Update: S Adrian Amos signs 4yr, $37M deal w/ Packers

[Otis Day]

I will say Amos based mainly off the fact that he is available the majority of the time. Callahan seems to be an injury waiting to happen. McManis played well behind that front 7 the Bears have. I am not saying start McManis, but I think it is evident that many could be capable behind what the Bears have upfront.

[wab]

I'll take the guy that's started all but 4 games in his career over the guy that hasn't finished a complete season in the same time span.

Someone is going to pay Callahan like a starter, and I'd prefer it to not be the Bears.

This isn't a slight on Callahan, but I don't know why everyone forgets that the Bears have been looking for consistency at the safety position for a decade but have had success with like 5 undrafted slot corners.

[sturf]

The Nickel is a starting position argument makes sense if you are comparing it to a rotation DL position that gets listed in the starting lineup. It doesn't make sense when comparing the position in free agency to the other defensive back positions that play every snap of the game if not injured. As will the team's ILB in most games.

Amos you are paying to be on the field 100% of the time. Callahan is being paid to be on the field 55-60% of the time, and he has never come close to that for a season because of injuries. Undrafted and late round picks become effective nickel backs far more often than even strong safeties.

I believe in letting them both test the market and hope maybe one comes back at a decent price. NB, SS, and the 3rd starting DL are the defensive positions that I don't think the Bears can spend money at going forward. If I had to choose between Amos or Callahan, I would pay Amos because he's actually on the field all the time both from a position and injury standpoint.

[G08]

Boils down to the $$$ for me... but I think it's harder to find a quality slot corner/nickel than it is a strong safety.

[Funkster]

Boils down to the $$$ for me... but I think it's harder to find a quality slot corner/nickel than it is a strong safety.

Couldn’t agree more!

[Z Bear]

Amos might not get as much as you think, this is a weird year and there is a lot of free agent safety talent available. Landon Collins, Earl Thomas, Haha Clinton-Dix, Honey badger and LaMarcus Joyner are all as good as Amos. Amos is not even in the top 10 tacklers of the FA safeties this year!

[DaSuperfan]

I would like to keep Callahan but his durability is a real concern. I wouldn't pay him big money. I'd also love to keep Amos but I don't think he's going to come cheap either. Out of the two, it appears Callahan will be the cheaper alternative in terms of the cap, so I'll go with him. I also believe Nickel corner has more positional value in today's NFL over SS.

[malk]

Can't understand why Amos gets so little love? Having someone as solid as him allows players around him to take more chances. Now if the team thinks Bush can replace him, and he's looked promising, then I'll be sad to see Amos go but will understand... except that Bush is only contracted through 2019.

If we had time to groom a safety then I'd trust Pace to draft one but our window is now. I also trust Pace a lot less in free agency so that makes me hope for Amos even more.

[Bad Flanders]

Between the two, I'd take whoever was willing to stay for less. Theoretically that would be the safety position but between Cal's injury history and Amos's name, rep, and stats... they are probably close right?

I get the feeling that someone will open the big checkbook for Cal in the hopes he can stay healthy and on the field. There just aren't a lot of options at CB in FA right now.

And I get the feeling safeties will be undervalued this off-season - there are a lot out there; Collins, Amos, Dix, Thomas, Joyner and a pretty large group of second tier guys too... a guy like Geathers could be a fit in Chi as he wouldn't have to be as strong in coverage with Jackson on the other side.

Amos won't get what he should, he's still young enough though, he could stay on with Bears for a shorter term deal, build up even more stats and reputation, and cash in for more later. But if someone opened the big check book for him right now, I don't think they'd be over-reaching and he should certainly take it.

All of that means Amos won't get what he probably could in other years.

[cblaz11]

I’d pay Amos 6-8 million per year...

I wouldn’t pay Callahan more then 3...the guy is a good player, but he can’t stay healthy. Also, it’s a lot easier to find talent at nickle for cheap then safety.

Amos is a very sure tackler, he’s rarely out of position, and he’s someone who can flip from an in the box safety to center field(granted, he’s not a true center fielder, but he can and has done it). There are a lot of strong safeties who cannot do that. Based on all he has done, along with our past struggles with the position, keeping him over Callahan is a no brainer.

[wab]

Boils down to the $$$ for me... but I think it's harder to find a quality slot corner/nickel than it is a strong safety.

Except the Bears have had no problem finding slot corners.

Demontre Hurst, Crevon LeBlanc, Sherrick McManis, Bryce Callahan, and Jacoby Glenn all have levels of success in the slot in the Bears system.

Callahan was clearly the best of the bunch, but I would argue that there isn't much drop-off between these guys.

Amos is always on the field, always in position, and always available. Callahan is only one of those things.

[Bad Flanders]

I mean... if there was ANY argument for the Bears to pay Callahan it would probably be that list you just put up wab...

Pace just doesn't draft CB's... I think Hall was listed as a CB in the combine, but other than that, Pace has only brought in FA's (and undrafted FAs). And I'd argue that Callahan was the only real diamond in the rough there, maybe LeBlanc I guess but I don't know. Prince A has been great and I guess better than what I thought we'd get out of a journeyman guy like that, but he was a big name coming out of college and it's not like it's a shock he can play.

On the other hand, Pace definitely drafts safety pretty damn well considering Amos and Jackson have been about the best tandem in the league from the first day they were on the field together and they are both his.

I'm not saying I really think that it will be a big issue, it's not that Pace has swings and misses, he's barely swung at all and they've all been pretty long shots and in that respect I agree with you, he's actually had pretty okay success. And I've become a Pace believer, I think the guy can spot talent just about anywhere and can't imagine he can't find it at corner.

[The Marshall Plan]

I'll take the guy that's started all but 4 games in his career over the guy that hasn't finished a complete season in the same time span.

Someone is going to pay Callahan like a starter, and I'd prefer it to not be the Bears.

This isn't a slight on Callahan, but I don't know why everyone forgets that the Bears have been looking for consistency at the safety position for a decade but have had success with like 5 undrafted slot corners.

Exactly.

We're talking about a slot corner. If I had to choose between having arguably the best safety combo in the NFL or keep my slot corner, put me down for having the best safety combo in football. We can draft a slot corner.

[Moriarty]

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears ... drian-amos" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Amos may be pulling ahead in a crowded field

[Umbali]

Callahan. There are plenty of good safety choices available

[UOK]

@thekapman
Great stuff on how Eric Weddle ended up signing with the Rams. @mmqb says the Bears "were chomping at the bit" to have him in Halas Hall first. His price tag was 5 million plus incentives. Sounds like Adrian Amos was not the Bears first choice.

[UOK]

Brad Biggs:

Don't know where but sounds like Adrian Amos has a deal with a team and he will not be returning to the #Bears, That's what multiple sources have said. We'll see how it pans out.

[Otis Day]

All players want to stay until a better offer comes along.

[southdakbearfan]

I am fine with Bush starting and possibly a solid vet backup, which is what I think we might be looking at if Amos goes. The safety market has exploded a lot dollars wise, considering the depth there, but their are some others that are ok.

I think our DB's do benefit greatly by the amount of pressure the defense can apply which makes their stats look much better and creates a lot of errant throws or mistakes.

Jackson and Fuller are the two that can't be allowed to leave, the others I think are very replaceable so I don't want a deal that will hinder resigning Jackson in the future.

[Boris13c]

Report: Packers 'in the mix' for Bears S Adrian Amos

The Green Bay Packers are one of the teams “in the mix” for Chicago Bears free-agent safety Adrian Amos, according to Bill Huber of Packer Report.

Amos, a 50-game starter for the Bears over the last four seasons, is one of the best safeties left on the market after a flurry of activity at the position to start the legal tampering period Monday.

Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu, Kenny Vaccaro and Lamarcus Joyner all agreed to new deals.

The Packers desperately need veteran help at the position, and signing Amos would have the added benefit of weakening a division rival.

this would suck if he goes to Goon Bay

[UOK]

He's officially going to the Packers.

[Atkins&Rebel]

He's officially going to the Packers.

always a kick in the nutts when a guys goes to a division rival

[Bad Flanders]

Pffftttt....

I was all ready to be gracious about his exit and wish him luck but this changed things.

The only good I hope for him now is that they overpaid! Maybe we'll take HaHa and put him at the top of pff's safety list now!

[The Marshall Plan]

Good. Let him go. More money for other needs. This isn't like OMG the Packers just got over the top now. All they needed was a safety.

Draft a replacement or promote Bush.

I'm focused on....FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS!

[Boris13c]

GODDAMMIT

well, Ha-Ha Clinto Dix is a FA ... so maybe we sign the ex-Packer that abused the Bears? he is said to be reasonably priced

[southdakbearfan]

Dang

[wab]

That’s disappointing, even more so if the contract was reasonable.

[Umbali]

I would have liked to keep both Amos and Callahan at a reasonable price. That didnt seem to be in the cards, but they certainly arent irreplaceable. They were a small piece of the defensive puzzle and we will be all right.

[UOK]

I think Amos is a good safety, but not great certainly. One of those reliable guys who's solid against the run and if he has a lot of pass rush help can get the odd interception.

Not a game changer, and not a defensive centerpiece. I wish him luck, I guess, but I hope that Packers fans have some idea of what they're getting.

[Otis Day]

Agree UOK. Don't feel too bad about this. He was in for a payday and probably got offered more by the Pack. Signing early says he couldn't pass up the deal. Makes me wish the Bears scorch his ass now when they play the Pack.