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New CBA agreement could restore 2009 free agency rules


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Some Bears/Free Agency related news coming out of a CBA rumor.

Included in the report is the assertion that the rules for free agency will revert back to how they were in 2009 and before, meaning all players out of contract with four or more years of service will be unrestricted.

 

While that has been expected, clubs still tendered qualifying offers to potential restricted free agents under the system that was used in 2010, when players needed six years of service to be unrestricted.

 

How will it affect the Chicago Bears? For cornerback Corey Graham, safety Danieal Manning and linebacker Nick Roach, it means good news. Although the Bears tendered a qualifying RFA offer to all three, under these guidelines they will be unrestricted, allowing them to enter the open market.

 

It’s bad news for the team as it reduces the chances all three will return. In fact, Graham is a good bet to leave as a UFA. Roach is probably the best bet of the three to return as the Bears need a starter on the strong side, where he made six starts last season.

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Would also clear up the status for a number of other guys, including some WR's who could interest the Bears.

Some big names will head to free agency. The unofficial list includes wide receivers Steve Breaston, Santonio Holmes, James Jones, Malcolm Floyd and Sidney Rice, running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and DeAngelo Williams, defensive ends Ray Edwards and Jacob Ford, tight ends Kevin Boss and Zach Miller, offensive linemen Willie Colon, Doug Free and Davin Joseph and cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Johnathan Joseph.

 

Bears backup quarterback Caleb Hanie remains a restricted free agent under the system because he has only three years of service. Running back Kahlil Bell and guard/center Edwin Williams are exclusive rights free agents and are not impacted.

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Let's see we could lose 3 decent players, even a solid contributor in DManning but the market opens up a lot more options for us to sign in positions of need. I'll take that.

 

I'll also guess that both Roach and DManning return. DManning's value as a KR went down with the new rules so he might not be seeing the kind of money he was hoping for. Of course his value as a DB has been the source of much discussion on this board. In the end I think the Bears will try to match what he gets offered.

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Let's see we could lose 3 decent players, even a solid contributor in DManning but the market opens up a lot more options for us to sign in positions of need. I'll take that.

 

I'll also guess that both Roach and DManning return. DManning's value as a KR went down with the new rules so he might not be seeing the kind of money he was hoping for. Of course his value as a DB has been the source of much discussion on this board. In the end I think the Bears will try to match what he gets offered.

 

We'll really have to see how this all sorts out. I've read elsewhere that the owners are going to want to protect a certain number of these players (3 or 4) because the resulting free agency frenzy otherwise would likely set many teams WAY back if they are having to replace starting players all over their team.

 

I'm certain that free agency will revert to the previous 4 years eventually, I'm just not convinced that it will take full effect this year with such a shortened free agency period, and such a large number of players being available since nobody was negotiating long term deals when the form of the new labor agreement was so uncertain.

 

Sure, it would benefit the Bears because we have signing our core players far in advance, but I'm really not sure that it will ultimately happen this way.

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We'll really have to see how this all sorts out. I've read elsewhere that the owners are going to want to protect a certain number of these players (3 or 4) because the resulting free agency frenzy otherwise would likely set many teams WAY back if they are having to replace starting players all over their team.

 

I'm certain that free agency will revert to the previous 4 years eventually, I'm just not convinced that it will take full effect this year with such a shortened free agency period, and such a large number of players being available since nobody was negotiating long term deals when the form of the new labor agreement was so uncertain.

 

Sure, it would benefit the Bears because we have signing our core players far in advance, but I'm really not sure that it will ultimately happen this way.

The owners would have to give up a lot to get the players to agree to additional FA restrictions for this upcoming year. They had to endure that last season and a number of guys feel genuinely screwed because of it.

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The owners would have to give up a lot to get the players to agree to additional FA restrictions for this upcoming year. They had to endure that last season and a number of guys feel genuinely screwed because of it.

 

I think that would depend on what they are asking for. What I've read is the equivalent of 4 transition tags where original teams only have the right to match. I don't think that would be too tough on the players and I don't think the owners would have to give up too much to get it either.

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I could see the "right to match" being agreed upon. Gives both sides a fair shot at what they want. On a positive note we have really progressed in the negotiation talks to be have rumors about what FA rules will be in place.

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  • 2 weeks later...

What are you guys hearing about the negotiations? I heard tonight the players and owners had agreed upon a revenue sharing split. I don't take these rumors too seriously until it's repeated from multiple sources. If true, I would think that was the biggest hurdle in negotiations and now it's a question of details on things like FA, rookie salaries, retirement benefits, etc. Word is the 18 game season is a goner too, not that I mind.

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