Bears Gamble on 2011 FA Bargains.............

Bears gamble on motivated free agents

WR Williams could be a real value buy


http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...8/63809762.jpg Roy Williams catches a pass from Jay Cutler during a training camp practice. (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images / August 6, 2011)




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http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...0-07201031.jpg Story: Tice sets Bears' starting five O-line, unless they 'falter'



By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter 10:02 p.m. CDT, August 7, 2011


BOURBONNAIS — With the biggest splash in free agency in franchise history, the Bears last year secured Julius Peppers with a contract that paid him $20 million for 2010.

In a more wide-ranging approach this summer, the Bears have signed 10 veterans who will cost the team a little more than $23.5 million this season provided they all make the club. The group includes four projected starters, a punter, some rotational players for the defensive line, special teams help and a complementary running back to Matt Forte.

What signals the Bears were bargain shopping? Punter Adam Podlesh's $10 million, five-year contract was the largest. He receives $4.5 million this season, according to figures obtained by the Tribune.

Expectations in the NFL are shaped by two things: draft status and contract size. So what else stands out from the Bears' shopping spree? The club might be counting on Matt Spaeth to start at tight end based on the $7 million, three-year contract he received, $3 million of which is earned this season.

For all the chatter about the team pursuing Lofa Tatupu, coach Lovie Smith has been straightforward in saying Nick Roach is the starter at strong-side linebacker. His payday affirms that. Roach received a $4.5 million, two-year contract and banks $2.685 million in 2011. Running back Marion Barber receives $2.5 million this season in a two-year contract with a base value of $4.5 million.

If wide receiver Roy Williams produces like offensive coordinator Mike Martz has predicted, the Bears will have one of the value buys of free agency. He went from signing a $45 million, five-year extension with $20 million guaranteed when he was traded from the Lions to the Cowboys to coming here on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. That's $9 million less than he made in Dallas last season, and it's why general manager Jerry Angelo said he likes players that bet on themselves.

"You take the one-year deal and see what happens," Williams said. "Hopefully, it plays out the way you planned. I've made enough money to where I am OK. It's about finding the right fit and getting some respect in this league again.

"People are on my back all day, every day. I think that is just because I played for America's Team and everybody saw what was going on every Sunday. But people don't know the inside stuff that was happening, and I'll never say. I notice I am 50/50 with the fans here. Some fans are believers, some are not."

Amobi Okoye looks like he could quickly find a niche at defensive tackle. He's on a prove-it deal too worth $1,382,500. Vernon Gholston is getting a look as a situational pass rusher with a $1 million contract. New center Chris Spencer gets a little more than half of his $6 million, two-year contract in year one. Sam Hurd projects to be a standout special teams player with a role on offense too, and his base deal is $4.15 million over three seasons with $1 million in escalators. He earns $2.035 million this season. Linebacker Brian Iwuh is back for one year at $710,000.

None of these players projects to make the same impact Peppers did last season. But they're role players with mostly affordable contracts. Seven of them are one- or two-year deals, meaning the new Bears should be motivated to perform.

Angelo's wager is in.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

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Quite a difference between the FA spending this year versus last, huh? All ten of this years guys so far cost a little more than 15% more than Peppers did last year all by himself. When you add in what Manu and Taylor made last years 2010 cost for those three alone was about $30 mil. Is it any wonder they put a limit on JA FA credit cards this year.

Looking it over now that it's done you'd have to say we did very well with our dumpster diving so far when the most expensive deal was your punter. I can't see one guy they really overpaid for and the deals for Gholston, Okoye, Hurd and Iwuh are downright bargains or so it would seem.

All I can say is that if most of these guys on the one year deals pan out then Jerry is gonna have to come up with some 2011 or 2012 cap $$$ for some extensions. All things considered I guess that would be a nice problem to have.

Gotta say this might be the right locker room for Williams; a guy with something to prove joining a team that's always feeling the need to prove themselves. But, only time will tell..

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Originally Posted by soulman

Quite a difference between the FA spending this year versus last, huh? All ten of this years guys so far cost a little more than 15% more than Peppers did last year all by himself. When you add in what Manu and Taylor made last years 2010 cost for those three alone was about $30 mil. Is it any wonder they put a limit on JA FA credit cards this year.

Looking it over now that it's done you'd have to say we did very well with our dumpster diving so far when the most expensive deal was your punter. I can't see one guy they really overpaid for and the deals for Gholston, Okoye, Hurd and Iwuh are downright bargains or so it would seem.

All I can say is that if most of these guys on the one year deals pan out then Jerry is gonna have to come up with some 2011 or 2012 cap $$$ for some extensions. All things considered I guess that would be a nice problem to have.

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I actually tend to think the reason JA was tighter with our money this year is because he sees that we were thisclose to the Super Bowl last year and seeing as his talent evals and his evaluation of our team in general both leave alot to be desired, he didn't want to make too many drastic changes. The only problem with that logic is that we overachieved to a degree last year considering we had a make-shift OL and WR core and still had the run we did.

Having said that, all of these FA moves are low risk with high reward potential, and we've still got money in the bank in the event that it becomes necessary to upgrade somewhere.

I think my favorite FA move is the Barber signing...if he returns to form, that one could pay huge dividends.

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Originally Posted by KML

I actually tend to think the reason JA was tighter with our money this year is because he sees that we were thisclose to the Super Bowl last year and seeing as his talent evals and his evaluation of our team in general both leave alot to be desired, he didn't want to make too many drastic changes. The only problem with that logic is that we overachieved to a degree last year considering we had a make-shift OL and WR core and still had the run we did.

Having said that, all of these FA moves are low risk with high reward potential, and we've still got money in the bank in the event that it becomes necessary to upgrade somewhere.

I think my favorite FA move is the Barber signing...if he returns to form, that one could pay huge dividends.

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I like getting him too. At the very end of last season after watching us fail so many times on 3rd and short and on the goaline I was screaming for a short yardage back. If Marion Barber is 100% healthy and can regain his old form he's one of the best around at getting tough yards. This one and the Okoye signing were pick ups in areas of need that weren't as obvious as some others but they were needs nonetheless. Okoye has the potential to be a very good 3t DT and inside pass rusher.

I like the other two CowBears as well. Signing Hurd was a master stroke for the ST's and he may well turn out to be a much better reserve WR than he ever was in Dallas. RWill has a lot to prove as far as I'm concerned but even if he's no more than adequate he still improves the receiving core and ditching Manu in favor of Spaeth made a lot of sense too.

This may prove to be a very profitable offseason if the Oline gels as is but if not JA is gonna look like a fool no matter what happens with these others. That was the the area of prime focus this offseason and all we could manage was to add a rookie OT (albeit a very good one) and lose our vet OC. Not what I would term a raging success.

well how about a bargain G or T ..........

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Originally Posted by motownbear

well how about a bargain G or T ..........

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We may still see one but it won't be anyone like we originally thought mo. Tice wants the guys he's got now to be his starters so unless somone gets hurt or falls flat on their face the five he's got are the starters. Anyone we bring in will be for depth and to hopefully replace Omiyale.

Don't know whether anyone else caught this or not but Lance Louis is playing nearly 20lbs heavier this year. If he's added that in upper and lower body strength without losing any of his athleticism maybe he won't get rag dolled as much this year.

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Originally Posted by soulman

We may still see one but it won't be anyone like we originally thought mo. Tice wants the guys he's got now to be his starters so unless somone gets hurt or falls flat on their face the five he's got are the starters. Anyone we bring in will be for depth and to hopefully replace Omiyale.

Don't know whether anyone else caught this or not but Lance Louis is playing nearly 20lbs heavier this year. If he's added that in upper and lower body strength without losing any of his athleticism maybe he won't get rag dolled as much this year.

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Gives a bit more hope he can not get tossed around and be a little more meaner. Good catch Soul

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Originally Posted by motownbear

well how about a bargain G or T ..........

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It's getting to the point where it's too late to throw a lineman into the mix and think they'll be starting week one. There's a lot of playbook to ingest. Defense is one thing, we could still get a DB and they'd be fine, but the offensive playbook, any pro offensive playbook (if new), is a lot to learn in short order.

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Originally Posted by Butka

It's getting to the point where it's too late to throw a lineman into the mix and think they'll be starting week one. There's a lot of playbook to ingest. Defense is one thing, we could still get a DB and they'd be fine, but the offensive playbook, any pro offensive playbook (if new), is a lot to learn in short order.

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Yep, Tice and Lovie are set about the Oline so about the only help we can look forward to might be some vet depth off the waiver wire. That's pretty much the way JA calls it in his commentary on the offseason and the current position of the team.