Safety Bullocks to challenge for Bears' starting job
Former Saints free safety brings range, size to competition for starting job vacated by Brown
March 12, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
The Bears might be without a right tackle when minicamp opens in five days, but they filled a hole in the secondary Wednesday by signing free safety Josh Bullocks.
He receives a one-year deal worth $1.2 million with $525,000 guaranteed, and he's expected to begin competing for the starting job when players take the field Tuesday at Halas Hall.
''I'm looking forward to getting in there and going to work,'' Bullocks said. ''I'm anxious to get out there on the field.''
A second-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2005, Bullocks followed ex-Bear Mike Brown at Nebraska, making a school-record 10 interceptions as a sophomore, and he'll have the chance to do the same thing in Chicago. The Bears needed a player to cover the deep post but faced a free-agent market with one marquee player at the position: 35-year-old Brian Dawkins.
Bullocks, whose twin, Daniel, plays for the Detroit Lions, turned 26 last month and has the size (6-1, 207) and range to make plays. He's expected to compete with Craig Steltz, who is probably best suited for strong safety, and perhaps a draft pick for the starting job.
The Bears have changed starting free safeties 16 times in five seasons under coach Lovie Smith, much of it a function of Brown's inability to stay healthy. The turnover at strong safety has been nearly as glaring with 14 changes.
Bullocks made an impact as a rookie with the Saints when he started 13 games under coach Jim Haslett, but he didn't progress as much under Sean Payton and was replaced by Kevin Kaesviharn last season on what was one of the league's worst pass defenses. A change of scenery and a move to the cover-2 scheme could help.
''If you've got a great defense and the guys up front are applying pressure to the quarterback like the Bears have been doing, and you've got good corners, it allows the free safety to go in and make plays and get interceptions,'' Bullocks said.
Bullocks has proved his durability, missing only two games in his four-year career and making 49 starts. After starting only six games last season, he views the one-year deal as the best way to work toward a more lucrative future.
''It gives me the opportunity to show what I can do and come back to the bargaining table the following year,'' he said.
To solve the issue at right tackle, the Bears remain in discussions about bringing back John St. Clair, who is believed to have interest from two other teams. With minicamp fast approaching, the situation is expected to be resolved soon.
One veteran lineman definitely won't be back as guard Terrence Metcalf requested and was granted his release. A third-round pick in 2002, Metcalf made 25 starts for the Bears. He signed a six-year, $12.2 million contract in 2006 and was expected to start at left guard last season before arthroscopic knee surgery in training camp opened the door for Josh Beekman.
Newly signed free agent Frank Omiyale is expected to take over at left guard. The Bears had hoped to carry Metcalf at least through training camp and the preseason, but they have more depth with veteran Dan Buenning and starting right guard Roberto Garza, so they allowed Metcalf to depart now to find a new team.
