[CBFF] ESPN - Bears sign center Kreutz to three-year extension

[Jerry Madsen]

pdated: Nov. 2, 2006, 4:33 PM ET
Bears sign center Kreutz to three-year extension
By John Clayton
ESPN.com

Four years ago, Olin Kreutz had the opportunity to make more money by
leaving the Chicago Bears and going to the Miami Dolphins. He wanted
to stay a Bear.

	Olin Kreutz
	
Kreutz

On Thursday, Kruetz reiterated that desire, signing a three-year,
$17.5 million extension -- with $9 million in guarantees -- that will
keep him with the Bears through 2010. He was scheduled to be a free
agent after the 2007 season.

"It means a lot," Kreutz told The Associated Press. "The Bears didn't
have to re-sign me right now and they did, and I'm thankful for that.
"I can retire a Bear now."

Kruetz has been the leader of the offensive line since 1998, when the
Bears drafted him in the third round. He's a great communicator along
the line. Plus, he adds a degree of toughness with his blocking style.

"He's been very loyal to us," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo told
AP. "Not only has he been a good football player, he's been a very
loyal player and I also told Olin this: 'loyalty is a two-way street.'
I wanted to make sure he saw that first hand from our perspective."

Teammates applauded the contract extension.

"He's the one guy that we can't lose," linebacker Brian Urlacher told
AP. "And we're not going to."

In 2002, he stayed with the Bears by signing a six-year, $22.56
million contract. That contract made Kruetz the fourth-highest paid
center in the league. He will make $17 million over the next two
seasons before the extension kicks in.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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