The Bears have some sell jobs to complete later today when Halas Hall becomes a hotbed for prized free agents.
Julius Peppers, the top free-agent target, is headed in from North Carolina along with coach Lovie Smith and Peppers' agent Carl Carey. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna will pay a visit with his agent Paul Sheehy. Then there is running back Chester Taylor, who will also visit with his agent Ken Sarnoff.
The Bears are trying to pay the Minnesota Vikings back for signing wide receiver Bernard Berrian away from them in free agency two years ago. It could be a deal is in place.
Photo: Chester Taylor runs up the middle for a 17-yard gain. (Jeff Wheeler / Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)
Of course, Berrian was the Bears' top receiver and Taylor is a complementary back to Adrian Peterson. But he could be a starting running back for the Bears and one league source told the Tribune that his agent is angling for a contract with $8 million guaranteed for the 30-year-old back who ran for 1,200 yards in 2006 before Minnesota drafted Peterson.
Taylor is a versatile back who catches the ball well and handles pass protection. At the minimum, the Bears would have a solid 1-2 combination with him and Matt Forte, who had offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.
Taylor is a hot commodity now, especially after the San Diego Chargers tendered running back Darren Sproles to keep him off the market. There are not a lot of options out there after Thomas Jones, not healthy, productive ones anyway. The Bears probably view signing Taylor as a win/win as they would take him from the Vikings. Stay tuned. The fast start tonight will continue during the day.
All Bears news delivered to your mailbox on Friday and Monday mornings. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
Get our updates on 
tayor whold be a good fit
I agree with comments concerning Berrian --he's definitely their #3 WR at this point. As for payback --i tend to think looking back that the Vikes did us a favor in overpaying. So, if we get Taylor, then we're screwing them twice over.
The question that's on my mind is: how much will it take to get Peppers in a Bear's uniform? What do people think... 12, 15, 18 mil?
The Bears better be bold in free agency due to the fact they raised ticket prices, don't have a #1 and #2 draft pick, and Angelo's and Lovie's butts are riding on this season.
@Dino
Totally agree man. I remember Berrian dropping a few balls in the last MNF game against the Bears a few months ago...the one the BEARS WON in OT putting the NFC Championship game in New Orleans. (You are welcome Saints fans.)
The guy never showed up on a consistent basis and was just 1 level above Curtis Conway.
Love the Chester Taylor move and hope we get the deal done with Peppers. Too bad about Rolle, but you can't win them all.
Where is this coming from??? Only time will tell if they work out (should they all happen). But kudos to the Bears for looking, and acting, smart for a change! Bear down!
Should we sign the 4 we're goin' after this next season COULD BE............. AWESOME! Let's all hope that WE get
a TRUE Free Safety, in ROLLE>
What payback?!? The best thing that happened to the Bears is they didn't overpay for that "Never Been" Berrian like the Vikings did. This is the same Berrian who has never had a 1000 yard season. Let's see how they keep both Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin after having overpaid for Berrian in the next few years.