Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Bernard Berrian's departure and Lance Briggs' return leave the Bears with no remaining starters who are unrestricted free agents. Safety Brandon McGowan, who started nine games in 2007, is restricted. Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad, Fred Miller and Ruben Brown are among the starters no longer in the Bears' plans. Backups John Gilmore and Darwin Walker are also gone.
The Bears prove the unpredictability of the NFL. In the past year, they went from a Super Bowl team to an injury-depleted playoff bystander. In the past two days, Briggs re-signed unexpectedly and Berrian, the player Chicago sought most to retain, left for a division rival.
One thing about the Bears: Their projected starters on defense average about 27 years old. That's young for a defense with accomplished players. A return to health on that side of the ball could solve a lot of problems.
As much as we're going to hear about the need for help at receiver -- a legitimate concern, and one we've raised today -- that issue won't mean as much if the Bears can rediscover the ground game that faltered once Thomas Jones departed.
