Bears Ink Darwin Walker for 5 Years

by Adam T on Aug 1, 2007 8:25 AM CDT

The Bears have done in less than a week what the Eagles and Bills either couldn't do or wouldn't do and that is to sign Darwin Walker to a long term contract. The deal is for 5 years and worth 25 million.

The difference apparently and then thing that makes this look good for the Bears is that Walker wanted to be here.

It took defensive tackle Darwin Walker only a couple of days to realize he wanted to stay with the Bears for the long haul. So Walker called his agent, Al Irby, on Tuesday and told him money wasn't the first priority anymore, just get a deal done.

This says a lot for the organization and possibly future free agents.

The deal voided the final two years on his existing contract and gave him 8.5 million up front.

The question now is what does this mean to the line up. We all heard that Dvoracek would get top shot at Tank Johnson's old spot. Does this mean they don't think he is ready yet?

More likely we are going to see Dusty, Darwin and Anthony Adams in constant rotation based on schemes and on occasion to give Tommie Harris a breather.

''We didn't get everything we wanted,'' Irby said, ''but he's happy because after being around Lovie [Smith] and the guys for two days, money wasn't the most important thing. He said, 'Let's get a deal done.'''

It speaks to the character of a guy who while wanting his money is willing to put some demands aside to be in an environment that suits him and he is happy with.

I think this turns out to be a great deal for the Bears and Walker and they will both reap the rewards of it.

Credit: lawyeti

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Nice, but...

...this better not 'provide cover for Tommie Harris' (as quoted in the artcile) - it better leave enough money to LOCK UP Tommie Harris.

If we had our choice of only one, I know who the winner would be.

by PopeFlick on Aug 1, 2007 11:12 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think you have to worry about that

you know the Bears are going to have to shell out for him and are already planning it. The cap is supposed to jump the next few years, so thinking we are going to offer Rex and Bernard good contracts the only person left to really worry about is Urlacher and when they decide to restructure his deal.

by Adam T on Aug 1, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Taking a pay cut...

Walker is a veteran and unless he's a moron (of which he shows no signs) he has plenty of money.

Experience tells him that he should not squander his unbelievable luck of falling onto a team that has as good of prospects for multi-season success as any in the league, and far better than most.

Ditching a few dollars one likely does not need in exchange for a real possibility of multiple championships certainly shows sense. I'm not sure, however, what it shows about character to suffer under the yoke of a $25 MILLION contract for such an opportunity.

"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." -Joe Theismann

by DaveInSC on Aug 4, 2007 2:23 PM CDT reply actions