Zaidman: Bears Botched Trade-Up With Ravens
By ZACH ZAIDMAN
CHICAGO (WSCR) -- The Bears had not traded up in the first round since 1996, but were willing to do so for Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi, the man they ended up selecting without having to move with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
"We were really fortunate to get a quality lineman," said Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, who admitted he tried to trade up with the Ravens to get Carimi.
But Angelo botched the trade with Baltimore, which caused the allotted time the Ravens had to make a selection to run out.
"I don't want to get into it," Angelo said. "I dropped the ball."
Angelo said the Bears failed to properly communicate with the NFL about the deal.
"I did call Baltimore and I did apologize to Baltimore for that," Angelo said. "We certainly didn't do anything to circumvent the spirit of the rules by any nature."
The Bears would not commit to a specific position for Carimi, only saying he can play both tackle positions.
"It really doesn't matter to me," said Carimi.
The Wisconsin native joked that he's already converted 100 Packers fans into Bears fans since being drafted.
