Thread: Forte is done...who is the the next to get extended?

I'm gonna join the Urlacher and Melton group. Those two are pretty key cogs in the defense and both are in the final year of their deals due to become 2013 FA's although we do have our franchise tag back again and the could use it on Melton if they have to.

I don't think Brian Urlacher will be a problem. If the Bears considered Forte important enough to the offense to sign then the face of the franchise won't end up his career in Minnesota or Detroit. I'm sure of that. I think both sides want to be fair with the other and coming off a knee injury at age 34 they're just taking it as it goes. I'm certain they'll come to an agreement even if it means letting Brian collect some offers to establish his market value and then letting the Bears match the best. He wants a SB ring and he wants it with Chicago.

(Now if they fire Lovie after this season all bets are off)

Melton may be a tough negotiation if he has a great year just like Forte was tough but if he does ring the bell this year he'd be the most likely guy to tag. The 2012 cost of a tag for a DT was $7.96 mil or about the same as the cost of Matt Forte's tag this year. The 2013 may be a little higher but with the new way they compute it it could be lower too. Unless Melton really screws up and back slides I'd be willing to bet he's the other guy who will be a must sign.

Cutty has one more year under his deal so both sides can be patient but if there's money to do it that can be deferred for a couple of year in order to adjust the cap for his deal then the Bears should pursue it BEFORE he wins a SB. Once that happens we may be looking at Manning or Brees kind of $$$. Conversely if I was Jay I wouldn't be in any rush. I've got two prime years coming up to win that SB, make All Pro, and be considered a top five QB. Why sign now when you may not even be a top ten QB?

Just sayin'. (Psst, Jay. Do you need any help negotiating your new deal? Then call me at (303) soulman and leave me your number. I'll get back to you.)

Originally Posted by A-11

Don't do it, put the phone down! Do not sale your soul Johnny. No dial-a-dealing from Soulessman, you're not that good John...err Jay, ahh Johnny.Anyways, I think Melton is a good idea to go first, then Cutler and Urlacher to follow out of the three. Didn't really have anything original to this thread, but wanted to join the group.

.................................................. ..

Originally Posted by Grizzblue

Good to have ya back soul


But yeah i would like to see melton or cutty get done soon because they are in a position to get real expensive real fast

Thanks Grizz.

I agree with you. We pretty much know where Urlacher's head and heart are. It's almost to to the point where if I'm negotiating with him I'd be saying, "OK Brian what are you looking for here." "We're think maybe a three year extension so what's a fair figure and how would you prefer we structure it."

I don't think there needs to be a whole lot of game playing over getting it done. He wants to finish his career here so both sides need to come up with fair arrangement that will allow him to do that. He doesn't need the money and I no longer think the size of his paycheck is an ego thing for him.

Melton could easily become an $8 mil per year guy just like Forte and I don't want to even think about what Cutler might be worth after he wins a SB as opposed to what he may get now. That's when a $12-$14 mil per year deal all of a sudden becomes a $15-$18 mil per year deal.