Demps’ deal shouldn’t get in Amos’ way
The Sun- Times’ experts can answer your Bears questions all week on Twitter. Here’s a sampling of queries sent to @ patrickfinley, who responds with more than 140 characters:
@patrickbousky: What do you think the odds [ are] of the Bears throwing [ Quintin] Demps back at [ safety] once he’s healthy? [ Adrian] Amos has been lights out, but Demps has money owed.
A: Amos is playing much better than Demps was before he broke his left forearm in the Bears’ win against the Steelers and was placed on injured reserve. In fact, Pro Football Focus gave Demps the worst grade of any Bears starter through the first three games.
Demps’ salary isn’t as onerous as you think. Even though the 32- year- old signed a three- year, $ 13.5 million deal in March, the Bears can let him walk this offseason after paying him only $ 4.9 million. Amos has one more year on his rookie deal and seems to be a much bigger part of the Bears’ future. @JeremyJDDorsey: Any chance for Martavis Bryant to end up in a Bear uniform before the trade deadline?
A: Short answer: no. But there’s a lot to unpack here. Bryant wants out of Pittsburgh, where he has shown flashes of excellence at wide receiver since being drafted in the fourth round in 2014. Bears cornerback Marcus Cooper said earlier this year that he considers Bryant and the great Antonio Brown “both No. 1s.”
The Bears are desperate for wide receiver talent; they might have the worst unit in the league. Still, they must consider two factors. One, they stress a harmonious locker room, and any player who has been suspended twice — including for the entire 2016 season because of repeated drug violations — and talks his way out of town would disrupt that. Secondly, are the Bears so desperate to win this year that they’d part with a future pick for Bryant?
Bryant is under contract through 2018, but he’s a headache. Is he the difference between the Bears reaching the playoffs or not? The only way to consider this trade is if you think he is.
@BarberSquires: Any chance to get a real WR this season? Is there a growing fear [ coach John] Fox is trying to turn [ Mitch] Trubisky into [ Tim] Tebow?
A: “I’m not comparing them as players,” Fox said Monday.
He’s right; there’s no comparison. Trubisky is miles ahead of Tebow in terms of talent. It’s not as if Fox loved the Tebow experience, either— he inherited him in 2011 in Denver and replaced him as the Broncos’ starter after the season.
As for receivers, I’m sure general manager Ryan Pace is looking before the Oct. 31 trade deadline. But I don’t know how many difference- makers will be available, much less at a palatable price.
@BeardownQB: Is there a rift between Fox and [ offensive coordinator Dowell] Loggains?? A: Loggains would rather throw more, but that doesn’t qualify as a rift.
@news2alan: So, are we heading for a Bear occurrence? John Fox limits Trubisky, wins 8 games and comes back next year, and Mitch still needs more starts?
A: Are you complaining about, in theory, the Bears going 8- 8 after a 3- 13 season? I wouldn’t. I’ll quibble about the Trubisky arc; his growth period won’t end just because his rookie year does, regardless of how often he throws this year. Ben Roethlisberger told us earlier this year that it takes two to three seasons before a quarterback has the experience to handle NFL defenses.
@ryanwanders: Would the 2017 Kyle Fuller be the one administering the piledriver on Marty Bennett, as opposed to receiving?
A: Ha. The look Fuller gave Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday tells me he wouldn’t be on the receiving end this time.