Based on how Chicago at times handles signing free agents there is a popular theory that floats around every off season that the Bears are cheap.  This shows that they aren't so much cheap as they choose to take care of their own first and that they will not overpay a player.  Here is what they have spent on resigning players this off season:

Devin Hester: Signed 4-year extension worth as much as $40 million.

Brian Urlacher: Signed 1-year extension worth $18 million.

Tommie Harris: Signed 4-year extension worth as much as $40 million.

Robbie Gould: Signed 5-year extension worth $15.5 million.

Lance Briggs: Signed new 6-year, $36 million contract.

Rashied Davis: Signed new 3-year, $5.86 million contract.

Kyle Orton: Signed 1-year contract extension worth as much as $5 million.

Rex Grossman: Signed 1-year contract worth as much as $4.5 million.

Alex Brown: Signed 2-year extension worth $15.5 million.

Desmond Clark: Signed 2-year extension worth $6.5 million.

TOTAL: $186.9 million