adam

I believe anytime you can lock up a solid player into a longer contract, you do it. The market goes up every year. So to meet halfway, the team gets a decent number/years, and the player gets some guaranteed money. For Anderson and Hester. If they have monster years in 2008 before giving them extensions, then they will command much more compared to right now. Just think how much Hester would command in Free Agency.

Don't forget that we released Moose. So we lost our #1 and #2 receivers, our starting RB has lost a step, and we have 2 holes on our o-line. Sign Booker, Hackett, and an O-Lineman via FA. Then draft Mendenhall, OL, QB the first 3 rounds.

Berrian's best season is 71 receptions and 951 yards. What has he seriously proven? Marcus Robinson had 84 receptions and 1,400 yards for the Bears in 1999. Where is he now? There are two things Berrian is a top 10 Receiver in, salary and drops. More money than Briggs....hilarious.

It's amazing how this whole thing went full circle from offering a contract, to franchise tag, to almost being traded, to signing a 6yr deal for $36 million. That seems to be a great deal for the Bears.

Already posted here: http://www.talkbears.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1919 Also, its the Jets not the Giants.

Faneca agrees in principle to Jets deal of 4/$32. Ugh. The Bears should've matched that. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3271283

Nice to see NE getting weaker.

You don't think agents will use this as leverage? This guy was basically an unknown who just had knee surgery and he got $50 million with over $18 million in guarantees.

There is a thread about it here: http://www.talkbears.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1905

If Tommy Kelly can get $50 million over 7 years, what will Tommie Harris command? Kelly is now the highest paid DT. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AgXL...p&type=lgns

25 minutes. I wonder how many signings will happen overnight.

What makes no sense is if you are going to attempt to trade someone, why announce that you will release him anyway? You lose any leverage you might have.

I thought it would be a good idea to start a FA Tracker thread with the period opening tomorrow (or actually 11pm tonight). Here is one of many Trackers: http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/fa?bcsi_scan_...F/1kQEAAAAGMHAB

Why would a team trade for him when they can just sign him after the Bears release him? To beat other teams to the punch? Is he coveted that much?

Mend - en - hall!

As expected, Moose was signed by Carolina, but they also released Carr. Would we be interested in signing Carr as a backup instead of Griese? Carr played with Berrian at Fresno State and played pretty well together. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Aq0c...p&type=lgns

I believe it. It's professional sports.

It all depends on upfront money. The Bears still have room.

The only issue I have is if this will take away snaps from Olsen. This is nice insurance, but that seems to be more of a luxury - and can the Bears afford luxuries right now.

So he can throw great without pads in a dome. Amazing. Also, how could he not place among the top QBs in the 40, where he finished 4th, yet he did in the vertical jump when he came in 5th? Can an admin merge all ten Flacco threads as well?

I don't think you can gamble with a first round pick on a guy like this. There are so many more questions than answers. The guy had one great year in 2A.

More split time for Olsen? Always good to have depth. Looks like Clark is content with the situation. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Akcr...t&type=lgns

It's only one year, so it is a pretty good deal for the Bears. Rex has one last shot, and either he lives up to his potential, or moves on after this year.

You can say that about 8 other NFL teams as well. The article also mentions Jerry Porter: http://nc.startribune.com/blogs/vikings/?p=1340

Quarterbacks: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...articleid=29968 1. Anderson 2. Leftwich 3. Culpepper 4. Grossman (Prediction: Bears - $6 million guaranteed) 5. Volek Runningbacks: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...articleid=29957 1. Barber 2. Turner 3. Lewis 4. Jones (Prediction: Bears - $6 million guaranteed) 5. Ward Wide Receivers: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...articleid=29977 1. Hackett 2. Berrian (Prediction: Raiders, $14 million guaranteed) 3. Porter 4. Stallworth 5. Johnson (Prediction: Bears - $8 million guaranteed) Linebackers: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...articleid=29961 1. Briggs (Prediction: Redskins - 7 years, $63 million; $21 million guaranteed) 2. Pace 3. Thomas 4. Mitchell 5. Haggans Defensive Linemen: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/...=29961&pg=2 1. Smith 2. Williams 3. Odom 4. Kelly 5. Sopoaga So gain Julius Jones and Bryant Johnson while losing Berrian and Briggs.