5 Players the Chicago Bears gave up on way too early

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Tight end Greg Olsen #82 of the Chicago Bears catches a 58-yard touchdown in the first quarter in front of Lawyer Milloy #36 of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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06 Jan 2002: Rosevelt Colvin of the Chicago Bears during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears clinched the NFC Central Division title by winning the game 33-13. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

No. 4: Chicago Bears let linebacker Rosevelt Colvin end up with the New England Patriots

This may be a bit controversial, considering Rosevelt Colvin suffered a major hip injury upon joining New England. However, Colvin had over 26 sacks during his tenure in Foxborough, highlighted by two Super Bowl victories back when New England’s quarterback was someone named Brady.

When he was in the Windy City, Colvin was a wrecking force alongside linebacker Brian Urlacher, racking up 26 sacks, including his breakout 2001 season when Chicago went 13-3 and won the division. Colvin had 69 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Pretty good stats for a defensive player in the Windy City.

It’s a shame that Colvin never stayed with Urlacher. They would have been a great duo, and if Chicago still added Lance Briggs in 2003, that trio would have made a case to be the best linebacker core since Marshall, Singletary, and Wilson from 1985. Oh, what could have been? Realistically speaking, it would have been a group that could have helped the team avoid losing the Super Bowl in 2006.

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