Bears closer to Tinoisamoa?

With the Patriots apparently dropping out of the Pisa Tinoisamoa sweepstakes after signing unrestricted free agent linebacker Paris Lenon, the Bears are in an ideal situation to pick up Tinoisamoa, a respected veteran linebacker who is just 27 and still at the top of his game.

Tinoisamoa could probably be signed for a realistic price considering how late in the off-season it’s getting, although the Eagles and Bills reportedly remain interested.

He had a career-high 108 tackles and a personal-best 3 sacks for the Rams last season. Although he seems undersized (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) to play on the strong side, Lovie Smith’s defenses have always valued speed and quickness over bulk, so Tinoisamoa would be an excellent fit.

Tinoisamoa’s rookie season of 2003 was Smith’s final season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator before he became the Bears’ head coach. The rookie started 15 games that season and has started all 16 games in three of the previous five seasons. When he visited Halas Hall during the Bears’ opening OTA practices last week, the seventh-year veteran seemed anxious to reunite with Smith.

Nothing against Hunter Hillenmeyer, Nick Roach or Jamar Williams, but Tinoisamoa would be a definite upgrade, and the Bears have more than enough room under the salary cap to accommodate his salary.