Chicago Bears contact Willie Colon

[hawaiiansteel]

Bears contact Colon; busy behind scenes

July, 27, 2011
By Michael C. Wright

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Willie Colon is considered a contingency plan if the Bears are unable to land Jermon Bushrod.


Don't misconstrue the Bears silence on the free agency front.

Club officials remained holed up in meetings all day Tuesday, as representatives for several of its own free agents wondered why there hadn't been any contact regarding potential deals. Part of the team's slow pace in consummating deals stems from the fact the Bears are plotting how to navigate a course that involves several moving parts.

For example, the Bears have made contact with Steelers tackle Willie Colon about the possibility of making a deal, according to an NFL source. But it's believed that Colon is actually more of a contingency plan for if the Bears are unable to land Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod.

Interestingly, though, the availability of Colon and Bushrod could potentially be determined by what happens in Atlanta with the Falcons trying to sign free-agent tackle Tyson Claybo, and guards Justin Blaylock and Harvey Dahl. The Bears expressed interest in Claybo prior to the NFL draft, but obviously drafted Gabe Carimi in the first round.

Still, the team is interested in beefing up the offensive line because of the inexperience of Carimi and second-year man J'Marcus Webb, not to mention concern about the duo not being able to participate in a team-supervised offseason conditioning program. It's also worth keeping in mind that offensive line coach Mike Tice prefers to work with tackle types who can kick inside to guard.

Stay tuned.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... ind-scenes (http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4670855/bears-contact-colon-busy-behind-scenes)

[hawaiiansteel]

Caplan: Bills Could Be Exploring Steelers OT Willie Colon

by Brian Galliford on Jul 27, 2011 in Buffalo Bills News

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Many Buffalo Bills fans have openly pined for the team to explore signing a free agent offensive tackle this off-season, but there have not been any indications that the team was willing to do so - particularly given that they've been so supportive of players already on the roster, such as Demetrius Bell and Erik Pears.

There are now, perhaps, indications that the Bills are looking at a tackle. Per FOXSports.com's Adam Caplan, that player is current Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Willie Colon.

Caplan does not indicate that the Bills have contacted Colon, whom the Steelers are working hard to re-sign. He merely seems to be suggesting that Buffalo, along with other teams like Seattle and Chicago, could be landing spots for Colon if he can't agree to a deal with Pittsburgh.

A fourth-round pick out of Hofstra in 2006, the 6'3", 320-pound Colon has made 50 starts for the Steelers through four years, most of them at right tackle. He missed the entirety of the 2010 season with an Achilles injury, and some in Pittsburgh have expressed surprise that the team is interested in re-signing him. Colon has a direct tie to the Bills in the form of Doug Whaley, GM Buddy Nix's right-hand man. Colon could step right into Buffalo's starting lineup at right tackle and not look back.

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011/7/ ... lers-bills (http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011/7/27/2297467/nfl-free-agency-rumors-willie-colon-steelers-bills)

[steelblood]

great. starks is being cut and colon's price is going up. that leaves us with 36 year old flozell, a rookie, and an unsigned jonathan scott. at this point, i fear for ben's health.

[AkronSteel]

This is the next contract the Steelers need to get done after Taylor. They need to get both Colon and Jonathan Scott locked up to reasonable deals. This would set the team up at the tackle position for at least a couple years.

[hawaiiansteel]

Willie Colon and Jonathan Scott Will Return

Posted on July 28, 2011 by adam


On Tuesday the Steelers managed to take care of their No. 1 priority in free agency when they agreed to terms with Ike Taylor on a four-year contract. On Thursday, following the release of left tackle Max Starks, they managed to secure another of their key free agents by agreeing to a five-year contract with Willie Colon.

The deal is worth $29 million as originally reported by NFL Network’s Jason Laconfora, and he according to Ed Bouchette — via Twitter — turned down a larger ($3 million larger) contract offer from the Chicago Bears.

Along with Colon, the Steelers also agreed to terms with Jonathan Scott.

We all feared the worst when Scott had to take over at left tackle after Starks went down with a neck injury, and while he wasn’t exactly Walter Jones out there, he managed to at least hold his own and not completely embarrass himself. So there’s that.

Colon missed all of last season due to an Achilles injury, so there has to be at least a little bit of concern for him. Prior to the injury, however, he was probably the Steelers’ best offensive lineman based on his 2009 performance.

http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/07/w ... #more-5901 (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/07/willie-colon-jonathan-scott-return/#more-5901)