Bears trade for Arch

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

Lovie Smith has been trying to get safety Adam Archuleta since he arrived in Chicago. Smith was Archuleta's defensive coordinator in St. Louis.
Adam Archuleta
Archuleta

On Tuesday, the Bears completed a trade that brings the Redskins safety to Smith and the Bears. The Bears gave up a 2007 draft choice, believed to be a sixth-round choice.

Archuleta struggled in his first season with the Redskins in 2006 and was scheduled to be a backup this season in Washington.

To complete this complicated deal, the Bears had to rework his contract. Archuleta had a guaranteed $5 million option bonus that was due last week. With hopes of getting a trade, Archuleta delayed the execution of that option bonus until Wednesday.

Faced with the deadline, everyone worked on getting a deal done. The Bears will pay Archuleta $8.1 million over the next three years. The Redskins rid themselves of his $25 million contract. A total of $5 million of Archuleta's new deal in Chicago is guaranteed.

The Bears were looking for a playmaker at the safety position. Smith created defenses involving Archuleta when they were in St. Louis. In Chicago, Archuleta will have more opportunities to make plays at the line of scrimmage.

well good luck to him,hopefully he will take advantage of the opportunity and play good football.

That's probably one of the few teams where he can be successful.

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That's probably one of the few teams where he can be successful.

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Why? He can't hide in the bears D with all the talent.

No, exactly. HE CAN HIDE with all that talent. He doesn't have to be THE man, just one of the boys.

he will show up with sacks and big hits everynow and then and doesnt have to worry about being in coverage

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, in the case of "Why signing big names to big contracts doesn't equate to big wins", I enter into evidence Exhibit A, otherwise known as Adam Archuleta.

Your witness.

Any some of you wonder why the Big Bison is frequently mistaken on the street for matlock! Or is that arnie becker from LA law?

ramming speed to all

general counsel

i hope the best for adam but i never really like him or his abilities, he couldnt cover earnie conwell on a fly route on his best day

my take on it? He's in there on blitzing situations only. I'll never forget him dropping that INT against the Jets two years ago in the end zone that would have sealed a playoff spot for the Rams. We won the game anyway, went to the playoffs at 8-8 but that pass hit him square in the hands and he dropped it.

Guess what? They are bringing him in to do exactly what he does best. He goes and hits people. He isn't a drop back safety. He is a blitzer/8th man in the box. The reason why he can't excell anywhere else is because they have him in coverage, not blitzering like he should be.

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Originally Posted by txramsfan

my take on it? He's in there on blitzing situations only. I'll never forget him dropping that INT against the Jets two years ago in the end zone that would have sealed a playoff spot for the Rams. We won the game anyway, went to the playoffs at 8-8 but that pass hit him square in the hands and he dropped it.

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TX,i still remember that one to, i was so p***ed off at him, but at least we won the game or he would have needed a police escort home after that game.

I hear the argument that he is good in the box and good at blitzing. That is fine, but the bears, who dont want to sign lance briggs, are giving him 5 million of guaranteed money and he is a one dimensional player at best with a deteriorating back problem.

Of course i remember the dropped int against the jets, but i will give you a better one. Remember in the carolina playoff game, the fumble at the goal line by carolina in the second quarter when we were kiling them but couldnt get tds in the red zone (i think it was 9-0 at the time). The ball bounced up in the air, arch tried to grab it and run 90 yards the other way instead of trying to fall on it. He missed of course, it then went right into brian youngs hands and he couldnt fall on it either. Carolina recovered and then scored a td. That play completely changed the game. He should have fallen on the ball.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

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Originally Posted by general counsel

I hear the argument that he is good in the box and good at blitzing. That is fine, but the bears, who dont want to sign lance briggs, are giving him 5 million of guaranteed money and he is a one dimensional player at best with a deteriorating back problem.

Of course i remember the dropped int against the jets, but i will give you a better one. Remember in the carolina playoff game, the fumble at the goal line by carolina in the second quarter when we were kiling them but couldnt get tds in the red zone (i think it was 9-0 at the time). The ball bounced up in the air, arch tried to grab it and run 90 yards the other way instead of trying to fall on it. He missed of course, it then went right into brian youngs hands and he couldnt fall on it either. Carolina recovered and then scored a td. That play completely changed the game. He should have fallen on the ball.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

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I agree with that GC,he sucked in coverage and he had poor hands.But I also remember him agaist Baltimore absolutely leveling their qb Boller,forcing a fumble and returning it for a TD.My point? Arch was good around the line of scrimmage,and hitting people, Lovie knew how to use his talents.So maybe Lovie will get the best out of him.Now whether or not he still can hit like he did is an issue as his back problems seem to have worsened..

for every one awesome play by arch there were at least 5 instances of missed tackles, blown coverages etc