Source: Bears place low tender on QB Hanie

Source: Bears place low tender on QB Hanie

The Bears have placed a low tender of $1.2 million on restricted free agent Caleb Hanie, according to a league source.

The Bears do have the right for first refusal if another team were to sign Hanie to an offer sheet. But if the Bears were to decline to match, they would receive no compensation in return, as Hanie entered the league in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State. Hanie is restricted because he has just three years of service.

A second-rounder tender, valued at around $2 million, could have been placed on Hanie. But the Bears obviously felt comfortable about their chances of keeping Hanie regardless.

PHOTO GALLERY: Caleb Hanie in action

Photo: Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie in the NFC Championship game. (Brian Cassella / Tribune)

Both general manager Jerry Angelo and offensive coordinator Mike Martz said the team needed to address quarterback behind Jay Cutler, with veteran Todd Collins no longer in the team's plans and Hanie still unproven. Martz would not commit to Hanie as the backup despite Hanie's solid play in the NFC title game in place of the injured Cutler (knee).

"I don't know. We will see," Martz told the Tribune when asked if Hanie had secured the backup role. "We don't have to worry about any of that right now."

When asked what Hanie could do better to appeal to the coaches, Martz went on to say Hanie was fine and just needed time on the field. Hanie, who just completed his third season, showed flashes against the Packers in a 21-14 NFC title game loss. After throwing an interception for a touchdown, he nearly led the Bears to a comeback.

Hanie showed great poise in engineering two, 60-plus yard scoring drives despite being the third and emergency quarterback. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 153 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Before that game, Hanie had thrown just 14 passes in four career regular season appearances.

Hanie has expressed a strong desire to remain with the Bears but would naturally explore his options if fortunate enough to get an outside offer.

In extending such tenders as the one Hanie received, teams are essentially protecting themselves in case the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement are similar to the existing system. The CBA expires at the end of the day Thursday.

Hanie had a base salary of $475,000 last season. Even if he signs the Bears' tender, the money is not guaranteed.

looks like graham and roach also got tendered, but no confirmation on level yet:

ESPNChicago.com reported Monday the Bears are believed to have tendered qualifying offers to quarterback Caleb Hanie, linebacker Nick Roach and cornerback Corey Graham. The Bears did extend the original-compensation tender worth $1.29 million to safety Danieal Manning, according to NFL sources.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nf...ory?id=6176027

See dabears54, it's moves like this that cause the fanbase to not trust Martz.

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaJeff

See dabears54, it's moves like this that cause the fanbase to not trust Martz.

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what does this have to do with martz? thanks.. its cliff stein and angelo who do the salaries and cap stuff and this was a cap decision

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Originally Posted by dabears54

what does this have to do with martz? thanks.. its cliff stein and angelo who do the salaries and cap stuff and this was a cap decision

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How do you know Martz wasn't asked his opinion of Hanie? If he was and had giving a raving appraisal of Hanie then Hanie probably gets a higher tender.

A cap decision you say? Good luck trying to find a better #2 QB who's already shown his mettle in a championship game.

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaJeff

How do you know Martz wasn't asked his opinion of Hanie? If he was and had giving a raving appraisal of Hanie then Hanie probably gets a higher tender.

A cap decision you say? Good luck trying to find a better #2 QB who's already shown his mettle in a championship game.

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if martz didnt like hanie, you save $1.2 million and get someone else and let him go. That they tendered him means like him.. that they didn't tender him higher means a Cap decision...Better #'2.. marc bulger,kevin kolb,kerry collins and arguably matt flynn and I'm a fan of hanie's- let's just not like always happens in chicago make him into the next great Qb riding a bench until plays all the time as always seems to happen in chicago. Hanie still has a lot to prove and show he is a good NFL qb.

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaJeff

See dabears54, it's moves like this that cause the fanbase to not trust Martz.

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Nah, its moves like making Todd Collins the #2 that causes that.

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Originally Posted by dabears54

what does this have to do with martz? thanks.. its cliff stein and angelo who do the salaries and cap stuff and this was a cap decision

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I don't agree at all. It's Martz's refusal to make a commitment to him or even give him a decent vote of confidence that left JA and Angelo is the position they're left with. There's not reason at all that he should not have been tendered at a 2nd round pick level. We've paid that much to Collins and others who never performed 1/10th as well as Hanie has.

They say he's unproven!!!!!!!!!!!! Hell, he undressed a very good Packer defense in the Championship Game didn't he? What the fvck else does the guy need to prove. I watched this guy play at CSU and he's got the goods to be a very good NFL QB. If they lose Hanie they are complete idiots.

This is all about Martz's insecurties and the need for a vet backup as his "Binky". Who in the hell asked for Collins anyway. I doubt it was Cliff Stein or JA.

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Originally Posted by dabears54

Hanie still has a lot to prove and show he is a good NFL qb.

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As opposed to Collins? No it's not even a logical premise comparatively. Hanie has good value both now and in the future. It will take losing him to appreciate that fact.

I think this is a calculated risk on their part, but let's not run away with our thoughts on this. They are betting that there is not going to be aFA market for Hanie, that's all. I will guarantee you there won't be interest in him as a starte, adn no one will want to pay him much more than that as a back up.

That is all this is. We won't lose him, unless some knob, like Oakland comes in and offers him 5 million/year. In that case, we would have lost him anyway, we aren't paying that much for him, so, then we can all bemoan the loss of the draft pick. At this point, it is a gamble, but it is a reasonable one.