Blue makes the NFL go round; A look at scouting the Bears' elite

Blue.

It’s the color that every personnel man in the National Football League wants to see.

Blues are what define winning organizations. They are the difference between winning and losing on Sundays. Blues shines brightest in the biggest moments. Blues command the biggest paychecks. Blues are what the game is all about.

Mike Lombardi at the National Football Post spent the last few weeks breaking down what blue players are on every roster in the league. First, let’s let him describe what a blue is. He should know. He spent more than two decades in front offices in Oakland, Cleveland. San Francisco, Philadelphia and Denver.

Here is how he assessed the Bears:

Blue chip

Jay Cutler: He’s a blue player, now he needs to be a blue winner.

Matt Forte: Does it all–run, catch, protect–very well.

Devin Hester: Not sure he’s a blue player, but he’s a blue playmaker.

Almost, but not blue

Brian Urlacher: If blockers get to him, he’s blocked, so he’s not a blue.

Lance Briggs: No one on the Bears’ defense is a blue.

It’s an interesting take. Certainly Urlacher has not been on top of his game the last two seasons, and Lombardi isn’t the only trained eye to make that assessment. Briggs fails to make the cut also and he’s been to four consecutive Pro Bowls. I took a look at the outside linebackers who were included on the list and I think it’s easy to see what Lombardi was seeking. He wanted outside linebackers who get to the quarterback.

Here is his list of blues at the position:

Terrell Suggs, Baltimore

Joey Porter, Miami

LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh

James Harrison, Pittsburgh

Shawne Merriman, San Diego

Aaron Kampman, Green Bay

There’s a leap of faith involved there that Merriman will bounce back from a serious knee injury to again be a dominant performer, and that Kampman will adjust to the move outside from defensive end in the new 3-4 scheme Dom Capers has brought to the Packers. But they’re both established pass rushers and that is simply not something Briggs does. Teams don’t put as much of an emphasis on weak-side linebackers as every is seeking pass rushers.

Lombardi also omits defensive tackle Tommie Harris from the list, and Harris didn’t play up to a blue level last season. There are concerns about his knee, too. Tight end Greg Olsen could certainly ascend and be considered a blue quickly. In fact, it seems the Bears expect him to be an elite performer beginning this season.

It certainly makes for a good discussion. The Bears trail Minnesota and Green Bay in the division when it comes to blues.

Bears 3 blues/3 almost blues

Detroit 1/2

Green Bay 5/3

Minnesota 6/2