Amid all the excitement Thursday, it would have been easy for some to have missed a peek at the Bears’ future.
It came in the form of the traditional pre-draft news conference at Halas Hall. Whenever the highest ranking members of the Bears’ family get near a microphone, I always pull up a chair.
As hard as he tries, Jerry Angelo isn’t a very good poker player. The way I heard it, the general manager all but confirmed what I’ve been telling anybody who will listen for the last couple of weeks: the Bears will trade down, moving the 29th pick in the first round, to get multiple picks in subsequent rounds.
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Before fielding the first question, Angelo talked about conversations with other teams about a deal (he said his phone hasn’t rung yet), and that “it’s easier to trade down.” Before he was finished, Angelo noted that “it’s hard to hit a home run” with that late first-round pick.
Angelo, who hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2008 (Chris Williams) because of the Jay Cutler trade, wants — needs — lots of bodies. He noted he prefers it when he and his staff grow fond of a lot of players instead of “falling in love” with a player.
A somewhat subdued Angelo also suggested offensive linemen “don’t bring a lot of glitter” as first-round selections.
He’s right about that. But when the Bears’ wall of putty couldn’t keep Cutler vertical last season and he missed time with scrambled eggs, nobody saw “glitter” in an offense Todd Collins or Caleb Hanie directed.
Angelo was gushing over the draft’s depth at defensive tackle. You can bet that’s one of “four to six positions” that he believes need immediate help.
The Bears also need a cornerback. Charles Tillman, who had a terrific 2010, would make a better safety than corner at this point in his career. Tillman is one of five Bears defensive starters on the wrong side of 30.
The future of the Bears also was right beside Angelo on Thursday in personnel boss Tim Ruskell, Angelo’s successor — and I’m betting sooner than later. On several occasions, Angelo deferred questions to Ruskell.
The belief for some time now has been that Angelo is fed up with the job. He’s set financially. He’s burned out. He has grown tired of the Bears fishbowl.
It sure sounded Thursday like Ruskell is being groomed for the job. Angelo has three years left on his deal, but the Bears likely would be happy to accept his resignation and go with a less expensive Ruskell. Some things never change in Lake Forest.
I’m no Angelo advocate, but Ruskell could come from the “be careful what you fish for” file. With the Seahawks, Ruskell is remembered most for losing Steve Hutchinson (the best guard in the NFL at that time) to the Vikings in free agency the year after the Seahawks lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.
Both Angelo and Ruskell depicted their association, which goes back to the Bucs, as positive. Angelo said he has always welcomed as much input as possible with the draft, that more voices “stimulate thinking.”
I agree, but I was left wondering — whose draft is this, Gentleman Jer’s or Ruskell’s?
We’ll be able to gauge that based on Angelo’s facial expressions when he extols the virtues of the next big find from Vanderbilt or one of directional schools in Louisiana next week. He always shows his cards.
Man, is there anything more exciting than hearing, “the Chicago Bears are on the clock?”
Dan McNeil hosts “The Danny Mac Show” weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.