Bears await decisions from their free agents

INDIANAPOLIS -- General manager Jerry Angelo expects to know fairly soon whether the 2008 Bears will need a major renovation or just a rebuilt offensive line.

Thursday at the NFL scouting combine, Angelo confirmed that the Bears have made what he considers "aggressive" fair-market offers to big-name unrestricted free agents Lance Briggs, Bernard Berrian and Rex Grossman, who are eligible to receive offers from other teams on Feb. 29.

The Bears have decided not to place the franchise tag on Berrian, which would effectively keep him off the market but lavish a $7.848 million salary on him next season. They prefer a long-term deal at a lower yearly salary.

Angelo wouldn't speculate on the chances of any of the three returning. With the potential windfall of the open market just a week away, it's likely all three will at least explore their options.

"In all likelihood they will," Angelo said. "I'm sure they know right now what their marketplace is. All we can control is what we can do. We made it clear we wanted them back. They've made it clear that they would like to be back, and we're going to do our best to make sure those things happen."

The Bears will not offer a contract to 13-year veteran guard Ruben Brown, an unrestricted free agent whose 2007 season ended at the halfway point with shoulder surgery.

Combined with Monday's release of right tackle Fred Miller, the Bears now are looking for at least two starters on the offensive line.

It appears Grossman may be the best bet to return. He still is considered a priority.

"We have confidence in Rex," Angelo said. "I thought when he came back and started playing again (last season after being benched) there was more consistency.

"The familiarity we have with him, that he has with the offense, you can't take that lightly, even though you might get somebody out there that might be a little better. I think this is his best situation. I've shared that with his agent.

"I don't see any reason why he wouldn't come back, given the scenario. I feel he'll make a good decision. There's going to be a transition period (with a new quarterback). We feel good about Rex and want to keep continuity at all positions, but particularly that one.

"We have to get that position right; we want to stabilize that position. We want to create the best competition we can at that position."

If Grossman returns, he will have to compete for the starting job with Kyle Orton, possibly Brian Griese and probably a draft pick.

But if Berrian leaves and with Muhsin Muhammad recently cut and the O-line under construction, offensive continuity might be wishful thinking. Berrian and Muhammad were first and second in receiving yards last season.

"It's certainly going to leave some holes in terms of having the experienced people back there," Angelo said of a wide receiver corps without Berrian. "We do have younger players, obviously without the experience. If things don't work out, we have a Plan B. We're prepared to go one way or the other."

Coach Lovie Smith seems confident that young players such as Mark Bradley, Devin Hester, Rashied Davis and Mike Hass could fill a potential void, but those four combined for just 43 receptions and 3 touchdowns in 2007.

"Whenever you go in a different direction from a player like Muhsin Muhammad, you have to feel pretty good about some other players that you have," Smith said. "Mark Bradley has been very productive when given an opportunity to play. From his rookie year on, he's fought injuries and things like that. But we feel real good about the direction he's going."

Bradley caught just 6 passes for 71 yards last season. Although he appears to have all the physical tools needed to succeed, Bradley's receptions have dropped each year, from 18 as a rookie in 2005 to 14 in '06.

Hester showed exciting flashes last season, but he remains an inexperienced project. Davis caught 17 passes for 165 yards, and Hass, although extremely productive in college, has played in just one NFL game in two seasons.

"They haven't come on the scene yet," Smith said. "But we think a few of them can."

The Bears' other unrestricted free agents are special-teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo, tight end John Gilmore and defensive tackles Antonio Garay and Jimmy Kennedy.