As the Bears attempt to bolster their offensive line, they’re looking to weaken a division rival’s by possibly making an early run at Minnesota’s Phil Loadholt.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are “hot on Loadholt,” which frankly is a disturbingly evocative collection of words.
The Vikings right tackle has started 63 of 64 games since the Vikings took him in the second round of the 2009 Draft.
While the Vikings want to retain him, they don’t want to go over $5 million a year for a right tackle in a market thick with blockers, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com
Loadholt played on the left side in college, but his strength is in the run game, and he’s probably better suited on the right. But the Bears have 2011 first-rounder Gabe Carimi there.
Whether they sign him or just drive up the price on the Vikings, it’s a potentially good piece of business by the Bears, depending on where they’d play him.