The Bears have seemingly been one of the busiest teams this offseason. The organization moved on from veteran quarterback Jay Cutler, replacing him with Mike Glennon and Mark Sanchez. The team also watched as wideout Alshon Jeffery left for the Eagles. Meanwhile, the team added a number of players on the defensive side of the ball, including cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper.
While attending the NFL owners’ meeting earlier this week, general manager Ryan Pace talked to reports about the Bears’ offseason. Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune compiled the executive’s sound bites, and we’ve passed along some of the more notable quotes below…
On where Mark Sanchez will slot into the team’s depth chart:
“So Mike Glennon is our starting quarterback, and Sanchez I see as a really good solid No. 2 quarterback. I like him in this role for a lot of reasons, and one of them is the experience that he has. He’s been through the highs and lows of our league. He has played in some big markets. He has dealt with challenges. He has dealt with success. I think he’s the kind of player that exudes confidence. I like that about him. He’s knowledgeable. He’s smart, and him and Mike have already kind of clicked. They’re together and they’re organizing workouts on their own, and those kinds of things are important.”
On why the team inked a backup quarterback prior to the draft as opposed to after the draft:
“Honestly, it was just kind of where the market was going. So I think if we waited much longer he wouldn’t have been available. We brought him in and visited with him. We had some important questions to kind of know where his mindset was because I’ve never met him personally like that. Over the course of that visit it became very evident that he would mesh well with Mike Glennon and fit really well in the room, so we’re excited about it.”
On the additions of cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper:
“In free agency in general, we’ve signed a lot of players. I think it’s either us or San Francisco, most signings in the league. I like that. Hey, honestly, we had a lot of needs. And I think by spreading (the money) out like this it’s kind of the shotgun approach I like to take sometimes instead of putting all of your eggs in just one basket. I kind of like what we’ve done, and there are different qualities I like with each one of these guys. As a free-agent class in general, I really like the makeup and the character and the intelligence and the intangibles of the class.”
On how the organization will look to fill the hole left by wideout Alshon Jeffery’s departure:
“I’m excited about Cam [Meredith]. I just feel like you just see him getting better and better. No different than how we talked about Marcus Cooper. Cam is a guy with a lot of upside, the path that he took. Just to see him mature over the last couple years. I hate to make comparisons, but I felt like I saw this happen with Colston a little bit. Cam just has a great attitude right now. He’s getting better. I love his skill set. I love his professionalism. I think we’re going to see him ascend.
And Kevin [White] — Kevin is going to have to step up and stay healthy. He knows that. He’s motivated. We’re excited about a handful of guys. We still have the draft ahead of us too.”
On cornerback Deiondre’ Hall‘s arrest last weekend:
“I talked to him. John [Fox] has talked to him. We’ve got other people working on it. He’s back in Lake Forest now. It’s just one of those deals you kind of want to make sure you are thorough gathering all the information before you jump to major conclusions. But the circumstances surrounding it are obviously disappointing.”
The ‘answer’ at QB was bad enough and then he tried to paint Meredith, a #3, and White, who can’t even stay on the field, as answers to losing Jeffries. Pace is like a monkey with a machine gun.
Jeffrey. His name is Alshon Jeffrey. With such insightful hot takes, I’m completely shocked you got that wrong…
Actually, his name is Alshon Jeffery. Can’t believe you got that wrong when calling someone out for the same thing.
Try reading it again
Actually, I wasn’t calling him out for misspelling Pace’s name. Read the comment next time.
BAINES03 And here comes the inevitable spellcheck security guard. Well done Deputy Fife!
Who is your ‘answer’ at QB?
Youre a Bears fan and not excited to see Meredith continue to improve and take the next step?
White has all the tools to be a #1 but needs to stay healthy. You think they should give up on him already?
We need to better understand what happened to Mugs Halas and his kids. Stock was sold back to “Family” last week from Mugs’s kids. I see this as a larger play to sell the team. Enough is enough.
It was just a minority owner wanting to cash out. And it was the Halas family wanting out, not the majority stockholder McCaskey family.
You’re an idiot
At least he got Alshon’s name correct. I mean it is right there in the article.
If​ they sell maybe the Bears will get owners that will be successful. I’m confused by what Ryan Pace is doing it seems like he’s throwing different players on the team and trying to sell us on how great they are. What is Pace doing
Need Sam Hinkie to switch from the NBA to the NFL. #trusttheprocess
He says Jeffrey(APOSTROPHE)s departure. If he was calling him JEFFREYS thered be no apostrophe, its called possesion.
I see the bears finishing last again. 4-12 or 5-11 The Quarterbacks the bears have don’t strike fear with the mighty packers or the ascending lions.
There’s nothing “mighty” about the Packers. Aside from Rodgers, there’s not much talent or depth on their roster. They still get to the playoffs because most of the NFC, especially the Bears, are runaway dumpster fires.
2 losing seasons in the last 25 years son… with 2 SB championships what have the bears done in that time frame? Yes that’s what I thought
He just called them a dumpster fire. What else do you want son?
I think you’re missing the point. The “mighty” Packers with 2 HOF Qb’s have won only 2 SBs while in that same time the Bears won one with Jim McMahon and went to another SB with Rex Grossman and an NFC championship game with Jay Cutler….bottom line the Pack suck and are huge YEARLY chokers.
All Pace does is set himself up in free agency take the best available athlete in the draft with it regardless of round.Sanchez did a great job mentoring Prescott in Dallas last year . I think the Bears will still take a quarterback in the draft just not reach for one in the first round none of the top three qb’s are worth the number three pick
I know they said Sanchez did a lot to mentor Dak but come on do you really believe that? If that were the case it’s surprising that the Broncos wouldn’t have kept him to mentor Lynch and Siemian. I want to see something where Dak credits buttfumble, because all I’ve seen is Sanchez saying he was there for Dak.
Actually it’s Jeffery
I think Pace is a pretty solid gm. Sure it would’ve been nice to get bouye or Gilmore but both had some pretty big question marks in terms living up to a 11-13m/yr contract. I like that we didn’t overpay for anyone, I think he’s an excellent talent evaluator and he’s masterful with live draft capital. It sucks that we’re just now getting the defense together and now we’re seemingly losing our offense, but we’ll see. And his quotes, what’s he gonna say? Kevin White’s a bum? Cam didn’t exceed everyone’s expectations (cuz there weren’t any)? It’s his job to paint an optimistic picture of the franchise to the public
What is Paces record? How many first round draft choices have worked out? He’s on borrowed time and rightfully so. Except for Epstein , he fits the mold of all Chicago team GMs, LOSERS
Pace has drafted really well actually. Kevin White has been hurt, but last years draft class was top five in the league.
There’d*
It’s a shame , that such an amazing franchise , is such a joke . I promised myself I would never route for another team but honestly I’m getting tired of loosing ,loosing , loosing , please you guys can we have a god dam winning season , please !! Go Bears
That’s not that impressive either. Considering the Patriots 4 in 15 years approximately, the Steelers 2 in the same timeframe. Especially wheb everyone picks them to win every year.
Yeah, the Blackhawks suck. I can see how 3 Stanley Cups in 6 years can be seen as terrible team management.
The Bears need football players,there is no miracle draft that will move them n the playoffs,I want Adams in the 1st round.
You calling Bowman a loser?? Hahahaha
I’d love top see am impact defensive player drafted. Pass rusher? A true cover corner? (Have the bears ever had one? ) A dominant MLB or safety. Obviously quarterback and wide receiver are the offenses deficiencies. …. cam they address them in the draft? Mahomes?
How do you know this?? Obviously you can see the future I guess. Give me some lottery numbers to play please
come on be real. draft picks last year..floyd, impact small on a defense that was bad on 3-13 team..whitehair, he is the only real pick pace made..bullard 3rd rd,kwaitkowski 4th rd,bush 4th rd,hall 4th rd.all of these picks did nothing except fill holes no one stood out and when you have 4 picks in 3 and 4 you have to pick up something if any good. now we get to the best but was just luck for pace, howard in rd 5. why luck because he wasnt even looked at as a starter except injury allowed him on the field. so both fox and pace didnt really see what they had at the beginning. carson in the 6th okay special teamer, braverman rd 7 unknown as he is another who i feel was ignored on playing time. being on the rookie team is nothing as we have had them before and also out of football the next year so if that is what pace is hanging his hat on for drafting just terrible. and by the way 2015 draft looked almost the same. then add pace has given us clausen, hoyer and barkley..boy can he pick qb talent
Oh so Howard was just “luck” because he was a good pick that does not fit your narrative?
Pace is the Bears only hope. We have to hope the incompetents running the Bears lucked into a great GM.
I’m encouraged so far. He moved around in the draft last year and he hit on Floyd and Whitehair. He signed Sitton and he’s gotten replacement level talent this off-season so that the Bears can draft BPA.
Anyway, I’m hoping the Bears are able to find a trade partner to move down with as this is an extremely deep draft in the top 10 and top 50 plus picks.
Thats the question of the year: To what degree does Pace have control? Does Phillips get involved? I hope to hell NOT EVER! IMO Fox isnt that good. Obviously everythings 100% in hindsight but I wish Gase wouldve stayed and Fox got the boot. Since that didnt happen Foxs next year will determine if he stays or goes. Id rather see us successful rather than not, but Id also rather see Fox gone. IMO he added fuel to the fire by being content with a mediocre Loggains and not going after or at least talking with McCoy or some others.