Waiver Wire: The Chicago Bears Should Bring Back Veteran End Alex Brown
Published by Jake Perper on August 30, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Bears need some depth at defensive end. Second-year end out of Northwestern Corey Wootton was supposed to take the next step this season in the defensive rotation, but he could be out for some time with a bad knee.
Wootton seemed optimistic about returning for the start of the season on Sept. 11. “It’s going well,” Wootton said Tuesday. “I’ve just been strengthening (the knee), you know the strength isn’t too far away from normal. I started jogging on the treadmill, so I’m hoping to maybe be back in there for the first game, hopefully.”
Former defensive end Alex Brown who spent his first eight seasons with the Bears from 2002-2010, was released by the New Orleans Saints, today.
So, would the Bears even consider bringing Alex Brown back? With Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije set in stone as the starters on the defensive line there isn’t much depth behind them.
Undrafted free agents Mario Addison and Nick Reed are currently the backups with bust Vernon Gholston gone and Wootton still recovering from his injury.
Brown wouldn’t have to be the starter he once was when the Bears released him last off-season. The Saints released Brown with about $3 million left on his contract left, but the Saints had other solid ends while he was there.
Brown started all 16 games last season with New Orleans making 39 tackles and two sacks. In nine seasons in the NFL, the 32 year-old has played in 143 games making 414 tackles, 45.5 sacks, five interceptions and 16 forced fumbles.
He clearly still has some play left in him. The Bears could possibly bring him back for veteran minimum. Brown said he won’t rule out a return to the Bears, “We’ll talk to them and see what they say, I want to go somewhere that’s going to win. That’s what I am looking for.”
The real question is will Brown be considered a starter at this point by any team? He could latch on in the coming days for the right price with a contending team. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bears brought him back to the mix.
It would be a good move in my mind.
What do you guys think, would signing No. 96 back help bring a Super Bowl to Chicago?
All quotes from Chicagotribune.com
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