Former Chicago CB could be a fit in Green Bay or Minnesota. Matt Bowen
Could former Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher be back in the NFC North for the 2010 season?
Chicago released Vasher yesterday, only three years after receiving a four-year, $28 million extension from the Bears. And as our own Brad Biggs pointed out, he leaves town collecting over $18.6 million of that new money.
Not bad for a guy who was in and out of the lineup with injuries — and essentially was benched last season — since signing that deal.
The early talk is that San Diego could be a player for Vasher. Former Bears assistant and current Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera isn’t afraid to go after Chicago castoffs, defensive backs coach Steve Wilks worked with Vasher in Chicago, and the club has a need for an extra corner following the trade of Antonio Cromartie.
But, what about staying in the division? I don’t see Vasher as the type of player who is going to demand a starting job on the open market, but he could bring value as a third option — a corner who makes a living playing in a team’s sub packages on third downs.
Green Bay? Al Harris is coming off of ACL surgery, as is Will Blackmon. Does Dom Capers want another corner who has shown playmaking abilities in the past? Because that is where Vasher will bring some value. He is inconsistent and isn’t considered a solid tackler in the open field, but he has shown that he can make big plays — when healthy and playing with confidence. That will draw him some attention.
And, we can’t count out the Vikings. Cedric Griffin’s timetable for a return from a knee injury is up in the air, and although the team did re-sign CB Benny Sapp, Vasher may still be viewed as a Cover 2 corner who does have the ability to jam at the line of scrimmage and make plays by baiting quarterbacks in that scheme. He can set the edge versus any outside run in Leslie Frazier’s defense and could be a possible choice for the Vikings.
Bottom line, Vasher was considered one of the top up and coming corners in the league for a while, and although he may still have the tag of a Cover 2 system player, he will probably see some interest. He isn’t a player you sign expecting valuable playing time, but he is another corner with starting experience who can challenge for a role as the team’s third option — and help on special teams.
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Jerry Angelo = World's worst GM
Pay? For Vasher? Teddy T? Absolutely no way. Love you Matt. Loved you when you played for us. Besides, GBs CBs are a bit on the physical side, right? We have three solid tackling CBs in Tramon, Charles, and Al. And with Pat Lee coming back this season to prove he can play, I think we could be set for a year (hopefully we get some good development out of Underwood).
Can't see the Pack bringing in Vasher. He's on the decline, and he just barely makes the Packers minimum height requirement of 5' ft 10' in, according to the GB Press-Gazette. No other CB currently on the GB roster is less than 5-11. Vasher would probably be a better fit in Minnesota, playing indoors on turf on a team which features smaller corners (Antoine Winfield, Asher Allen and Benny Sapp are all 5-9).
I don't think GB needs another injury prone DB (Bigby, Lee, Blackmon) & who really knows how Harris will play no matter how hard he rehabs. Due to his age, injury & the possibility of a strike in 2011, I think Ted should grab 2 CB's & 1 S this draft instead of Vasher. I know that Lee & Blackmon are coming back from serious injuries but they're young & possibly cheaper still at this point. As Jimmy Johnson once said, young players can only get better.
What do I know though, huh? lol
Might be short for GB but he would be a tall nickel player if Baltimore would go for him... Ravens may need some one to hold down the corner early in the season while webb and washington are healing up that would be a good fall back later in the season if some one else goes down.
It would also free up Oz man to take the best avalible player in the first round or even trade back into the second round and save that first round money to spread around to hold on to some of those up and coming previous picks.
Vasher was a fourth round pick who made the Pro Bowl. Congrats tot him and many thanks for the 05 and 06 season. But he is a shell of himself. Hard to beleive that division teams that know his ins and outs would take a chance, but at this point, while saying thanks to a good Bear, I'd love to see him lined up against Cutler.
Thanks nate.
Might be short for GB but he would be a tall nickel player if Baltimore would go for him... Ravens may need some one to hold down the corner early in the season while webb and washington are healing up that would be a good fall back later in the season if some one else goes down.
It would also free up Oz man to take the best avalible player in the first round or even trade back into the second round and save that first round money to spread around to hold on to some of those up and coming previous picks.
I wouldn't mind it if Ted signed Vasher. Right now anything would be better than Bush, Bell & Porter. I've lost confidence in Blackmon, he's been on IR or PUP for way too much of his career. And who know what we have in Pat Lee, he's been on IR for both of his NFL seasons too.
If the Pack wants to be one of the elite teams the DB situation HAS to get fixed, and get fixed NOW.
Any plan that involves cutting Jarrett Bush is a good one in my book.
Mar 18, 2010
01:54 PM
When Jerry resigned both Vasher and Tillman, it was supposed to be a sure thing for years....
Guy has playmaking ability but zero confidence. Maybe a new team brings that back.