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

[Kenny Claxton]

Next up Briggs? Lovie?


Kenny

On 11/2/06, Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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>
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