Bears trade CB Dante Wesley to Patriots for undisclosed draft pick

[pats1]

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

Bears | Wesley traded
Tue, 7 Aug 2007 12:17:51 -0700

Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears have traded CB Dante Wesley to the New England Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick. Wesley has passed his physical, making the deal official.

There was talk of a trade within the past few days:

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/498718,bears.article

 

[BB_dynasty]

Re: Bears trade CB Dante Wesley to Patriots

I haven't heard much about this guy, if anyone has any info on him please share.

 

[pats1]

Re: Bears trade CB Dante Wesley to Patriots

I haven't heard much about this guy, if anyone has any info on him please share.

Will do. He has played with the Bears and Panthers over his 5-year career, starting 2 games (1 in 2002 and 1 in 2003 with the Panthers).

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302143

# 21 Dante Wesley
Position: DB
Height: 6-1
Weight: 211
Born: 04/05/1979
College: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
NFL Experience: 6

...

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/players/scouting?statsId=5986

Scouts, Inc.:

Grade: 64

Has very good size...physical...does an excellent job with the jam technique and also in press coverage...very good upper body strength...has the ability to muscle a receiver out of his route...uses his hands well in block protection...gets good separation from receivers with his long arms...little bit stiff in his hips...not smooth in his transition...bit of a long strider and he lacks initial foot quickness...very good running ability but he lacks a burst or the ability to accelerate...does not have ideal top end speed for the position...does not show the ability to make up for a mistake in coverage....difficulty at times judging the long ball...at his best when he is close to the line of scrimmage...aggressive hitter...can break down and make tackles in the open field...lacks great change of direction skills...plays critical role on special teams...might be a better fit at the safety position where he can keep everything in front of him.

...

http://www.chicagobears.com/team/player82.html

PERSONAL: Started as a WR and FS at Watson Chapel H.S. in Pine Bluff, Ark… Plans to become an athletic trainer following his football career… Part-time model… He and wife, Renetta, have 1 daughter.

OK then...

...

According to NFLPA.org, Wesley is signed through 2007 at the minimum salary of $595,000.

 

[richpats]

"We're buying a championship!"

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Bears trade CB Dante Wesley to Patriots

Sounds like a pretty good ST player, not too much more.

 

[Flying Fungi]

CB depth...5th...maybe 6th depending upon how much PT he sees.

 

[Warren94]

Gotta love depth.

 

[DaBruinz]

Interesting trade. From looking at his stats, he's a back-up/special teamer/nickle back/dime back type player.

My guess is that its a conditional 7th round pick type deal. If he makes the team, the Bears get a 7th. Much like the Pats did with Gorin, Tucker, Cobbs.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Re: Bears trade CB Dante Wesley to Patriots

I haven't heard much about this guy, if anyone has any info on him please share.

Looks to be a special team...11 passes defended in career.

 

[denverpatsfan]

This means Samuel is not reporting.

 

[BelichickFan]

This means Samuel is not reporting.

Not sure if you're kidding - but no it doesn't.

 

[Pats726]

I like it...this is the sort of player that MAY help the team in many ways. An ST player..tall cornerback...and also a safety. Maybe this is insurance in case Samuel decides to sit...maybe they have indications that COULD happen. A good move.

 

[pats1]

Re: Bears trade CB Dante Wesley to Patriots

Looks to be a special team...11 passes defended in career.

Well the passes defended are defensive stats, not special teams stats. But he does certainly appear to have a special teams prowess.

 

[TeamPats]

This means Samuel is not reporting.

I wouldn't get to ahead of yourself. I think this more means we don't want to sign Earthwind come week 9 if Gay goes down again now that Scott is out.

 

[stinkypete]

Dante Wesley was Carolina's dime back from '03-'05. The Bears signed him to a two year deal during the '06 offseason. He did not fit into the teams cover 2 scheme.

What little I can find on him indicates that he's a special teams demon.

This deal makes plenty of sense. The team needs to replace Chad Scott on the depth chart, and perhaps Richardson isn't cutting it.

Could also mean Asante will play hardball and hold out into the season, but I am still skeptical that will happen.

 

[Seymour93]

Dante Wesley was Carolina's dime back from '03-'05. The Bears signed him to a two year deal during the '06 offseason. He did not fit into the teams cover 2 scheme.

Looking at some old Carolina depth charts, Wesley played behind Ricky Manning, Chris Gamble, and our very own Artrell Hawkins. And we all know about Chicago's corners. Wesley will have a chance to be more than a ST ace here considering the circumstances.

 

[JoeSixPat]

This means Samuel is not reporting.

You mean Chad Scott, right?

Good depth and ST player - I'm sure we didn't give too much up for him.

But to all of those who are convinced that we'd never find any trade value for a surplus of WR talent on the team - I'll make the same point they all made: "Why didn't we just wait til he was cut?"

Maybe it could be because our GM actually wanted to get him here rather than compete with 31 other teams late in the pre-season?

 

[TheSeymonsta]

I would guess a replacement for Chad Scott.

 

[Pujo]

This means Samuel is not reporting.

I think it means Tom Brady's out for the year.

 

[Pats726]

Might be more a look to the future as well...besides the immediate ST help, he might be able to play BOTH CB and S. He has experience in the NFL, but maybe BB and the coaches see something more in him. If his listed weight is correct, only Harrison and Mitchell weigh more out of the 17 DBs. How can one NOT like it? Not sure what it means as far as Samuel goes..but one can wonder.