Not So Cheap Bears

by WCG on Jul 28, 2008 7:30 AM CDT Comment 7 comments

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

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Whoa.

This is a little silly. The Bears ARE cheap. They’re not going to pay Hester all of that $40mil. To include the top figures in these escalating contracts and write as if that’s what is actually spent is sloppy journalism at best and disingenuous at worst.

If you want to defend their cheapness, try to point out that this year they’re ranked 13th against the cap or whatever. Give it some perspective. These number aren’t guaranteed for sure.

Actually, what this should be more about is that this off-season they HAVE in fact shedded a cheap image that I and many other life long Bears fans have come to accept as part of the way the McCaskey’s have done business with the team. In past years there was no way I could have pictured an amicable ending to 4 players wanting raises that were as important as Urlacher, Harris, Briggs & Hester.

Sorry, but the Bears have been cheap for a long time, and even when they started spending money a few years ago it was done poorly (PDaniels comes to mind). This off-season may or may not signal a permanent change but it’s really only one off-season in just over 85.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 28, 2008 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You sir...

are still under the misguided belief that the McCaskey’s (most notable Virginia and Michael) are actually controlling the decisions of this franchise.

At this point in time, the McCaskey’s are nothing more than paper holders of team ownership… and boardroom members with fancy titles on their door.

The men responsible for the team’s recent success, and held accountable for any failures are Ted Phillips and Jerry Angelo. Those two men run this team, and don’t have to answer to the McCaskey’s. The McCaskeys are so football stupid, that they needed to hire an executive search firm to help them find a GM. George surely turned over in his grave on that day. They hired men who know something about football, and have since stayed out of the way.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 28, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not cheap but reasonable

No one is holding a gun to the players’ head to sign these deals. JA has shown savvy by extending player contracts as opposed to signing new ones once the players are free agents. By doing this Jerry is circumventing artificial inflation of player contracts; it’s genius. The only thing preventing Jerry Angelo and his scouting staff from being the best in the NFL is their horrible drafting on the offensive side of the ball. The drafting of special teams and defense has been incredible though.

by escolio on Jul 28, 2008 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is a different era for the Bears, and the "cheap" label no longer accurate

As soon as Michael got the boot, Ted got the stadium deal done, and a friggin executive search firm told them to hire JA, things began to change.

They’ve actually drafted some incredible pro-bowl caliber talent and have re-signed those players, as opposed to having to hit the FA market and overpay for someone else’s draft picks.

They’re not cheap, but they aren’t necessarily BIG spenders. They’re simply spending wisely .

Like escolio said, “The only thing preventing Jerry Angelo and his scouting staff from being the best in the NFL is their horrible drafting on the offensive side of the ball.”

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 28, 2008 10:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's true they aren't cheap

They are very savvy, they take care of their own first and know that it isn’t worth it to build through free agency where a lot of the time you have to overpay for decent or old talent. They have built the contracts of Harris and Hester to make the escalators for the big money fair, but at the same time somewhat difficult to achieve, that way they stay motivated and the team is protected in Harris continues to get injured or Hester never becomes a true #1 WR. It’s perfect. They just need to draft offensive talent at the FRONT of the draft better.

Bold Prediction: Orton will be the starter in week 1.

by GallopingGhost on Jul 28, 2008 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs