Israel Idonije Wants a New Deal

by Adam T on May 15, 2009 9:45 AM CDT

Israel Idonije is in the last year of his contract. He is due to make 1.75 million. He is ready for his new deal. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus has reached out to the Bears, but he expects them to wait until the end of the 2009 season.

This one worries me. Idonije is our most versatile defensive linemen. He has been moved all over the line, been asked to gain and drop weight and has performed where ever the Bears put him. He has beat DMS.

The problem is he isn't a starter. I'm worried that Rosenhaus will price him out of our range and the Bears will have to eat a big contract for a non-starter or let him go. He will have suitors if he hits the market.

I'm thinking perhaps the Bears should put a reasonable offer on the table while they still have him instead of letting another team set the market for him.

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sure for Izzy.

No for O-gun, who also wants a new deal. He doesn’t deserve an extension and should play out his contract. Wale’s in no position to want an extension. If this spills into training camp, I say we trade him.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 15, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed. Idonije is a vital part of our D line

and I would be really mad if they decided to get rid of him. He’s an incredible back up and I would like to see what he can offer at DE now that he’s dropping weight. Ogunleye has no right to be complaining about anything when he has to prove himself. Why can’t guys play out their contract years and earn their new contracts anymore? It’s greedy and ridiculous but I’m sure a money whore like Rosenhaus is blowing smoke and making them become winey pre madonnas.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on May 15, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Whale

is anticipating a big year, and then he can go back to being mediocre after he gets a nice contract. I’d be up for Izzy getting a new deal before the season, but certainly not Whale (this guy is money-motivated).

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on May 15, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions

It's part of the business...

…for players to get extensions in their contract years. I think the last part of your post is the most correct, it has a lot to do with Rosenhaus, but I don’t think it’s all greed. If their agent, no matter who it was, didn’t try to get both of them extended, he would be worthless. It is the agents job to keep them employed. And neither player is complaining, Wale has even admitted that NO player deserves to be going to the front office with his hand out after how they played last year – but it is still his contract year. And it is not as if Wale or Izzy are sitting out camps or blasting the management in the news.

Personally, I would rather see how Gilbert and/or Melton progress and perform in limited action this year. My guess/hope is that Gilbert can be groomed into a beast DE, eliminating the need to re-sign the under-achieving Ogunleye next year.

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

First part of your post is right on...

Second part is flawed. Gilber is gearing up for a career inside, not outside. Melton is the guy who you should be hoping to excel in ogun’s role.

by The Kaiser on May 15, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

"Save them, we must. They are our last hope."

I just know how good Izzy is on the inside – he could be a dominate starter on the inside. Then I can see Gilbert moving to the outside. He has all the tools to be a great DE or DT. Of course, I’m not complaining either way – I think Angelo did a great job on drafting both Gilbert and Melton.

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm sure that Rod Marinelli will be the deciding factor on this one.

Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.

by Haightminow on May 15, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

My thoughts exactly.

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on May 15, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I like Izzy too, but

We have a couple of rookies who could be promising and I think it would be wise to see what they, and Marinelli, bring to the table. If they are decent, I wouldn’t want to tie cap money up in the coming years on a backup player. What I’d really like to see is giving Idonije a real shot at becoming more than a backup, then if he proves himself, sign him up.

by BearFan611 on May 15, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I too would like to see Izzy in more of a starting role

Next year – Gilbert | Harris | Idonije | Brown

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

That doesn’t make any sense. Switch Idonije and Gilbert and maybe you’re on to something.

by The Kaiser on May 15, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Why not?!?

Izzy has played mostly DT, and done a pretty good job – right? Didn’t Gilbert play DE in college and he played pretty well. Yes, he did better when they moved him inside… but how can you not believe he could it not makes sense considering he has played there, and Marinelli can take him to the next level?

Who has the higher upside at DE. My guess is Gilbert. He is quicker than Idonije – which is what Chicago likes in it’s bookends. Maybe I am wrong though… that is why I sit behind a computer for 40 hours a week.

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Whyt Not? Because...

…it flies in the face of what we know the Bears are doing. That is: asking Idoninje to slim down this off season and go back to playing DE and focusing Gilbert’s development on playing the 3 technique position inside.

You can question that all day long but that is what the “best Defensive line coach in the world” thinks is the right way to go.

by The Kaiser on May 15, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

If that is what happens, then good.

Don’t really care, honestly. Only things is, I doubt you, me, anyone else on this thread or even Bob Babich “know what the Bears are doing.”

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess...

that you don’t know what the Bears are doing. And I suppose it is possible that Babich doesn’t know either…

But for me, and most other fans who follow the Bears closely, the planned roles of Idonije and Gilbert are fairly clear at this point.

by The Kaiser on May 15, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

no need to be a douche...

Just stating my opinion that I wouldn’t mind seeing Izzy tear it up in the middle in a starting capacity and that ‘I believe’ Gilbert could be dominate outside. That is all. The previous comment was meant as a joke, lighten up – it’s Friday!

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Keep it civil Kaiser and smudgers, please.

by Dane Noble on May 15, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

my bad Kaiser!!!

Let’s e-hug it out and move on!

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah...

And Hester is our planned #1 receiver…and Rex is our Quarterback…and we get off the bus running….and we want to get Wolfe more involved…and…

"If God had wanted man to play soccer, He wouldn't have given us arms" - Ditka

by EricEmpire on May 15, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry for the illiterate sentence...

I fell asleep while typing.

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by David Taylor on May 15, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think that Gilbert or izzy

Could get past my adopted son…

I've officially adopted #94 Marcus Harrison!

by scespy12 on May 15, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t come down too hard on either Ogun or Izzy simply because their agent is putting the word out on Twitter that they would like to re-sign with the Bears before they become free agents. If you want to condemn either of them for their play on the field, that’s another thing, but their agent is only doing what he thinks will help his clients.

Now, is Twitter (which equates to the court of public opinion) the best place to plant the seeds on for a new contract? Well, that is a complete unknown because this is the first off season that we’re seeing Twitter used as a tool in the NFL. While I applaud Rosenhaus for quickly adopting new technologies as one of his tactics, I also question his strategy; the court of public opinion, especially in the case of Ogun, could actually backfire on him and do more damage than good in his attempt to get a deal done with the Bears before the 09 season ends.

by The Kaiser on May 15, 2009 11:58 AM CDT reply actions

Very interesting point about Twitter.

You’re one of my favs

by rdent4hof on May 16, 2009 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I always wondered if he would come into his own if he were starting.

Rod Marinelli will have a big say so in the future of the 3 FA DE’s the Bears have

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on May 15, 2009 12:12 PM CDT reply actions

Adewale Ogunleye is massively overrated

I think Rod Marinelli will come to that same conclusion soon enough. Israel Idonje seems to be talented, but the actual production on the football field has never matched the hype or the potential label assigned him.

by BLou on May 15, 2009 1:56 PM CDT reply actions

Why is whale massively overrated?

Because as far as we're concerned, there is still no team in the history of the NFL that could beat the '85 Bears.

by Ditkavsworld on May 15, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Some of you have bizarre optimism for the impact Marinelli will have

Look, I like Marinelli coming on board. A lot. But he doesn’t line up and play the plays folks. While I think he will have a positive impact, I for the life of me don’t understand the prediction that Marinelli will have magical transformation powers over a cast of dubious, disappointing and untested defensive line options. A dose of realtiy is needed here folks.

by BLou on May 15, 2009 1:59 PM CDT reply actions

Maybe folks are overly optimistic

about Marinelli and maybe you are just cautiously pessimistic. My belief is that Marinelli will get this unit back to dominance. I believe that because this nearly exact crew (other than Tank) that was dominant (2005-06). When you look at game tape from those years, Chicago’s D-line was ferocious, driven, and played with something to prove. Then they proved it, NFC Champions, Super Bowl, and Pro Bowls. They got comfortable, arrogant, and soft. When you combine that with the coaching changes, it really altered the drive to be the best. When you believe that you’re the best at what you do, being coached by somebody that you think is in over their head, will really destroy the motivation you have. IMO that is what has happened. For lack of better words, Marinelli is just what the doctor ordered. I think the D-line will buy what Marinelli is selling, re-igniting the fire that made this unit the best.

by rdent4hof on May 16, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

What about Mark Anderson

I think the line should be brown, harris, izzy, and anderson, That would be a quick speedy line.

by LasVegasBearsFan on May 15, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions

One thing i like about Izzy also

Is he is a beast on special teams. It seemed like every couple games or so he was making a huge play on special teams from making big tackles to stripping balls to blocking kicks. The guy is a serious athlete.

In a perfect world i would want wale and izzy and the whole D-Line to just get back to prominence. Honestly i believe Wale is going to shine this year and get a new contract. From the sound of many of you though it seems people have given up on Wale. I hope he uses this chance and has a breakout year and resigns.

by Chitownproduct on May 16, 2009 2:53 PM CDT reply actions

Twitter equates to the court of public opinion?

I agree that the service can be compelling at times, but it’s already being overrun with marketers, celebritard musings and other flotsam and jetsam. Too much diffusion in the ether, you could say. So maybe it works or not, but I don’t think it makes a critical difference what specific medium Rosenhaus uses at this point, since he habitually uses them all – and undoubtedly will.

by Waylon on May 16, 2009 5:18 PM CDT reply actions

Let Ogunleye play out his contract

If he has another mediocre season, he wont get nearly as much money as he makes on his current contract. No way do I give this guy an extension now for more money. If he has a breakout year, well the Bears can still try to resign him, but the gamble will cost more money.
Idonije will make $1.75mil this season; if he was offered $3mil extension, I would think that would be enough. I dont think he will get enough playing time to really have a breakout season so I wouldn’t go any higher than that if they think he can be a good DE.

by gillrowdy on May 17, 2009 7:13 PM CDT reply actions