Alan Faneca is a free man. That means general managers are free to talk about him. General managers like the Bears' Jerry Angelo.
"Who would not consider Alan Faneca if you had a need at the offensive line?" Angelo asked Saturday.
Considering and making a contract offer are two different things, but the Bears would make a logical fit for him. Chicago would be wise to keep the failed Orlando Pace signing in mind when considering it.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated on ESPN the team wasn't interested in bringing Faneca back to Pittsburgh. Faneca's former coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm would make logical suitors.
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Jerry Angelo did not come right out and say the Bears will consider nine-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, but he acknowledged that any team in need of help on its offensive line would probably do so.
"Don't know that," Angelo said when asked if the Bears would pursue Faneca after the New York Jets released him earlier today. "Who would not consider Alan Faneca if you had a need at the offensive line?"
The Bears have reshaped their offensive line somewhat this offseason, moving Frank Omiyale from left guard to right tackle where he will compete with experienced veteran Kevin Shaffer for the starting job. That leaves Josh Beekman, who has 20 career starts, at the head of a group at left guards along with Lance Louis and Johan Asiata.
Photo: Former Steelers All-Pro guard Alan Faneca. (AP / Keith Srakocic)
Once again, the Bears waited until the seventh round to address the offensive line in the draft, choosing J'Marcus Webb from West Texas A&M as a developmental tackle. Angelo has drafted 11 linemen in nine drafts with the Bears and six have come in the seventh round.
So, the question is whether or not the Bears will pursue Faneca? He's on the downside of what is likely a Hall of Fame career. The Bears need to determine if he's got gas left in the tank like Ruben Brown did when he was signed in 2004 or if he's on his last legs like Orlando Pace.
"Again, we'll look into some things like we did before the draft," Angelo said. "We looked into Rob Sims. We looked into a couple other guys and it didn't work out. We'll continue to look. We do like the players that we have there. I think coach (offensive line coach Mike) Tice has said that, if he's not said it publicly, he certainly has told him in our meetings that he is comfortable with our line. But again, we'll continue to look."
Angelo did not rule out that the Bears will also consider signing a veteran quarterback, even after selecting Dan LeFevour in the sixth round.
Stay tuned.
"Who would not consider Alan Faneca if you had a need at the offensive line?" Angelo asked Saturday.
Considering and making a contract offer are two different things, but the Bears would make a logical fit for him. Chicago would be wise to keep the failed Orlando Pace signing in mind when considering it.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated on ESPN the team wasn't interested in bringing Faneca back to Pittsburgh. Faneca's former coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm would make logical suitors.
===============
Jerry Angelo did not come right out and say the Bears will consider nine-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, but he acknowledged that any team in need of help on its offensive line would probably do so.
"Don't know that," Angelo said when asked if the Bears would pursue Faneca after the New York Jets released him earlier today. "Who would not consider Alan Faneca if you had a need at the offensive line?"
The Bears have reshaped their offensive line somewhat this offseason, moving Frank Omiyale from left guard to right tackle where he will compete with experienced veteran Kevin Shaffer for the starting job. That leaves Josh Beekman, who has 20 career starts, at the head of a group at left guards along with Lance Louis and Johan Asiata.
Photo: Former Steelers All-Pro guard Alan Faneca. (AP / Keith Srakocic)
Once again, the Bears waited until the seventh round to address the offensive line in the draft, choosing J'Marcus Webb from West Texas A&M as a developmental tackle. Angelo has drafted 11 linemen in nine drafts with the Bears and six have come in the seventh round.
So, the question is whether or not the Bears will pursue Faneca? He's on the downside of what is likely a Hall of Fame career. The Bears need to determine if he's got gas left in the tank like Ruben Brown did when he was signed in 2004 or if he's on his last legs like Orlando Pace.
"Again, we'll look into some things like we did before the draft," Angelo said. "We looked into Rob Sims. We looked into a couple other guys and it didn't work out. We'll continue to look. We do like the players that we have there. I think coach (offensive line coach Mike) Tice has said that, if he's not said it publicly, he certainly has told him in our meetings that he is comfortable with our line. But again, we'll continue to look."
Angelo did not rule out that the Bears will also consider signing a veteran quarterback, even after selecting Dan LeFevour in the sixth round.
Stay tuned.
