Six Bears Who Have to Perform Well in 2013

Every football player is expected to perform well on every play. There are some players, though, who have a bit more pressure on their heads as they head towards the season. Here are the six Bears who have to complete great seasons.

Jay Cutler -- He has everything in place to have a great year. The Bears have beefed up the offensive line, given him the receivers he wants to work with, and hired a coach who is known to be a quarterback whisperer. It's also a contract year for Cutler. If he wants to stay in Chicago and make the elite quarterback money, Cutler must deliver in 2013.

Devin Hester -- His temper tantrum after Lovie Smith's firing put Hester's future as a Bear in doubt. Trestman looked past Hester's talk of retirement and found a niche for him solely as a return man. Now, Hester has to return to the electrifying kick and punt returner who was a scoring threat for the Bears during his heyday. If he doesn't, Bears' general manager Phil Emery may question if a roster spot should be devoted to a returner.

Gabe Carimi and J'Marcus Webb -- Right now, the Bears have 15 offensive linemen. Carimi, a former first-round draft pick, and Webb, a one-time starter on the left side who was replaced with a free agent, will have to perform just to make the team. That could be by winning the right tackle starting spot or by showing the versatility to move inside to guard.

Henry Melton -- This season, he's the Bears' franchised tag player who will make $8.5 million. But the stakes are high for him to perform to prove that he is worth an expensive, long-term deal, whether it's with the Bears or the highest bidder on the market.

D.J. Williams
-- The former Bronco is in an odd spot as the man to replace Brian Urlacher. Not only does he have to perform to win Bears fans over, but he also has to have a good year to convince the NFL that he's a legit player who is past his drug suspensions.
 

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