Da Bears goin nutty in FA

[Brandon494]

Pepper had 2 1/2 sacks two years ago...not as good as he use to be.

[red]

Well supposedly there's a big chance of it coming back, which is why a lot of teams aren't going all out spending.

no, teams aren't spending a lot because they don't have too. no cap means no floor. so many teams can choose just to sit back and make a lot more money this year if they want to. and not every team has the money to throw around these days.

the cap could come back, but how would it work

theres a couple ways of giving the guy his bonus money up front. the signing bonus, which is pro rated over many years to help the cap hit, and the roster bonus, which hits the cap right away. both bonuses are payed to the player up front. the only difference has to do with the cap

in years past you would give a guy a 20 million dollar signing bonus. spread it over 5 years and you have a 4 million dollar cap hit from that bonus in each of the next 5 years.

but this year there is no cap. so if i'm a team i don't give a signing bonus, i call it a roster bonus.

player still gets his 20 million up front. but it would all count against this years cap (which doesn't matter) meaning, no future cap hits, just the salary would count against a future cap.

so a team could sign a high price player now, if they have the money, and actually be set up pretty good for the future if the cap does come back

[steve823]

Oh thanks for that explanation. Never really read up on all the talk about it because it was so boring. That's probably also why there is hardly any decent free agents.

[b bulldog]

Unblockable when motivated, but isn't motivated enough for this kind of money. McKinnie must be thinking, "oh....shit, he owned me last year"

[red]

bears should have gone after anquan boldin instead, rumor is the asking price for him is a third round pick

they could still trade for him, but you have to wonder how much money the bears have left after the peppers and taylor deals.

boldin would want a new very big contract soon

[mission]

looking on the bright side still...

#4 should be taking more hits next season

[sheepshead]

looking on the bright side still...

#4 should be taking more hits next season

[Fred's Slacks]

Well supposedly there's a big chance of it coming back, which is why a lot of teams aren't going all out spending.

no, teams aren't spending a lot because they don't have too. no cap means no floor. so many teams can choose just to sit back and make a lot more money this year if they want to. and not every team has the money to throw around these days.

the cap could come back, but how would it work

theres a couple ways of giving the guy his bonus money up front. the signing bonus, which is pro rated over many years to help the cap hit, and the roster bonus, which hits the cap right away. both bonuses are payed to the player up front. the only difference has to do with the cap

in years past you would give a guy a 20 million dollar signing bonus. spread it over 5 years and you have a 4 million dollar cap hit from that bonus in each of the next 5 years.

but this year there is no cap. so if i'm a team i don't give a signing bonus, i call it a roster bonus.

player still gets his 20 million up front. but it would all count against this years cap (which doesn't matter) meaning, no future cap hits, just the salary would count against a future cap.

so a team could sign a high price player now, if they have the money, and actually be set up pretty good for the future if the cap does come back

That's the way the cap worked under the old cba but nobody knows how the new one will work. That's one reason some teams are going to shy away from any big contracts: uncertainty on how the cap, if it does come back, will be figured.

[imscott72]

bears should have gone after anquan boldin instead, rumor is the asking price for him is a third round pick

they could still trade for him, but you have to wonder how much money the bears have left after the peppers and taylor deals.

boldin would want a new very big contract soon

Boldin to the Ravens...4 yrs 28 million..

[Fritz]

Good - get Boldin over to the AFC.

The Bears...the new Washington Redskins.

I predict a disaster in Chicago. When desperation is your motivating factor, whether building a football team or trying to get laid, the results are never good.

[Scott Campbell]

Bears fans (like my uncle) are so excited right now... this is a guy who still plays cards with Ditka so not a complete idiot, just completely blinded by his love for the team. He told me today to expect the division title from them! lol

What a joke, all these moves reek of ultimate desperation. Can't wait to see the long term effects of their more recent (and future) moves.

Are they just as excited as they were for Cutler?

There's a big difference here. They gave up way too much to get Cutler. Not so in this case. I think it's a very good day for Bear fans.

[KYPack]

Good - get Boldin over to the AFC.

The Bears...the new Washington Redskins.

I predict a disaster in Chicago. When desperation is your motivating factor, whether building a football team or trying to get laid, the results are never good.

Should we send a group email to Drew Barrymore for ya, man?

[Joemailman]

Who are the Bears going to throw to if they take Olsen out of the mix?

If memory serves me correctly, the TE has never been used much by Martz in the passing game. Manumaleuna is 6-2/295 and caught 5 passes all last year. Sounds like the Bears plan to run the football. Don't draft Olsen in fantasy football.

[Scott Campbell]

Who are the Bears going to throw to if they take Olsen out of the mix?

If memory serves me correctly, the TE has never been used much by Martz in the passing game. Manumaleuna is 6-2/295 and caught 5 passes all last year. Sounds like the Bears plan to run the football. Don't draft Olsen in fantasy football.

They'll never just sit on the guy. They have other holes and he could fill one as trade bait.

[retailguy]

Who are the Bears going to throw to if they take Olsen out of the mix?

If memory serves me correctly, the TE has never been used much by Martz in the passing game. Manumaleuna is 6-2/295 and caught 5 passes all last year. Sounds like the Bears plan to run the football. Don't draft Olsen in fantasy football.

Run the football?

MARTZ? Nah. They've got the "greatest show on turf part deux". Now they just need a receiver. They've got a slot guy and a speed guy. I think Hester will be that slot guy, and Aromashadu or Knox the speed guy.

I don't think they're in that bad of shape actually. Fortunately, they are still the bears and they'll find a way to screw it up.

Forte & Taylor both catch out of the backfield too.

Could be interesting in a train wreck sort of way...