CHICAGO, IL "Yeah, my ear's kinda sore right now" Still getting comfortable in his office, Chicago Bears general manager has already made decisive and, at times, jaw-dropping moves. Minutes after player transactions became available to all 32 NFL teams, Chicago said goodbye to its number one wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Boss shipped Marshall and a pick to division-rival Minnesota and received up-and-coming safety Robert Blanton, proven receiver Greg Jennings, and veteran QB Matt Cassel. This move came as a bit of a surprise, considering the fact that Brandon Marshall is one of the most talented receivers to ever don a Bears uniform. However, Marshall's numbers significantly declined in 2014. He had 574 fewer receiving yards than in 2013, and his touchdown numbers came back to Earth, after two double-digit touchdown seasons. His replacement is experienced, yet talented wideout Greg Jennings. Jennings had very similar numbers to Marshall in 2014, and only two fewer touchdowns with a rookie quarterback. Safety Robert Blanton bolstered the Vikings' DB staff in 2014, starting 13 games and recording 71 tackles. Boss is very high on Blanton, and sees the potential in him. The third man coming to the Windy City is quarterback Matt Cassel. Cassel, 32, has been around the league for almost a decade now, and provides much-needed depth at the QB situation. Cassel owns a career QB rating of 80.1, and was a Pro-Bowler in 2010 with Kansas City. Boss was back at it early Sunday morning, and pulled off a trade for what could possibly be the future of the franchise. At 9:54 AM Pacific Sunday, the Bears announced that it had traded its first round draft pick rights to New England for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Trading a first round pick in exchange for an unproven rookie quarterback may seem like a mistake to some, but the Bears organization was "all-in" for the move. Garoppolo, out of Eastern Illinois, was previously expected to be Tom Brady's successor in New England, but Chicago locked him down. Garoppolo put up monster numbers in college, and has potential to be one of the next great QBs in the league. Chicago also received two late round picks in the trade. Three hours later, Leroy Boss slammed his phone down, pumped his fist, and announced another blockbuster trade. This time, Boss brought in two young and talented linebackers (Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow) in from Atlanta. Moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 with new coach Todd Bowles, the linebacker position was a major need for Chicago, and Boss addressed it. Worrilow is expected to start inside, and Bartu will start on the outside. Additionally, received two more late round picks and gave up the rights to a second round draft selection. Exactly 90 minutes following the Atlanta trade, Chicago brought in a superstar linebacker and parted ways with former QB Jay Cutler. After the acquisition of Matt Cassel and Jimmy Garoppolo, Cutler was expected to be moved. It was just a matter of time when Cutler would be traded, and what the Bears would get in return. The Jets gave up linebacker Demario Davis in order to bring in Cutler, and the Bears could not have been happier. Davis, who recorded 116 tackles in 2014, became the fourth and final piece of the linebacking core for the Bears defense. He is yet another young linebacker with an extremely bright future, and the Bears organization is thrilled to have him. The last major trade of the day included wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Boss originally had no desire to give up Jeffery, but once again, Atlanta proposed an offer that Boss could not decline. Chicago welcomed in receivers Roddy White (921 yards and 7 TDs in 2014) and Harry Douglas (556 yards and 2 TDs), as well as young tight end Levine Toilolo. The Bears also received a 3rd and 6th round draft pick. Chicago made two other minor trades, bringing in former Indy cornerback Greg Toler (57 tackles and 2 INTs in 2014) and traded three minor defensive players to Miami for a 3rd round pick. It turned out to be a long and tiring day for the Bears general manager, but he has to be satisfied in the direction his team is going.
