CrackerDog

Interesting. Not 100% on your math but I'm not going to doubt you either. Just want to stress that your numbers represent cap space, not real dollars. So they could, in theory, spend a LOT more than even your most generous number above. To me, even if you're close to right, there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Very true. Hence why I think there's more to the story. Those that want to hate on Cutler or ream the Bears for anything and everything are going to do so. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I see it play out. It feels like they screwed the pooch on this one but they're smarter than that.

I think the Bears share my significant concerns with Nut's health. I think the world of him but it wouldn't surprise me at all if his Bear's career was over.

I tend to agree with you but for your last comment about FA's. Per the article I posted, and I'm not saying he's right, but the Bears could backload THOSE contracts and still do plenty of damage in free agency. Possible. Further, there are cuts coming. And some of those are going to free up cap room even if they create dead space at the same time. And don't forget that contracts once negotiated can be amended such that a portion of the current year salary is converted into a "bonus". Favre used to do it for the Packers every season, it seemed. I think Peppers has done it for us. This practice can lead to a ticking time bomb if abused (Peppers deal may be one of those) but it's a tool that can be very effective if used properly. Cutler won't care because he's getting the same dollars and the team is improving which should help him get his hands on the ball more often. So, all I'm saying is, there might be a silver lining in what looks like a cloud right now. I've always had a lot of trust in Cliff and I'm not going to accuse him of losing his mind over night. Time will tell.

But for the two blown defensive holding / interference calls in the end zone those may have been TDs. The Packers got a lot of calls in their favor today.

OK, now I can relax for the rest of the playoffs.

Not sure I agree with this but it's a "glass half full" take on what many of us are struggling to understand. http://gapersblock.com/tailgate/2014/01/be...iendly-deal.php Again, I don't know what the real contract details are but it seems most are agreeing that first year salary is $22.5. If as this article suggests this doesn't stop them from going after the star defensive FA's out there, it might make sense. I'm still trying to come to grips with it.

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I can't. If those numbers turn out to be accurate, as I said before, I don't understand this deal. It may still be "market" but I don't like it at all. Not given that cap hit. They'll need to amend it to convert salary to bonus should the need arise.

Yeah, that's why it made sense to me. However, Spiegel is pulling back and saying his source was in error so we'll have to continue to wait and see.

Well, the waiting game continues...

And so this is in both threads discussing Cutler's deal, here's the annual deal breakdown per Matt Spiegel's source... Base Bonus Total 1.0 10.8 11.8 4.5 10.8 15.3 6.0 10.8 16.8 7.5 10.8 18.3 8.0 10.8 18.8 22.0 - 22.0 23.0 - 23.0 PS. This is just a summary of what Spiegel is posting on Twitter. You now know as much as I do. Take it for what it's worth. I like this set of numbers a lot more than I did the original information from PFT so I sure hope Spiegel's source is solid. This deal makes sense to me from both party's relative perspectives so I think it's probably right, but who the heck knows?

Annual deal breakdown per Spiegel's source... Base Bonus Total 1.0 10.8 11.8 4.5 10.8 15.3 6.0 10.8 16.8 7.5 10.8 18.3 8.0 10.8 18.8 22.0 - 22.0 23.0 - 23.0 PS. This is just a summary of what Spiegel is posting on Twitter. You now know as much as I do. Take it for what it's worth. I like this set of numbers a lot more than I did the original information from PFT so I sure hope Spiegel's source is solid. This deal makes sense to me from both party's relative perspectives so I think it's probably right, but who the heck knows?

He goes on to say that this effectively makes the deal a 5 year with the Bears having "options" on years 6 and 7 if he's still playing at a high enough level to justify that pay scale. In short, in Cliff we trust!

Ha, I thought the same thing so I followed Spiegel so I could see if there was more detail. Here's a summary of the other tweats he posted after the one we've all seen here: Cutler's base salary for 2014 is just $1 million and rises progressively to $8 million by year 5. The contract calls for a prorated bonus of $10.8 million for each of the first five seasons, adding up to the $54 million guaranteed. The base jumps to $22 million and $23 million in years 6 and 7, respectively.

Wow, PFT wrong? When has THAT ever happened before? BWAAAA HA HA HA HA HA. Just kidding, they're almost always wrong. I do wonder though how the two deals we're hearing about couldn't be more different. One is backloaded, the other front. Just really strange. I hope Speigel is right. It leaves tons of room for chasing all sorts of FA's and still signing our own.

LOL! And now with the latest info out about the actual contract numbers, who has that crow deep in their gullet? You're a sap. Look dude, face it, you're just looking for anything to justify how loud of a crybaby you've been here for as long as I can recall. So when you have something you think you can chirp about, you go crazy. And some of the other inmates here fall for it and join in the tears. But at the end of the day, easygoing, steady Crackerdog keeps saying "Wait for the details" and THEN make your mind up. You could learn a thing or two from watching me take you apart almost every day.

Yep, gotta wait for the facts or you're no better than Jason.

That would be excellent news indeed. Where are you hearing this? I'm thinking that the $22 is just an annual salary number and I thought I read the entire amount hits the cap this year. If what you're saying is right, they've saved $4 million over going with the tag on Cutler.

Every post I made I said we haven't seen the details yet. You talk about how I'm so mean to you but then you come up with this level of arrogance and I feel totally justified in ripping you a new one each and every time I have. Which is often since you say so many stupid, pigheaded things. But hey, no new ground broken here, I knew you were a jagoff. Thanks for confirming it once again. Have a great weekend!

Would you rather spend $7.5 in cap on him and cut him or $18 on him and keep him on the roster? I think a restructure is possible. But that cap hit for the current deal is real, regardless.

Yes, it does seem to be a market deal. However, that money not being a bonus means the entire amount in year one hits the cap. I suppose the team might say they've retain flexibility as I'm sure Cutler won't care what the money is called they can always convert a portion of it to bonus should the need for cap space arise. Not sure though. I'd say this hasn't been true in recent years, particularly since the new stadium deal. They've always seemed to have the money needed. No, they're no Dan Snyder but that's a good thing.

Ugh. I hope they intend on amending this year after year, shifting some of his salary to bonus. Otherwise this deal doesn't make sense to me.

When have the Bears run a 3-4 D? Did they run some 3-4 when Keith Traylor was here? The tradition of great MLB's coming to an end? Not sure how I feel about that just to address a mistake our GM made in a draft.

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