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

[Steve Behrens]

This is significant to me in the regards that it lets me know they're not
just sitting around enjoying the present season.... they're still
negotiating and trying to make the deals.

The down side of that, assuming that mngt is talking to everyone on the
'keeper' list is that they haven't been able top get Lovie or Briggs to sign
on the dotted line.

Question:  Do the Bears currently have anyone designated with the franchise
tag yet?  That might be the only way we keep Briggs.

-Behr


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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