Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
I'm guessing this website is not getting too many hits these days with the Bears rolling.
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The "blunders" page is gold. GOLD, Jerry!
Home Page
The "blunders" page is gold. GOLD, Jerry!
- Cuts Blake Brockermeyer forcing us to stretch and draft Marc Columbo in the first round. Thus begins the destruction of an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2001. See Marc Columbo blunder below for more detail.
- Lets Tony Parish go in favor of Mike Green. Between 2002 and 2003 Tony Parish has had 16 interceptions, Mike green has had 1.
- Makes Brian Robinson one of the top five highest paid defensive ends in 2002. Subsequently Robinsons received multiple DUIs and is accused of sexual assault against another man.
- Signed RW McQuarters for $21 million and Azumah for $5+ million, they combined for 1 interception in 2002. McQuarters, Angelo's $21 million dollar lock down corner, was demoted to third string CB in 2003.
- Forgets to check a box requiring teams to provide compensation for Warrick Holdman if they sign him to an offer sheet. Subsequently the Bears have to pay through the nose in order to match Kanasas City's offer leading to the departure of double digit sackman Rosevelt Colvin.
- Forgets to check a box requiring teams to provide compensation for Dwayne Bates . Dwayne Bates is signed to an offer sheet by Minnesota which our "hero" Jerry matched because he "knew" that Dwayne would renegotiate to a smaller salary. When Dwayne refused to take a pay cut Angelo released him, but Dwayne got to keep the signing bonus. Bates signed with Minnesota and enjoyed a comparable, but slightly more productive year than Dez White. (thanks to Bud Scholle for additional info on this one)
- At the end of 2001 despite the availability of QB Drew Bledsoe and the Bears need for an upgrade Angelo said Bledsoe, "is nothing special" and re-signed Jim Miller to a five year contract. Jim Miller was cut the following year.
- Drafts CB Roosevelt Williams in 3rd round. What might have been? CB Derek Ross who had 5 interceptions 2002. Williams was cut the following year.
- Releases Big Cat Williams in favor of Aaron Gibson or Bernad Robertson (subsequently cut).
- Declines to resign double digit sackman Rosevelt Colvin -- declaring Bryan Knight his replacement. Bryan Knight was demoted by game four of 2003 and ended the year with no sacks.
- Trades Ted Washington away in favor of Alfonso Boone -- hurting team chemistry, morale, and diminishes Urlachers effectiveness.
- Signs Kordell Stewart as the starting QB for the 2003 season. Kordell goes on to have the worst debut of any free agent QB and ends the season with a rating of 56.8, lower than 31 other quarterbacks.
- Doesn't give Paul Edinger a qualifying offer and is forced to match the Vikings large $$ contract offer. Edinger rewards Angelo's faith by missing ten field goals in 2003, two of them directly resulted in losses. Edinger missed 3 of his first 7 field goals in 2004.
- Extended John Shoop's contract, 'nuff said.
- Signed the substance abuse quintet of: Bryan Robinson (DUIx2 + alleged sexual assault against a man), Damon Moore (DUI), Damien Shelton (banned substances), Paul Edinger (DUI), and Rahib Abdullah (DUI).
- Who can forget such memorable roster additions as: QB Henry Burris, TE Luther Broughton, DE Keith McKenzie, and QB Kordell Stewart.
- Drafted one offensive lineman in 2003 in the seventh round with our final pick.
- Decided Hall of Famer Mike Singeltary wasn't good enough to coach our linebackers.
- Replaced two-time special teams pro-bowler (2001, 2002) Larry Whigham with Cameron Worrell. Worrell missed his first blocking assignment against San Francisco resulting in a blocked punt and a subsequent touchdown.
- Cut Skip Hicks (56 car 341 yds 1 TD 6.1 yd/car for Titans) in favor of Autry Denson (1 car 4 yds for Chicago)
- Signed the accused criminal sex offender DT Christian Peter
- BUCS Blunder: Part of the brain trust that traded QB Steve Young to the 49ers for second and fourth round draft picks.
- BUCS Blunder: Part of the brain trust that traded the second overall pick in the draft for ... QB Chris Chandler who was cut midway through the 1991 season. Jerry continued his love affair with Chandler, bringing him to Chicago and then cutting him when we needed him most — to back up fragile Rex Grossman.
- BUCS Blunder: Signed WR Alvin Harper to a lucrative contract.
- BUCS Blunder: The much heralded and now maligned trades for RB Gary Anderson and WR Stephan Starring (who?)
- Drafts Marc Columbo with our first round pick. Considered a second round prospect by draft experts. The same draft experts who appear correct in their analysis that Columbo needed to add strength in order to compete at the NFL level. Columbo was not durable enough to last more than five starts in the NFL. What might have been? RB Clinton Portis.
- BUCS Blunder(s): Amassed the talent that produced 10 consecutive losing seasons. Ted Philips must have missed that line of the resume.
- Traded #4 overall pick, passing on Terrel Suggs (12 sacks), Kevin Williams (10.5 sacks).
- Traded #4 overall pick, the fruit of Jerry's labor, and passed on LB/DE Terrell Suggs. As a rookie Suggs registered 12 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, an interception and was named defensive rookie of the year. Through the first four games of 2004 Suggs has more sacks than Alex Brown, Tommie Harris and Ogunleye combined.
- Drafted DE Michael Haynes in the first round. Haynes had two sacks in 2003 and has not broken into the starting lineup. The failure of Michael Haynes lead to the trade of Marty Booker and a third round pick for DE Ogunleye.
- Signed an injured Mike Green to a five year deal averaging $2.4 million per year. Tony Parish signed a five year deal averaging $2.8 million per year. Do you think the 49ers would trade Tony Parish for Mike Green, even if we threw in a high draft pick? We don't think so either. To rub salt in the wound Bobby Gray played better than Mike Green while replacing sore groined Green in nine games of 2003.
- Released Marcus Robinson who went on to catch 6 touchdowns and average over 14 yards per catch. Robinson had one touchdown less than the combined production of Dez White and Marty Booker in 2003.
- Did not draft a single offensive lineman in 2004.
- Traded Ted Washington for a fourth round draft pick and used it to select OLB Leon Joe who was cut before the start of the season. So for a pro-bowl defensive tackle, arguably a hall of fame defensive tackle, the same defensive tackle who helped New England win a record 18 games straight, we received nothing.
- Because Jerry released double digit sackman Roosevelt Colvin and the subsequent failure of first round pick Michael Haynes - - Jerry trades Marty Booker and a third round draft pick for DE Ogunleye who had one sack through the first four games of 2004.
- Jerry arrogantly defied common sense and refused to sign a capable backup quarterback, despite the availability of Kerry Collins, Kurt Warner. Fragile Rex Grossman goes down and the 2004 season is left in the hands of Jonathan Quinn.
- Rewards steady OL Chris Villarial with a pink slip and signs the older disgruntled veteran Ruben Brown to replace him for more money than Villarial wanted.
- Releases Warrick Holdman after paying through the nose to keep him from the Chiefs. Ultimately Jerry's "forgot to check the box" fiasco cost us Warrick Holdman, Roosevelt Colvin, Marty Booker and a third round pick.
- Re-signs offensive lineman Steve Edwards in 2005 after starting half the games in 2004 on an offense that ranked dead last. Waived 5 months later. Because of Jerry's lack of attention on the offensive line in 2004, we can only imagine Edwards stayed on the rooster for so long because he was a live body. It surely wasn't for his talent.
- Jerry arrogantly defied common sense AGAIN and refused to sign a capable backup quarterback. Fragile Rex Grossman goes down AGAIN but this time before the 2005 season ever starts. Backup Chad Hutchinson is praised and raised to starter status. After 2 horrible performances in the preseason he is swiftly demoted to 4th string and eventually cut 3 days later. 4th round rookie Kyle Orton is elevated from 3rd string to the opening day starter. With no practice time with the starters and only 2 series in the last preseason game, Orton's only real NFL experience is with backup and 3rd string opponents.
- Signing Qasim Mitchell to big 3 year contract extension and we don't think it was for his talent at left tackle. As starting left tackle in 2004 Mitchell was schooled and abused by top-flight defensive ends. The weakest link in the offensive line at the most important position. He allowed a team-worst 10 sacks on a offense that ranked dead last in all the major statistical categories. Consequently, in 2005 RT John Tait has been moved to left tackle position.
- Cuts 5 year veteran Paul Edinger, who's production clearly dropped off from the 2003 season, in favor of former Jets kicker Doug Brien. Obviously Jerry did not watch the playoffs last year and see Brien miss the winning field goal for the Jets to advance. Five weeks into the 2005 season Brien is cut. Was it the 25% field goal percentage or the constant aching back that convinced Jerry that Brien sucks? Can you name another general manager who would sign an aging kicker who just came off his biggest failure as a professional? Another dumb move by our inept general manger. Almost as dumb as his quarterback moves. Almost.
