GakMan23

LONG GETS $30 MILLION GUARANTEED Posted by Mike Florio on April 22, 2008, 1:16 p.m. Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that tackle Jake Long will receive $30 million guaranteed as part of his five-year, $57 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. Long will get $2 million less in guaranteed money and $4 million less in total money than Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell received a year ago, but Long is tied up for one less season. And since different people interpret the term “guaranteed” differently, the only way to compare Long’s deal to Russell’s is to line ‘em up and parse the language. For Parcells, it’s a win because he paid less money. For Long (and his agent), it’s a win because the deal covers one less season. We’d still love to know whether Vernon Gholston had a meaningful chance to take less money than that.

Bears | Team makes preseason changes Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:42:53 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears announced Tuesday, April 22, that the team will have a new partner for preseason games, Fox-32. Fox will carry all four of the team's preseason games. Former NFL QB Erik Kramer will replace Mike Ditka as the color analyst for the team's preseason games. Kramer will join play-by-play voice Dave Barnett. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hopefully Thugarella doesn't see any geeky looking students with laptops while he is there... Bears | Players to appear at Chicago school Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:47:47 -0700 ChicagoBears.com reports Chicago Bears FS Danieal Manning and CB Ricky Manning Jr. will appear at Funston Elementary School in Chicago Tuesday, April 22, to participate in an assembly for over 300 students in support of the Bears' "What Moves U" fitness program. Both players will lead students in fitness exercises, assist with a nutrition trivia game and help educate kids about the importance of being physically active. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bears | Hester reportedly unhappy with contract Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:19:34 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears WR Devin Hester is reportedly unhappy with his contract, according to NFL Network's Deion Sanders. Sanders said, "They're looking for tremendous things from this guy, Devin Hester, but Devin Hester isn't happy with his contract and he deserves to be paid amongst the league's best." The team has only had preliminary talks with Hester's agent, Eugene Parker.

Oh I don't know maybe what direction the Dolphins go will dictate what OT another team may take therefore affecting what players are available when the bears draft? That could possibly be what it has to do with the Bears. Thank you very much drive thru

Looks like Jake doesn't want to work for the chicken of the sea as he isn't dolphin safe JAKE DOESN’T WANT TO BE A DOLPHIN? Posted by Mike Florio on April 15, 2008, 12:50 p.m. As the agent for Michigan tackle Jake Long continues to negotiate with the Miami Dolphins regarding the possibility of working out a contract before the time comes for the Dolphins to make their pick, there’s a report that Jake isn’t all that juiced about playing for the Fins. John Czarnecki of FOXSports.com reports that “[t]he word on the street” is that Long doesn’t want to play in Miami. But talks are continuing between the team and Long’s agent because of the “special honor” of being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. (Yeah, those Steve Emtman rookie cards are going for about 100 . . . yen.) Czarnecki says that, if/when the talks with Jake Long break down, the Fins won’t move on to defensive end Chris Long. The Virginia product, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, has been presumed for several months to have the inside track because he’s the safest pick on the board. The Fins apparently then would look after Jake Long to defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston. With talk of Gholston slipping in the eyes of other teams, he’d be very wise to take the best deal he can get, if/when he gets an opportunity to negotiate with the Fins.

So we will draft him in the 3rd.

Interestingly he seems a little concerned about the saftey position, but that the draft is kinda weak for it. Bears | Zbikowski scheduled to visit with team Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:49:00 -0700 Vaughn McClure, of ChicagoSports.com, reports Notre Dame S Tom Zbikowski is scheduled to visit with the Chicago Bears at Halas Hall Wednesday, April 16. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said this year's class of safeties is anemic but the team could use help at the position. Zbikowski is capable of contributing on special teams.

Looks like he may be the first pick in the draft if they can come to a contractual agreement. DOLPHINS GAVE JAKE LONG A DEADLINE Posted by Michael David Smith on April 14, 2008, 10:47 a.m. It has now been widely reported that the Miami Dolphins are engaging in contract negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, and that if the two parties can reach a satisfactory deal, Long will be the first pick in the draft. But Peter King of SI.com reports that negotiations won’t drag out until the draft. According to King, Long is the only player the Dolphins are actively negotiating with right now, but there is a deadline for Long to accept the deal the Dolphins have offered. If Long doesn’t accept by the deadline, the Dolphins will try to find a player — most likely Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston — who will accept a contract favorable to the team. King also reports that Dolphins front office boss Bill Parcells is hoping to achieve “the victory of paying this year’s first pick less than the first pick earned last year.” Paying this year’s top pick less than the Raiders gave quarterback JaMarcus Russell last year certainly would constitute a victory. Contracts for top rookies rise every year, just as the salary cap rises every year. If Parcells became the team executive who convinced a top overall pick to take less, that would be a major achievement. It would also be good business for the Dolphins. Every dollar the Dolphins save on the first pick is a dollar they can spend to upgrade the roster elsewhere, and this is a team that needs help all over the place. The problem is that no agent wants to be known as the one whose client agreed to take less money. That means there’s a good chance that the Dolphins will fail to find a player willing to take less than Russell got last year — even though some player might end up turning down an offer from the Dolphins, only to eventually accept a deal for even less money from a team that takes him later in the draft.

The problem with that is if Rex is starting he probably won't be able to see the running back over his linemen or he will be backpedalling into a sack.

Bears | Angelo meets with K. Smith Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:41:09 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo recently met with Central Florida RB Kevin Smith.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d...mp;confirm=true Looks as if we may know at least what the first pick in the draft is going to be

Bears | T. Harris has yet to sign extension Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:57:57 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Bears DL Tommie Harris has yet to sign an extension with the team. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was negotiating a contract extension for Harris with the Bears Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9. It is believed the team offered Harris more than the seven-year, $50.5 million contract Oakland Raiders DL Tommy Kelly received. per PFW: TALKS BETWEEN BEARS, HARRIS BREAK OFF Posted by Mike Florio on April 10, 2008, 8:37 a.m. Discussions aimed at extending the contract of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris have ended for now, even as the Bears reportedly are poised to make Harris the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league (and thus in league history). Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bears already have offered more than the seven-year, $50.5 million deal signed earlier this year by Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. Unknown in this regard is what Harris has demanded, and where his bottom line might be. Agent Drew Rosenhaus spent two days in Chicago working on a possible new deal for Harris, and left Wednesday night without commenting. Well now we see if that clown Rosenarse is going to hold the team hostage another offseason....

I'm sorry do you actually have anything to input in regards to the subject associated with this thread?

I understand where you are coming from. But my point is this, If they think both Mcgowan and Payne are better then DM then they should leave him at FS so he can improve at the position as there are a few differents so that if Brown gets injured which wouldn't be a big stretch he is better prepared to replace him if need. Because by moving Brown back to FS they are basically stating both those guys are better then DM as per Lovie and other defensive heads, the safety positions are very simular under this system, so basically if that is the thought process, it's a nice way of demoting DM without admitting they were wrong when they picked a player not many had heard of multi rounds before he was supposed to be drafted.

There are fewer questions on defense, but Smith said he expects Mike Brown to move to free safety after playing strong safety last season. Brown has played free in the past. The move could have ramifications for Manning, who is considered a better free safety than strong. Smith said he expects Manning to compete at strong safety with Brandon McGowan, Kevin Payne and Adam Archuleta. He also left open the possibility the Bears could add a safety in the coming months. Unless Payne or McGowan are better Strong Safeties then Manning is Free safety this move makes no sense. They again are moving him to a new position as he starts to show improvement and get comfortable at FS.

You are correct. I am pretty sure there is a signifiant drop in cap hit after this year plus if he doesn't meet certain production numbers the accellerators won't kick in and it will be even less. I am not completely sure on numbers though.

Bears | L. Smith expects more from Benson Wed, 2 Apr 2008 12:44:09 -0700 Clark Judge, of CBSSports.com, reports Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith expects more from RB Cedric Benson in 2008. "Cedric is a first-round draft pick, and with that are expectations," Smith said. "And there comes a time when he needs to produce. This is an important year for us and for him, and he needs to take a step." Looks like the Bears are done being patient with him. Hopefully that lights a fire under his arse.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d807746fa NFL.com says we pick him...and they give us some video highlights to go with it.

Bears | Team meets with C. Williams Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:44:39 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears met with University of Vanderbilt OT Chris Williams Tuesday, March 25.

Bears | Team meets with Hamilton Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:07:34 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears met with Western Kentucky WR Curtis Hamilton this week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bears | Team meets with Nakamura Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:02:46 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears met with University of Cincinnati S Haruki Nakamura this week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bears | Team meets with Hill Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:00:49 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears met with Southern Illinois QB Nick Hill this week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bears | Team interested in Forte Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:28:02 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears are showing a great amount of interest in Tulane University RB Matt Forte.

Bears | Forte to work out for team Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:22:56 -0700 J.J. Pesavento, of Next Level Scouting, reports University of Tulane RB Matt Forte will work out for the Chicago Bears next week.

Lions | Team releases K. Jones Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:50:34 -0700 The Detroit Lions announced Thursday, March 13, that the team released RB Kevin Jones.

Mutual interest from Chris Brown, Bears? By Vaughn McClure, 3:48 p.m. There might be a homecoming for running back Chris Brown after all. The former Naperville North star and unrestricted free-agent has attracted interest from the Bears, a source close to the player said Wednesday. Brown, who played with Tennessee this past season, signed with the Titans in June after talking with the Bears, signing a one-year, $1.8 million deal. Brown is scheduled to visit Houston on Wednesday. Brown's role was limited in 2007. He finished with 102 rushes for 462 yards and five touchdowns while playing behind LenDale White. Brown did have the Titans' longest rush of the season 42 yards. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Brown, who turns 27 next month, is known as an upright runner who has success with draws and catching balls out the backfield. The Bears need help at running back, with Cedric Benson still having a lot to prove and Adrian Peterson more of a third-down back. The team could seek help through the draft as well.