Bears release McQuarters

[PDXChris]

The Bears cut ties with punt returner and backup cornerback R.W. McQuarters Monday after five seasons with the franchise.

"After exploring trade opportunities with R.W., we felt it was in everyone's best interest to release him at this time," general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement.

McQuarters was scheduled to make $3.05 million in 2005, a bit pricey for a punt returner and backup cornerback. Charles Tillman and Jerry Azumah are set as starters.

In 2000, the Bears acquired McQuarters from San Francisco, which drafted him out of Oklahoma State on the first round in 1998, for a 2001 sixth-round pick. He came into his own in the 13-3 season of 2001, getting a $5.5 million signing bonus as part of a five-year deal that has two years remaining.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...uarters,1,349921.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

[PDXChris]

I have always liked him, he is a better return man than he have already, plus he is a good backup at corner.

 

[azdad1978]

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

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[TigToad]

McQuarters

My wife is a huge Bears fan, so we watch most of the Bears games on Sunday ticket. It seemed like last year McQuarters was one of the few play makers on that team. I would think he'd provide excellent depth and he's not a bad punt returner, either. His price was too high, but he could be a great value, now.

 

[BigRedRage]

according to holberg if your girlfriend has a different favorite team its the one of the man she really loves



it was funnier when holmberg explained it

 

[AntSports Steve]

He's better than Tate. If he'll take a backup role, $1M sounds like a reasonable contract.

I wonder what he'll get on the open market?

 

[Pariah]

He's not better than Tate, he's WAY better than Tate. Heck, at this point for all we know he's better than Rolle and Green, too. I'm of the mind that we need to bring in a middle-of-the-road vet to play with these kids to help get us through their rookie years. McQuarters fits that bill. I think he'd contribute quite a bit to this team.

 

[Russ Smith]

He's not better than Tate, he's WAY better than Tate. Heck, at this point for all we know he's better than Rolle and Green, too. I'm of the mind that we need to bring in a middle-of-the-road vet to play with these kids to help get us through their rookie years. McQuarters fits that bill. I think he'd contribute quite a bit to this team.

Agreed, he's not an elite CB like Surtain would have been, but he won't cost what Surtain did either, just a fraction of it. I'd hope we at least check him out to make sure he's healthy and see what sort of interest he has. I'd feel a LOT more comfortable at CB with another veteran on hand.

 

[CardLogic]

Certainly would be wise of the Cardinals to at least explore the possibility...

 

[Big D]

He's a gambling, big play or bust type of cover corner, and I think we could really use him if anything to insure we are not even tempted to have AR back there fielding punts. We are paper thin at CB when you consider two of the top 3 guys are rooks. Also, you gotta figure at some point someone will go down. McQuarters is the kind of veteran depth that good/playoff teams are able to bring in when that happens. If we can get him for a mil (or less) per I'm all for it.

 

[earthsci]

He's not better than Tate, he's WAY better than Tate. Heck, at this point for all we know he's better than Rolle and Green, too. I'm of the mind that we need to bring in a middle-of-the-road vet to play with these kids to help get us through their rookie years. McQuarters fits that bill. I think he'd contribute quite a bit to this team.

I think that we would all feel more comfortable with proven vets starting but my feeling is that Denny is going to baptize Rolle and Green with fire, just like Step last year.

 

[earthsci]

It would be nice to have McQuarters on the roster though.

 

[john h]

Agreed, he's not an elite CB like Surtain would have been, but he won't cost what Surtain did either, just a fraction of it. I'd hope we at least check him out to make sure he's healthy and see what sort of interest he has. I'd feel a LOT more comfortable at CB with another veteran on hand.

Yes we should look real hard at this guy. If he is healthy we sure need a veteran presence at a position we are very vulnerable with. This would make the Shelton cut a little more palatable. I suspect someone else will take him off the board for more money than we will spend. There is a shortage of DB's in the league. He is a proven commodity if healthy. Our guys are maybes for the most part.

 

[DS]

Maybe McQuarters can be our McNickle-back

 

[Bobcat]

Yes we should look real hard at this guy. If he is healthy we sure need a veteran presence at a position we are very vulnerable with. This would make the Shelton cut a little more palatable. I suspect someone else will take him off the board for more money than we will spend. There is a shortage of DB's in the league. He is a proven commodity if healthy. Our guys are maybes for the most part.

Russ didn't New England and the Eagles last year have have two rookie, and 2 2nd year CB's repectfull last year starting for them. I just don't like picking up other teams "CHUMP CHANGE," don't you. If it was just for special teams maybe, but not at Corner. We have two very good Rookies coming in, along with Maklin.

Bobcat

 

[seesred]

I agree with staying pat at corner. Between Macklin , Rolle and Green plus others we will be good and they need to play. With our D-ends and the rest of our potent pass rushing the corners will be better than all right. It's so darn quite around here.About 6 weeks till camp. Less than two months. In two moons. HELP!

GBR
40
In Gren we trust.

 

[PDXChris]

Personally I am not looking to him as a corner, but more of a answer at return, he was 4th last year in PR. I think he was be a good backup in casse, but more of the guy we need to return until someone else steps up.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ didn't New England and the Eagles last year have have two rookie, and 2 2nd year CB's repectfull last year starting for them. I just don't like picking up other teams "CHUMP CHANGE," don't you. If it was just for special teams maybe, but not at Corner. We have two very good Rookies coming in, along with Maklin.

Bobcat

Macklin was signed by us the same way I'm suggesting we sign McQuarters, as a FA, so is Macklin chump change too? They didn't cut RW because he couldn't play, they cut him because he made too much and didn't want to take a paycut.

New England end of year was starting a rookie and a 2nd year player, not the whole year, and certainly not by design. Plus they have one of the most experienced and cohesive defensive units in the NFL in recent history. And after winning a Superbowl that way what did New England do, trade for Duane Starks, sign Chad Scott away from Pittsburgh, and draft a CB in round 3. So they added 2 veteran CB's and a rookie for the future. People need to stop saying hey New England did it anybody can, who was the last team to win a SB doing that? I know SF did in Ronnie Lott's rookie year, don't recall it happening too often since then.

 

[Bobcat]

Macklin was signed by us the same way I'm suggesting we sign McQuarters, as a FA, so is Macklin chump change too? They didn't cut RW because he couldn't play, they cut him because he made too much and didn't want to take a paycut.

He was at the time he left the Colts. He was considered by most of the fans Chump-change. But I will admit that he did play well here last year. But by the same token just look who we had playing along side him at the other corner, Hill.

I think that corners today have to play fast and must be able to tatoo the opposing WR's. No more David Barrett types, More A Williams types.

Bobcat

 

[Red Air Force]

Of the three, Rolle, Mack and Green, at LEAST one will miss a game or more.

Macklin played very nicely last year for us last year, and Rolle may be a pro-bowler eventually, but if either one goes down does anyone REALLY want Green starting in their place and Tate playing nickel? What if we get hammered and BOTH guys are out at the same time? Are we really gonna trot Green and Tate out as our starters? WTF, I hope not.

Beyond Mack and two rooks, we have scrubs. Bringing in McQ or ANY other borderline starter could only improve our depth and push the top three guys with his starting experience.

Like someone else said, New England only did what they did BECAUSE of injuries not by choice. We'd be foolish to expect these guys to play ALL year injury free and not bring in a guy who could at least start if need be for a couple of games OR more.