He was outstanding but peaked around 2004-05, I think. He was also considered an emotional leader of the offense (which wasn't saying much for the Bears those years). Reports have surfaced since he left that there was some friction concerning him being a kind of locker-room bully and wanting to maintain his control of the team when Cutler came in. I don't put a lot of stock in that one way or another.
When he left the Bears, they offered $3.5 million, and he and his agent wouldn't accept less than $4 million. So he left, and signed with the Saints for something like $2.5 million. So he was feeling disrespected.
Then from what I read about his departure from the Saints mid-season, he sounded like a petty shit who was mad about getting benched in favor of a first- or second- year player due to his own poor play. Sad way to end his career.
Anyway, short answer, he was a great player who played too long, but the Bears never bothered to draft his replacement (still haven't).
