As odd as this may sound, a Chicago Bear actually made a pitch for a Green Bay Packer Thursday evening.
Don't laugh.
Defensive end Alex Brown, who was downtown to accept the "Bear of the Year" honor during the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards, suggested the Bears go after Aaron Kampman to join him on the defensive line. Kampman will be an unrestricted free agent, although the Packers are expected to make him an offer.
Photo: Green Bay's Aaron Kampman puts pressure on Bears QB Kyle Orton in 2008. (Benny Sieu / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
With the sudden passing of Gaines Adams and with Adewale Ogunleye bound for free agency, the Bears are likely to need some help at defensive end. Last season, the defensive line accounted for 24 of the team's 35 sacks, led by Ogunleye's 61/2 sacks and Brown's 6.
"I would love to have Wale (Ogunleye) back, but I'm not sure if they're going to go that road," Brown said. "If not, Aaron Kampman would be pretty darn good. He plays hard and he plays with heart."
Kampman, 30, torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Nov. 22 of last year and might not be ready until training camp. The two-time Pro Bowler was moved to outside linebacker in the Packers' new 3-4 scheme, but his ability to rush the passer makes him a better fit in at defensive end in a 4-3 system.
Not to mention Kampman, who has 54 career sacks, would be a much cheaper free-agent option than Carolina's Julius Peppers, who could command a contract similar to the seven-year, $100-million deal the Redskins gave Albert Haynesworth.
"Peppers is a heck of an athlete, and I'm actually really cool with him," Brown said."But a guy who is going to be paid that much money ... you can address a lot of other positions (with the money) as oppose to just one.
"I think Kampman, I think Wale can do the job. It's all up to management. It's not up to me. I don't have to pay them. Whoever we get, I'm sure they'll make the best decision for the team."
Believe it or not, Brown doesn't have what he would consider a friendship with Kampman.
"After the games, I've talked to him," Brown said."I wouldn't say I was friends with him. But if his number fell in my lap, I'd definitely call him."
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let me tell you bear fans something; Alex Brown speaks the truth and is probably the most down to earth person on that bears D, he is a true captain and deserves more attention
It won't happen 4 a change try to work with what you have you never know what you have if you don't use it.
Kampman would be good DE for the Bears. He tried to play LB in 4-3 defense for Packers and he was not effective. He is a DE and Pack made a mistake trying to make him a linebacker. Reminds me a Jared Allen of Vikings if he is given a chance. Has more get up and go than the stiffs the Bears have now. He will come back from knee, bet on it.
I'm torn on this one, I feel Kampman pre-injury was one of the better DE's in the league, but the one scary example that pops into my head for actual healing time of a torn ACL is Kevin Jones, if we signed Kampman, I feel he won't be fully ready to go until after next season, if we rush him back then we have nothing more than Tommy Harris Pt 2, skipping practices, sitting out snaps....
Hey Tom, nice math. Last 3 years, Jared Allen 44.5 sacks, Aaron Kampman 25.0. You might want to look things up once in a while.
all for pursuing K. but, after he got injured, and his age, not so sure, we need another injured F/A. Based on our historic luck at drafting and F/A success, better pass on AK.
I love the idea of getting Kampman. I have a strong feeling the Bears will pursue him heavily. With Lovie on the hot seat and the lack of pressure from the line last year,I can absolutley see this happening. I have a feeling we will pursue a free safety as well in free agency. I can see Vasher and Pace gone for sure,that will free up some money 6-7 mil. Just my opinions of course,but I really hope we get aggressive this offseason & shore up some of these weaknesses. Take Care. GO BEARS!
This move will never happen tha slackers will never give us a shot at signing him, he would be another reminder of Brett Farve and they hate us much more than the vikings......The only thing this news story does is give the slackers more ways to throw barbs at Chicago......
Kamp had more sacks the last 3 years than Jared Allen! Go get the "Blue Collar" hard worker who never complains just plays hard!
Sure, sign a guy with a torn up knee. I mean look at how well it worked with Pat Riley. Maybe the Bears could hire Jim Hendry, then they will certainly sign a bunch of players coming off of injuries
I would be a lot more concerned about the injury if he was a Leonard Little-type rusher off the edge, where he relies on his speed and doesn't have the ability to work inside on a regular basis. But Kampmann is a hustle guy, who gets most of his sacks by out-working the guy across the line from him. He is what Alex Brown could be if he could close the deal and get to the QB on a regular basis. I absolutely think we need to pursue this deal, because if we don't, no one should be surprised to see him wearing purple next season. Kampmann and Allen on the same D Line with the Williams wall would be scary.
He is one of the best DEs in the league over the last 4-5 years, and before the move to OLB (big mistake in my opinion by the Pack), he was playing as well as he ever had. He will want to test the free agent waters, and try and get back into a 4-3 in my opinion. We know the contract Peppers wants will put us out of the running, and ironically enough, Peppers wanted to play in a 3-4 last year when he was franchised, which would be equally as bad of a transition period if he goes that route.
Wale has nothing left as a pass rusher. Alex Brown has peaked as a pass rusher. Either we accept that we will not get sacks without blitzing, or we upgrade our DE position as much as possible. Kampmann is the right move to make, and we need to be all over that on March 4th.
Ya im sketchy on this one too, If Kamp never had this bloody injury, Then ya I'd say go ahead and come on down, these types of injuries and this late in age is a big factor. Peppers will be big $$ but thats guaranteed 10+ sacks. And Alex will benefit from Peppers greatly as will Tommie Harris.
Lets see...
The guy is 30 years old and in November he will be 31. He sustained ligament damage last year and everybody thinks he will be at 110% by the time the season starts.
Yipeee !!!
That is all we need is more walking wounded that we base our entire team on.
Are you guys nuts?
Backup ...maybe. Starter is out of the question. You are better off paying Ogunleye whatever he is seeking to keep him here for another 2 years while you bring in some future replacements thru free agency (which there will be none this year) or draft (which you have to wait till next year since we have to high draft picks this year). With Ogunleye, at least you have some stability on this D-line. You pluck him out and put someone else in, you don't know what you got and there is no going back.
Alex Brown is one of the most thoughtful and articulate Bears ever. Do what he suggests and sign Kampman then when Brown retires make him GM. Brown is one of those guys you definitely want in your program after retirement.
Kampman is proven but he won't be ready till after the 2011 season... He'll sign a one-year somewhere? He's not gonna have the impact of Peppers or $$$ hit. If we can get him cheap? Kampman could be fun, but what about Melton or the "Pool Man" Gilbert? Gilbert looked solid yet unspectacular. Mark Anderson looked improved....
Health is the only concern with Kamp. I'd love to see him in a Bear uni.
I agree with Brown.
Brown sounds like one of the few member of the Bears (and I don't just mean the players) who makes sense.
I would be down for this 100%. I think for the money, I would rather have Kamman over Peppers. But with that big injury Kampman sustained last season, who knows.