Down the Road: Contract Talk

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 1:57 PM CDT Comment 19 comments

More often than not, football fans tend to look at the present more than the future. We talk about this year's draft, not the draft in 2010. We talk about this year's starters, not who might start in 2 years. And we talk about this year's free agents, not who will be a FA in 3 years.

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Chicago Bears fans are typically very restless, ready for action right now. And with the offseason that we are having, many of us are looking forward to this season more than any other in a long time. But for a moment, let's take a look down the road a bit further than just right now.

Let's look at some of our players, and how their contracts are scheduled. I did not include signing bonuses, or details of incentives, but if you would like to know the details, let me know. I will run this feature pretty regularly, so you can let me know of anyone else that you are interested in.

Jay Cutler

2009: $1.035 million (+ $100,000 workout bonus)

2010: $1.4225 million (+ $4 million roster bonus)

2011: $1.81 million (+ $12 million performance roster bonus)

2012: Free Agent

Matt Forte

2009: $385,000

2010: $470,000

2011: $555,000

2012: Free Agent

Devin Hester

2009: $550,000 (+ $5 million roster bonus)

2010: $750,000 (+ $5 million roster bonus)

2011: $1.5835 million

2012: $1.646 million

2013: $1,857,523 (+ $10 million "deescalating" roster bonus)

2014: Free Agent.

Desmond Clark

2009-2010: $1 million (+ $475,000 roster bonuses),

2011: Free Agent

Greg Olsen

2009: $460,000 (+ $100,000 reporting bonus),

2010: $550,000 (+ $140,000 reporting bonus),

2011: $650,000 (+ $125,732 reporting bonus),

2012: Free Agent

Mark Anderson

2009: $530,000

2010: Free Agent

Danieal Manning

2009: $530,000

2010: Free Agent

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Comments

What's a deescalating bonus?

Also, I’d like to see Nate Vasher’s contract structure, if you please.

by Poloplaya14 on Jun 2, 2009 2:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll add Nate's to the next post.

Thanks.

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 Jun 2, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roster Bonuses

I can’t remember off hand-Do roster bonuses count against the cap? If they do, then in 2010 we will have almost $20 million tied up in Hester and Cutler. They are good players, but that’s a ton.

by ddub101 on Jun 2, 2009 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It depends on how the roster bonuses are structured.

If the roster bonuses are guaranteed, then they are prorated over the length of the contract.

But if the roster bonuses are treated like performance bonuses (i.e. “If the player is part of the roster for a full 16 games”) then it counts immediately against that year’s cap if it is awarded.

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

How are Hester’s and Cutler’s?

by ddub101 on Jun 3, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They are both set up as guaranteed.

So they will be spread out over the length of the contract for cap purposes.

by Dane Noble on Jun 3, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see Forte avoid an A-Train second yand third year before trying to keep him around long-term.

by Black Sox Baseball on Jun 2, 2009 4:07 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Great point

by BearFan611 on Jun 2, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

did you see the NFL network clip about it???

they think his sophomore slump will be due to lack of touches. the consensus was that with the hopes of jay being able to spread the ball around, his ability to scramble and make more time for the receivers to get open, he won’t have to dump the ball off to forte. also, with a healthy kevin jones to lighten the load, he’ll see less carries. all that being said, if that’s the type of “slump” he goes thru, i ’m all for it!!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 2, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's a slump you don't mind seeing.

I can’t shake how many reporters were saying he gets way too many touches to be a healthy player for years to come. I think I recall one analyst saying we should suck him dry with the current contract and then drop him some another team to deal with the damage.

Harsh stuff.

by Black Sox Baseball on Jun 2, 2009 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I recall one analyst saying we should suck him dry with the current contract and then drop him some another team to deal with the damage.

Ditka, I hope not. He carried the offense without complaining or showing any evidence of divaism for the whole of his rookie season. After the Benson saga and Thomas Jones endearing himself less and less with his continued whining with every new locker room he enters, it’s nice to have a RB who’s reminiscent, in the intangibles, of a team player like Payton.

"They tried to take out the quarterback, and if they managed that, they tried to take out the backup." - Bears SB20 TE Emery Moorehead, on the mentality of *that* defense

by Spongie on Jun 2, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our 2012 FA class is big

and full of important players: Cutler, Olsen and Forte. Hopefully these guys earn new contracts before then because those could end up 3 very important contracts to get done before FA.

by GallopingGhost on Jun 2, 2009 4:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If Hester becomes who I think he might become this year...

then it’s possible he will be complaining about his contract in 2011-12. If he does end up becoming a true #1, then he would be playing for less than 2 mil / year for those two years.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by smudgers on Jun 2, 2009 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we know where I stand

On those types of deals. if you don’t then look up the Josh Cribbs holdout piece and read my comment. it’s titled “Both these guys show”

by GallopingGhost on Jun 2, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok link

HERE

by GallopingGhost on Jun 2, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not going to argue your logic because I don't disagree with you.

I can just see it happening, But who knows, may the $10 mil “deescalating” roster bonus in ’13 will be enough to keep him happy.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by smudgers on Jun 3, 2009 7:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are three things that jump out to me.

One is Jay Cutler. If he becomes the QB the Bears hope he can be i see an extension for him after the 2010 season. I just don’t think you want to take a chance of him getting close to the FA year and have a team like the Queens toss him a 80 million dollar contract over 6 years. If the Virginia and Ted do not reach deep in their purses and pockets respectively then it will be bad. Once again, this is depending on how he performs which i hope he does very very well.

Matt Forte had enough carries and total yards to account for 37% of our offense last season. Barring a performance sophmore slump which i just don’t see happening but you never know, i would expect an extension for him come end of 2010 season also. If he sustains or “gasp” improves into an elite NFL back than i don’t see how they can not justify making him a top 10 at least paid RB. Once again, depending on his success Virginia better dig deep in her purse on this one.

Greg Olsen is a couple improvements away from being a top 3 TE in this league. I mean mentioned in the same breath as Gates, Gonzales, and Witten. He is more of a finesse guy, that is evident; however with Dez Clark going into his last year and still not sure of exactly what we have with Gaines, he will need to improve his run blocking or he will be a liability or worse, get injured. If Clark does not get extended or a new contract then Olsen will have to prove he can be the every down TE that those earlier mentions were. Once again, if he can..time to open the pocketbook up come contract time.

If we keep those 3 happy, and if those 3 perform how i suspect they will perform, “We are talking a minimum 8-peat”!

by Chitownproduct on Jun 3, 2009 5:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

hate to complicate things EVEN more, but...

how much or that changes if no CBA is reached??? sorry geaux, it was too hard to resist, and i expected someone else to bring it up… here’s to playing devil’s advocate!!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 3, 2009 5:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs