NFL Roster Cuts 2011: 8 Players the Chicago Bears Should Consider Signing

The final roster trimming is over, and the cuts of meat that are left could be a perfect example of one man's round steak, another man's fillet.

The Bears did strike quickly, signing former New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather, but there are other players out there worthy of consideration.

I'm not suggesting that the Bears go out and sign a bunch of players. Just take a look at them and do their due diligence.

Maybe a couple of them look decent but aren't deemed worthy of a roster spot. In that case, maybe the Bears could consider signing them to the practice squad.

Look, all of these players have negatives, which is why they are available. But the Bears still have some question marks at linebacker and in the secondary, so why not take that chance?

To give the Bears a head start, here are eight players they should look at. It costs nothing but time.

DE Jacob Ford (Tennessee Titans)

Ford was a guy the Ttians highly thought of as a prospect. His sack totals have steadily declined, though his QB pressures have increased.

As we saw with Julius Peppers last season, sack totals do not always tell the story.

In a rotation, Ford could be useful in a 4-3, which is what the Bears play.

CB Fred Bennett (Arizona Cardinals)

Bennett is a 27-year-old corner who has not started a game since 2009, so he won't challenge Charles Tillman or Tim Jennings, but could be worth a flyer as a rotation guy.

The Bears have quantity but not quality, when it comes to D-backs, so they should at least look at Bennett. And he did play in nine games last season but with two teams. He made just two tackles.

But again, all we're really looking for here is a diamond in the rough. And Bennett is rough, but is he a diamond? The Cardinals apparently don't think so.  

LB Tavares Gooden (Baltimore Ravens)

The Ravens selected Gooden in the third round of the 2008 draft, but he could never get enough time with all of the linebacker talent there.

But the Bears kept undrafted free-agent Dom DeCicco because of a lack of depth at linebacker, despite DeCicco being the player who missed the block that led to a blocked punt by Spencer Lanning in the second game of the preseason.

His best campaign came in 2009, when he had 47 tackles.

DE Everette Brown (Carolina Panthers)

If Jacob Ford is not your man, perhaps this guy can be. Brown is worth a look as he should thrive better in a 4-3 system like the Bears employ.

The team needs pass rush help, especially with that porous secondary, and Peppers cannot do it alone.

Brown was a second-round pick in 2009 and is still a project but worth an investment.  Last season, he came up with just 3.5 sacks, but he also hit the QB four times and amassed 11 hurries in just 13 games and two starts.

It's a strange release for Carolina, as money was definitely not a factor.

OG Max Jean-Gilles (Cincinnati Bengals)

This is a big man who started 25 games for the Philadelphia Eagles but couldn't make the Bengals roster.

Meanwhile, the Bengals need help, so his not making the team is not a good sign. Still, the Bears could use depth on the offensive line, so they should at least take a look at him and possibly sign him to the practice squad.

LB Brashton Satele (New York Jets)

One of the stars of the Hard Knocks series, he couldn't make it during real games with the Jets.

But if added as linebacker depth, he could possibly move DeCicco to the practice squad. He is just 23 years old, so he could be part of the youth movement the Bears are looking for.

QB Dan LeFevour (Cincinnati Bengals)

I know the team already has its three QBs, but LeFevour is obviously a guy the Bears liked when they drafted him last season, only to be plucked off the practice squad by Cincinnati.

The question here is, does Mike Martz like him better than Nathan Enderle? Enderle is Martz's guy, but then again, so was LeFevour.

LeFevour was productive in college though he is said to have below-average arm strength. That advantage goes to Enderle, so this may not be a fit for the Bears.  

WR Donnie Avery (St. Louis Rams)

Yes, I am still fixated on the WR position, despite the team keeping six and signing Kris Adams to the practice squad.

Avery is a good seam-type of slot receiver who would be good on third down as a solid possession guy in case Earl Bennett or Dane Sanzenbacher get hurt or don't work out in those roles.

Avery is athletic but has an extensive injury history, missing the 2010 season. But he had a good camp with the Rams with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.