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Bears tender qualifying offer to RB Bell
Bears tender qualifying offer to RB Bell
By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter
2:59 p.m. CDT, March 12, 2012
The Chicago Bears have tendered a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent running back Kahlil Bell. Bell, a former undrafted player from UCLA, would make a one-year salary of $1.26 million by signing the one-year tender.
His agent, Harold Lewis, can negotiate with any club through April 20. If Bell were to sign an offer sheet with a new club, the Bears would be able to match the offer and retain him. If the Bears decided not to match any offer, they would not receive any compensation in return based on the level of Bell’s tender.
The Bears originally offered Bell a two-year contract that included around $500,000 in guaranteed money. That contract still could be negotiated before Bell signs the low-level tender. He made $520,000 last season as an exclusive rights free-agent.
Bell wants to remain in Chicago and should have the inside track to serve as Matt Forte’s backup next season. The Bears placed the $7.7 million franchise tag on Forte to make sure he would remain in the fold, and the team appears confident that a long-term deal with the Pro Bowl running back will be reached in the near future.
Bell proved his worth at the end of last season after Forte went down with a season-ending knee sprain. He rushed for 240 yards in the final three games, including a career-high 121 yards on 23 carries in a loss at Green Bay.
Bell did have some fumbling issues, but he vowed to address those concerns.
"There are no excuses for fumbling," Bell told the Tribune recently. "That was my fault. But I think the more I get an opportunity to play, the more I'll be able to protect the ball better."
The Bears are destined to part ways with veteran Marion Barber, who has one year left on the two-year contract he signed last year. Barber told others he didn’t expect to be back with the team and he recently moved out of his Chicago-area apartment, according to a source.
The Bears hope to add a speedy back to the mix, with Bell more in the mold of Forte.
Bears tender qualifying offer to RB Bell - chicagotribune.com
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Sounds good to me. If anyone makes him an offer over this let him go.
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Bell has shown up every time he's been called on. If we compare his $1.26 mil to Barber's $2.875 mil 2012 cap cost he's a very good bargain for a #2 back. He may not have quite the power that Barber has but Bell is a tough little north/south runner who gets that extra yard or two on almost every run. He fights hard for his yardage. He's also a very low mileage back and though I doubt another team will offer more I'd be prepared to match it if they do. Fumbling problems aside he's been a very productive backup.
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Originally Posted by
soulman 
Bell has shown up every time he's been called on. If we compare his $1.26 mil to Barber's $2.875 mil 2012 cap cost he's a very good bargain for a #2 back. He may not have quite the power that Barber has but Bell is a tough little north/south runner who gets that extra yard or two on almost every run. He fights hard for his yardage. He's also a very low mileage back and though I doubt another team will offer more I'd be prepared to match it if they do. Fumbling problems aside he's been a very productive backup.
Barber had fumbling issues too, I'd take Bell over Barber every day.
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I'd like to see the Bears upgrade the RB position through the draft. I prefer a faster RB that get in the end zone. Hopefully someone takes Bell off our hands and they cut Barber. I like Barber, but his days as a runner seem way back in the rear view mirror.
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Originally Posted by
BearStuff Barber had fumbling issues too, I'd take Bell over Barber every day.
Absolutely. Bell did a very nice job running between the tackles last season. He's not as nifty in space as Forte but he has quickness and good acceleration to the hole. Plus he played about 10lbs heavier last year and that seemed to help with his ability to fight out that extra yard of two.
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Junior Member
I think I read somewhere that Bell said he had never fumbled before this season. That is quite an accomplishment, if it's true. From what I've seen Bell has performed just as well as Barber.
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Good, I always liked bell as the primary backup....don't think he can carry Forte's jock as a fulltimer, but he's more then worthy of getting the shot as backup.
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Would love to have him back as the back-up as well, like this guy's running style and it always seems that first guy does not bring him down.
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If we upgrade Bell, I want Jerome Bettis
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