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Bears' safety position still up for grabs

The Chicago Bears signed safety Adrian Wilson to a one-year deal, and I think it sends an ominous signal to Bears fans.

If this signing was a few years back, it would be considered an upgrade. Instead, they have signed a player near the end of his career.

Wilson, a five-time Pro Bowl safety, has many accomplishments in the NFL, having played 12 seasons, started 162 games, and collected 893 tackles to go with 27 interceptions. But after signing a three-year deal with the New England Patriots, Wilson missed the 2013 season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Maybe Wilson can bounce back, but what does that tell you about the defense when you sign a guy who is on the downside?

It means the Bears need to score lots of points this year to win.

The Bears defense has made some positive changes, but in this day NFL passing attacks, the secondary is more important than ever.

It used to be the safety was the last line of defense, and not only against the pass but also the run. The NFL game is different now, though.

This signing could turn out to be a good gamble for the Bears without much to lose. With safeties like Chris Conti, Craig Steltz or Ryan Mundy, I guess the approach now is the more the merrier.

But with the loss of strong safety Major Wright to free agency, look for fourth-round pick Brock Vereen to be the odds-on favorite for the job.

Yes, the Bears safety position is far from settled, and look for more potential safeties to walk through the door.

Wie just what LPGA needs:

I have a completely different take on Michelle Wie than I had in the past, and her feel-good story is great for the game of golf.

As a teenager, the young phenom was a controversial figure and several golf analysts thought she was a can't-miss golfer. Some even believed she should be competing with the men on the PGA Tour.

I argued against that line of thinking back then, and I believed the media scrutiny might even ruin her.

Despite overbearing parents and a media frenzy that might have crushed a lesser person, Wie has managed to flourish and now, at age 24, won her first major at the U.S. Women's Open last weekend.

I am glad she stayed in the LPGA and I think with her first big win and her style, this might really be her time to shine. I hope so, because women's golf really needs it.

Program notes:

Follow me on Twitter@ north2north, and listen to Fox Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman and myself from 5-8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Fox Sports radio, and check me out on iHeart radio or Foxsportsradio.com.

• Mike North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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