LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Don’t expect a quick fix when the signing period for unrestricted free agents kicks off Thursday at 11 p.m. Chicago time. Not after NFL teams doled out a record 14 franchise tags and re-signed other key players, preventing them from reaching the open market.

“It’s hard for me to go into an offseason and be relying on the free agent marketplace,” said Bears general manager Jerry Angelo. “It’s so tough now. It’s a supply and demand business.

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers is one of 14 NFL players who have received a franchise tag.

“I think what those teams that franchised players are saying is, ‘What’s out there in the marketplace, who do I replace him with and what’s the replacement cost?’ I think it’s a domino effect. Everybody is kind of taking that stance and I’m understanding of it.”

In the 17 years of NFL free agency, the most players who received the franchise tag previously was 11 in 2005 and 2008. But that record was eclipsed this year.

Among those who have been designated as franchise players are Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson and Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe.

Other notables include Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant, Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby, Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks, Chargers running back Darren Sproles and Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.

Other top players who were slated to become free agents before signing contract extensions in recent weeks include Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross, Dolphins offensive tackle Vernon Carey, Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden and Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

“I don’t really look at free agency like we did way back when when there were going to be probably a pretty good pool of players,” Angelo said. “There are going to be some players. [But] you have to pick the right player. 

"What you really have to know is who your team is on terms of its identity. You’ve really got to know your player profile and what you’re looking for in positions because there’s not going to be anybody out there that’s going to be a perfect player and you’re trying to get a square peg in a square hole.”

Not making any moves in the early stages of free agency doesn’t mean that the Bears won’t ultimately sign a few new players.

“You have to be patient with it,” Angelo said. “With all the attrition that we have with the staffs this year, there’s probably going to be some attrition on the rosters. There always has been.

“Teams go from a 4-3 to a 3-4 or teams want to do something different offensively, and then you have to look at these players in a finite way and maybe you can get somebody that can come in here and help you create more competition, depth and maybe a starter if you have a real need. I just feel like you have to be patient in free agency. It’s not nirvana.”

Several players around the league were cut on Wednesday, but not one is flawless. Most are either past their prime or trying to rebound after failing to perform up to expectations.

The Bears are committed to Kyle Orton as their starting quarterback and aren’t expected to address the position in free agency. Top free-agent quarterbacks include Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, Jeff Garcia, Byron Leftwich and Chris Simms. Warner, clearly the best of the bunch, has indicated that he wants to return to the Arizona Cardinals.

“We all believe in Kyle,” Angelo said. “We feel very strongly Kyle’s got a pretty good track record as a starter. We need to do some things to help him and he needs to do some things to get better. But we do feel good about him.

“When you bring somebody in from the outside to create competition, to have potentially co-starters, that takes away reps from both guys, so that retards the progress potentially of both players. It certainly doesn’t do anything for those backup-type guys that you’d like to continue to develop. There are only so many reps.

“There are only so many practices and you want to maximize those. Sure, you would like to say, ‘Throw the ball out and best man wins,’ but we just don’t have that time. We can’t afford that. We have to make determinations. We did and I feel real good.

“Is that to close the door on something, whatever that something might be? No, we’re never going to close the door. But I feel good right now with the plan that we put in place and moving forward with is a sound plan, and when I say a sound plan it’s a winning plan.”

While seeking a No. 2 receiver to pair with Devin Hester, the Bears won’t necessarily sign a veteran like they did last year with Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd. Second-year pro Earl Bennett may be a better option to fill that role.

“We went through this [in 2001],” Angelo said. “People were hammering us that we didn’t have the veteran receivers when we sent Bobby Engram down the road and we went with Marty Booker. We turned out to be OK.

“I like our receivers. Do we have to look at the position? Yes, we do. Does it need to be addressed in free agency? Not necessarily. We tried to do that last year. It really didn’t work out the way we liked. I like what we have. They need to continue to develop. But again our play starts with our lines. I don’t want to get so focused on the receiver position although, yes, we do need to look at the receiver position as well.”