier in his career and has decided to resume that activity in the off-season, returning to a regimen that has worked for him.
“I’ll put it in the Lord’s hands and go out and play as hard as I can,” Daniels said. “It’s been a tough year, going to left end and tackle. I did some good things over there, but we’ll see.”
Robinson had a poor early season as he struggled to regain strength after recovering from two broken wrists. He was switched from left to right end when it was apparent he did not have sufficient strength in his left arm to take on blocks from that side, and now he has been moved inside to tackle.
That move had been expected, particularly after general manager Jerry Angelo gave him a $5.5 million signing bonus as part of a five-year, $20 million contract at the end of last season. Robinson, however, was inactive for one game this season after a second arrest for drinking and driving. The character question led Angelo to acknowledge he had erred on the deal. The question of a pay cut is not one Robinson wants to discuss.
But Robinson has settled in as an every-down player at tackle, which makes it unlikely that Washington and Keith Traylor will both be back in 2003. Traylor is set to make $2 million.
“I pretty much know [tackle] is where I’m going to end my career, and it’s been coming,” Robinson said. “We’ve known that for a long time. My whole thing is that if it’s here or with another team, to get [the position] down and let my team know they have a valuable guy.”
Outside linebacker Warrick Holdman, coming off knee surgery, has a $3 million roster bonus due March 1. The team has hinted it would like to restructure that figure as well. Insiders say Holdman could have returned to play this season, but he was placed on injured reserve for the second time in three years soon after the injury.
Strong safety Mike Green is a restricted free agent. He and the Bears have exchanged contract proposals, and he will get at least a qualifying tender offer to assure the Bears compensation if he joins another team.
Sizing up the defense
The 2002 Bears epitomized a group that, were it not for bad luck, would have had no luck at all. In the first of two parts looking ahead, Tribune beat reporter John Mullin analyzes the defense.
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POS OPENING WEEK WEEK 16 LINEUP
LDE Bryan Robinson Daniels
LDT Ted Washington Robinson
RDT Keith Traylor Traylor
RDE Phillip Daniels Alex Brown
OLB Warrick Holdmn Bobbie Howard
MLB Brian Urlacher Urlacher
OLB Rosevelt Colvin Colvin
CB Jerry Azumah Azumah
CB R.W. McQuarters Roosevlt Williams
SS Mike Green Green
FS Mike Brown Brown
Key injuries
Week 1: Phillip Daniels,
R.W. McQuarters
Week 2: Ted Washington
Week 3: Bobby Gray
Week 4: Warrick Holdman
Week 5: McQuarters
Week 9: Reggie Austin
Week 10: Todd McMillon
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Off-season decisions
Can Urlacher and the ’03 defense get along without Traylor or Washington, or both? How hard should the front office push for contract adjustments from Daniels, Holdman and Robinson?
Draft priorities
Defensive tackle: If the Bears draft at No. 3, Penn State’s Jimmy Kennedy may appeal to general manager Jerry Angelo, who took offensive or defensive linemen with the first pick in seven of his last 10 drafts, including last four.
Cornerback: Azumah and McQuarters are signed long term, but depth is suspect if Roosevelt Williams is not an answer.
Defensive end: You can never be too rich, too thin or have too many pass rushers.Sizing up the defense