[CBFF] Jerry growing on Jerry

[Jerry Madsen]

After reading ESPN's take on the Olsen signing, Jerry Angelo and his
front office are really starting to grow on me.

Then again, I once had a planter's wart grow on me, so we'll see how
long this love-fest lasts.

Jerry

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Olsen, Bears work out unique five-year deal
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: July 3, 2007, 8:45 PM ET

 The Chicago Bears reached a contract agreement with top pick Greg
Olsen, on Tuesday, making the former University of Miami tight end the
initial first-round selection in the league to come to terms on his
rookie contract.


JC Ridley/WireImage.com

Greg Olsen had 38 catches for 444 yards last season at Miami.
And in striking the deal, agent Drew Rosenhaus and Bears negotiator
Cliff Stein relied on a creative structure that could pave the way for
other first-round signings.

Olsen, the 31st player chosen overall in April, will sign a five-year
contract with a maximum value of $10.696 million.

Rosenhaus and Stein were able to overcome some hurdles presented by a
recent ruling in a case involving former Denver first-round wide
receiver Ashley Lelie, limiting the amount of bonus money which a
franchise could attempt to recoup if a player defaulted on his
contract.

The contract will pay Olsen a signing bonus of $250,000 and a $720,000
roster bonus in the first year, with a 2007 base salary of $285,000.

In 2008, there is an option bonus of $3.545 million, and there are
reporting bonuses of $100,000 in 2009, $140,000 in 2010 and $125,732
in 2011. The base salaries in the deal, after the first season, are
$370,000 (2008), $460,000 (2009), $550,000 (2010) and $650,000 (2011).
Olsen can earn an additional $2.921 million in incentives and
escalators and a one-time playing time incentive of $578,700.

"It's a big relief, given that Greg has been with us throughout the
offseason program," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo told the
team-owned Web site on Tuesday night. "I mentioned to him and his
family that he really built up a lot of good karma with the players
and coaches [because of his attendance], and now this allows us to
continue that momentum going into camp. When you don't get a deal
done, or it drags into camp, all of that good will gets lost, and then
it has to be rebuilt. So now, he can just continue to build on all the
good things that he's done thus far and, obviously, we're excited
about that."

Olsen, 22, is the latest in a long line of former Miami standout tight
ends, a group that includes Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen
Winslow, among others.

In 33 games, including 26 starts, Olsen, who transferred to Miami from
Notre Dame, posted 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.
Regarded as the top tight end prospect in the draft entering the
combine workouts, he cemented his status with a superb audition for
league scouts in Indianapolis.

At 6-feet-5 7/8 and 254 pounds, Olsen was clocked in 4.51 seconds in
the 40-yard dash, a time faster than that registered by most of the
wide receivers at the combine. He also had a 35 ½-inch vertical jump
and his overall athleticism enhanced his draft stock. Olsen has
acknowledged that, like most young tight ends, he will need to upgrade
his blocking skills, but the Bears are confident he will play quickly
and add another key dimension to their passing attack.

Chicago was the first team in the league to have all its draft choices
under contract in each of the past two years. The agreement with Olsen
leaves the Bears with just one of their nine picks this year,
second-round defensive end Dan Bazuin of Central Michigan, without a
deal in place.

Most teams in the league have yet to commence substantive negotiations
with their first-round draft choices.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.