In his NFL power rankings more than a week into a busy free agency period, NFL.com analyst Eliot Harrison lists the Bears 14th among the league's 32 teams.
Harrison points out that the Bears' free agent plan was to re-sign the players they had to have (cornerback Charles Tillman and linebacker D.J. Williams), shore up the pass rush (by signing defensive linemen Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Israel Idonije), and let the luxury items go (defensive end Julius Peppers, quarterback Josh McCown and running back Michael Bush).
Harrison ranks the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks first, followed by the Broncos at No. 2, 49ers at No. 3, Patriots at No. 4 and Saints at No. 5. The Bears are ranked second in the NFC North, behind the Packers (No. 7) and ahead of the Lions (No. 22) and Vikings (No. 29).
Read full story