Just wanted to pass along that I'll be appearing on Blog Talk radio to talk Chicago Bears free agency and yes even draft possibilities tomorrow at 5:40pm central time.  It will be a 10-minute interview on the NFLHouse.com show hosted by Eric Galko.

If you have questions you'd like to have answered simply add a comment to this post and I'll do my best to answer it for you.

The link to the show:

Blog Talk Radio NFL Draft Show

I may have to profusely apologize to Jerry Angelo and the Bears front office in this post.  I didn't think the Bears were completely capable of making such a smart move in signing Julius Peppers, and then I didn't believe for a second that they were able to structure the contract in their favor. 

As details of Peppers' contract become clear however, it appears the Bears did a phenomenal job of protecting themselves from a big free agency bust situation.  For that they should be commended and for that perhaps I should wait longer to hold off judgment better next time.  I'll gladly take the hit on this one with the hopes that Julius Peppers earns every bit of the major contract he signed.  That's the basic hope all of us should have, that the Bears do in fact have to fork out the $91-million-dollars in salary and that Peppers winds up one of the most dominating pass rushing forces in the history of the game. 

My expectations and demands of Peppers remain unchanged, but the structure the way the Bears designed the contract appears to be masterful.  From what you read, Peppers' contract is essentially a one-year $20-million-dollar contract, the rest of the guaranteed money comes in the form of gigantic roster bonuses due to Peppers the second week in February of 2011, 2012 and so on. 

The basic premise still remains the same you hope the Bears get the level of production out of Peppers that he is capable of producing.  However if they don't at least we know that they won't be the laughing stock of the NFL ala the Washington RedskinI may have to profusely apologize to Jerry Angelo and the Bears front office in this post. I didn't think the Bears were completely capable of making such a smart move in signing Julius Peppers, and then I didn't believe for a second that they were able to structure the contract in their favor. As details of Peppers' contract become clear however, it appears the Bears did a phenomenal job of protecting themselves from a big free agency bust situation. For that they should be commended and for that perhaps I should wait longer to hold off judgment better next time. I'll gladly take the hit on this one with the hopes that Julius Peppers earns every bit of the major contract he signed. That's the basic hope all of us should have, that the Bears do in fact have to fork out the $91-million-dollars in salary and that Peppers winds up one of the most dominating pass rushing forces in the history of the game. My expectations and demands of Peppers remain unchanged, but the structure the way the Bears designed the contract appears to be masterful. From what you read in this article on Profooballtalk.com, Peppers' contract is essentially a one-year $20-million-dollar contract, the rest of the guaranteed money comes in the form of gigantic roster bonuses due to Peppers the second week in February of 2011, 2012 and so on.

The basic premise still remains the same you hope the Bears get the level of production out of Peppers that he is capable of producing. However if they don't at least we know that they won't be the laughing stock of the NFL ala the Washington Redskins. The Bears will in fact be in a position to cut Peppers loose before any of his roster bonuses take effect on not be on the hook for a dime further.

What it means in finality is that the Bears essentially signed Peppers for a little more than $3-million-dollars more than the $16-million-dollar one year deal Peppers played for last year in Carolina. This still puts the pressure on Peppers to prove himself and also provides motivation for him to play at a high level and not take plays off and not waltz through the season. s.  The Bears will in fact be in a position to cut Peppers loose before any of his roster bonuses take effect on not be on the hook for a dime further. 

No the Bears have not signed anyone yet, at least as of the minute I begin to write this article.  But the news that is beginning to trickle in from twitter via sources all over the web states that the Bears the front runners for two of the biggest free agents on the market.

Those two free agents would be DE Julius Peppers and RB Chester Taylor and both will be in Chicago tomorrow to visit Halas and if we're lucky to sign on the dotted line, hold up their jerseys and smile for the media. 

Nothing as of the minute of this posting is official but the news as it begins to trickle indicates that the Bears are not going to let Peppers get away and they were also the first team to contact Julius Peppers' agent. 

Peppers is said to be looking to play under a defensive technician which would insinuate that Rod Marinelli may play an obvious role in landing the potential future hall of famer.

Lovie Smith is said to have touched down in Charlotte to meet with Julius Peppers in person and fly back with him to Chicago for the meeting at Halas Hall tomorrow.

Also the Bears are bringing in TE Brandon Manumaleuna for a free agency visit tomorrow as well.  He is a known quality blocking TE that fits into Martz's scheme better than Olsen does.  He has also played for Martz previously in St. Louis.  This will also intensify the trade speculation surrounding Greg Olsen leading up to the NFL draft.

Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network reports (this came across the crawl on the bottom of the screen on the NFL Network channel) that according to Julius Peppers' agent, that Peppers could visit two other teams besides the Bears.  This is the first report coming out that may be perceived as a negative or the first shot across the negotiating table at the Bears.  There are two other teams that are legitimately in the Peppers sweepstakes, the Bears don't have a deal in place as of the writing of this paragraph at 1:01am Chicago time.  The Bears need to get a deal done with Peppers by tomorrow, if they don't get a deal done and in place by tomorrow, then the best chance they have had with with a legitimate pass rushing talent since Richard Dent will be gone.

The Bears absolutely need to get a deal done with Peppers tomorrow or they run the risk of losing him.

Reports are now being confirmed via multiple sources that the Bears have in fact agreed to terms with both Julius Peppers and RB Chester Taylor.  DE Julius Peppers will receive a six-year deal worth $12-million-dollars per season over the first three years of the contract, that is $36-million dollars in guarantees that Peppers was seeking.  Peppers was seeking about $40-million in guaranteed the Bears appear to be stepping to the plate to give him close to the money he was asking for.

Chester Taylor is said to have agreed in principle on a three year contract worth $12.5-million-dollars with $7-million-dollars to be paid in the first year of the contract.  Taylor was the back up to Adrian Peterson in Minnesota the last three years and will come in to likely challenge Matt Forte or to share the load with Forte.

It's of note that the Bears had their most success under Lovie Smith in 2006 when they had two RBs sharing the load and a DE who put up double digit sack numbers.  2010 will be going back to that same formula that was so successful, a two headed rushing attack with Julius Peppers bringing the heat off the edge.   A news conference is said to be scheduled for this afternoon to announce the three signings.

I will be continuously updating information as it begins to roll in from twitter, if you don't have a twitter account you can get one, or you can follow my tweets on the side box on the right hand margin of this blog. 

To follow me access my account at : http://twitter.com/MidwayIllustrat

In separate free agency news the Bears were the first team to strike up negotiations with free safety Antrel Rolle the minute he was released, but reports are now that Rolle will be headed to New York tomorrow to meet with the Giants.

Today we get our first look at Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy the two big bad ass DTs from the Big-12.  Suh if you haven't been in a coma through the football season is the most talked about prospect in over a decade.  Suh is going through the full workout and won't back down from anything the combine coaches throw at him.  Look for Suh to solidify his status as the #1 overall pick in 2010. 

Already Suh has come in and measured at 6-4 307-pounds and thrown up 33 reps in the 225-pound bench press.  Today he'll step up and run the 40-yard dash and do other D-Line drills. 

McCoy as well comes in very highly regarded as a DT prospect from DT factory Oklahoma.  McCoy has draw favorable comparisons thus far to former Sooner and current Bears player Tommie Harris.  McCoy is said to be every bit as good as Suh with a slightly better burst off the ball, but isn't quite as strong.  McCoy is a bit taller 6-4 1/8 and 295-pounds.  Ideal measurements for a three technique DT.  McCoy threw up 10 less reps on the 225-pound barbell, only pumping out 23 reps. 

But this day isn't only about these two DTs, it's about what Mike Mayock calls the deepest defensive talent draft he's seen in the last 10-years.  Which may work against the Bears, or work for the Bears depending on it shakes out through the first 64 picks.  The Bears as we all know by now don't have a first or second round selection unless the more recent buzz about trading Greg Olsen comes to fruition they won't have one by draft day.   There is however a lot of good DE talent that may last until the third round with players like Austen Lane being one of those players who may fall the Bears' way.