Chicago Bears: 10 Biggest Misses for Jerry Angelo

Jerry Angelo took over the Bears in 2001 and has tried to rebuild this team through free agency and the draft.

For a few years, Angelo did an exceptional job finding defensive gems in the middle rounds, like Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, and Nathan Vasher.

However, he has struggled to make good 1st round picks and some of them have held out and been unable to make an impact.

With the Bears in the market for a big-time free agent and the recent release of Orlando Pace, let's take a look at the top 10 worst acquisitions under the man who took built a team that has fallen hard ever since its Super Bowl appearance in 2007.

10. Mushin Muhammad, WR

Mushin Muhammad was coming off a briliant 2005 campaign where he caught 93 balls and 16 TDs on his way to the Pro Bowl.

Carolina let him walk, and Muhammad came to Chicago for a 4-year, $32 million contract.

The veteran was expected to be a No. 1 target for Rex Grossman and help a young but raw WR corps. Muhammad never had the chance to ultimately showcase his skills.

In three seasons, "Moose" caught just 12 TD passes. It wasn't his fault because of a lack of a quarterback, but the move didn't work out as the Bears hoped.

9. Rex Grossman, QB

"Sexy Rexy" was the epitome of an inconsistent quarterback. The 22nd overall pick in the 2003 draft didn't see the field much his rookie season and was injured in 2004 and 2005.

In 2006, he was finally healthy and had one of the most up-and-down seasons for a quarterback.

He was touted as the league MVP through 5 games, then started spiraling down the rest of the season.

Granted, under the command of Rex Grossman and (mainly) a stingy defense, the Bears reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 1986.

Grossman continued to see his playing time decrease and was eventually replaced by Kyle Orton in 2008.

He was released last off-season and is the backup to Matt Schaub in Houston.

8. Terry "Tank" Johnson, DT

A second-round pick in 2004, Tank was expected to team up with Tommie Harris to form a dominant interior for the Bears' new defense under Lovie Smith.

He got off to a slow start and then made his way into the starting lineup in 2005. He was having a good career in Chicago until gun charges and a DUI forced the Bears to cut him in 2006.

He then joined Dallas in 2007, was cut the next off-season, and joined Cincinnati, where he has resurrected his career and starting for the AFC North champs.

7. Frank Omiyale, OG

Omiyale spent his first 4 seasons with the Carolina Panthers. After not being retained, the backup tackle entered the free agent market in 2009 looking for a chance to start.

The Bears jumped at the chance and signed him to a 4-year, $14 million deal. Omiyale started at left guard despite being outperformed by Josh Beekman and was shifted in and out of the starting lineup this season.

He struggled in pass protection and looks as though he could still use another year to learn the guard position. Either way, it looks like a bust right now.

6. Marc Colombo, OT

In 2001, the Chicago Bears went 13-3 and won the division title. In the 2002 draft, the Bears wanted to get more athletic at the tackle spot. Boston College star Marc Colombo fell into their laps.

Colombo was massive at 6'8" and thought to be a star tackle for the Bears. However, he never stayed healthy consistently and played his way out of Chicago in 2005.

To make matters worse, he signed with Dallas and had a decent run with them, even making it to the Pro Bowl as an alternate.

5. Michael Haynes, DL

Haynes was a decorated player coming out of Penn State. Expected to go in the top 10 by many, Haynes fell in the process.

The Bears traded up with the Jets to take him and thought he would be a solid defensive end.

However, Haynes fell out of favor when Lovie Smith took over. Smith wanted Haynes to bulk up and slide inside next to Tommie Harris.

It never happened, and Haynes was eventually cut by the Bears in 2006. He made the Saints' Jets' rosters but was also cut. Haynes is out of the NFL.

4. Orlando Pace, OT

Orlando Pace had a brilliant career with the St. Louis Rams, which will get him into the Hall of Fame someday. However, from 2006-2008, Pace was inconsistent and struggled to stay healthy.

He was cut by the Rams in 2009. The Bears jumped at the chance to get Pace, hoping to solidify the left side of the offensive line and allow 2008 first-rounder Chris Williams to slide to the right side.

Pace turned into a huge flop, showing that everything that happened in St. Louis was real. He also suffered a false start penalty against Atlanta in the red zone which ultimately cost the Bears the game.

On March 1, reports were out saying the Bears were parting way with Pace.

3. David Terrell, WR

Terrell was Jerry Angelo's first pick of his regime and was a huge miss. Terrell was a superstar at the University of Michigan.

Despite not having blazing speed, the Bears thought the 6'3", 210-pound receiver would give them a physical presence on the outside.

Terrell had trouble cracking the starting lineup in his time in Chicago and never flashed the big-play potential he did at Michigan.

He was cut by the Bears in 2005 and tried to make an appearance back in the NFL with the Broncos and Chiefs but never got anywhere.

2. The Middle of the 2007 Draft

Coming off their Super Bowl run, the Bears didn't have many holes to fill in the draft. They had to grab some depth, but they got it at spots where the team was best.

In the second round, they took Central Michigan DE Dan Bazuin. The Bears already had good starters along with 2nd year pass-rusher Mark Anderson, so why take a guy that isn't explosive off the edge? It was a huge reach.

Bazuin suffered a knee injury his rookie year and was cut in 2008. He is out of football.

In the third round, they took Stanford LB Michael Okwo. Again, they had Lance Briggs, who was in a contract dispute at the time, but drafted Jamar Williams in the 2006 draft.

Okwo had the same story as Bazuin; he went on IR as a rookie and was cut in 2008. He is out of football.

Also in the third round, the Bears took Garrett Wolfe. Again, the Bears reached for a player that would be the third HB behind Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson.

Wolfe was an accomplished college player at local Northern Illinois University, but was on the smaller side at 5'7", 185 pounds. He stuck on as a somewhat change-of-pace back and special teams gunner.

His most memorable moment came in 2008, when he took a direct snap on a fake punt for 38 yards against Tampa Bay that help set up a field goal in an eventual loss. Wolfe has a difficult chance to make the roster in 2010.

1. Cedric Benson, RB

Ah, yes...the collossal bust for the Chicago Bears. After a dismal 2004 season, the Bears were rewarded with the fourth overall pick.

They thought that Texas power back Cedric Benson was a can't-miss prospect who could carry the load in Chicago and be in the same breath as Walter Payton.

He made himself unwelcome by holding out as a rookie, and he could not unseat Thomas Jones for the starting spot. He proved to be a good complementary back, but had a crucial fumble in the Super Bowl.

That off-season, Benson whined about being the starter, and the Bears traded Thomas Jones. Benson struggled as the featured back and ended the season on IR.

In the summer of 2008, Benson had two alcohol-related offenses and was cut. He signed with Cincinnati and has shown the promise of the former No. 4 overall pick.

Honorable Mentions

Mark Bradley, WR - Bradley was a second-round pick in 2005 after a great combine workout. He failed to crack the starting lineup despite great physical skills and was released by the Bears in 2008.

Danieal Manning, S - Manning is another great physical specimen and has added value as a return man, but he has not developed into a good safety. He cannot tackle in the open field and has mental lapses in coverage.

Chris Wililiams, T - The verdict is still out on Williams, the team's first round pick in 2008. Other tackles in this class have performed well, and it's important that Williams steps up and plays well in 2010.