[CBFF] Bears sign Vasher to 5-year extension

[Victor Waldron (CBFF)]

this is huge. We now have our starting corners on board for at least two 
more seasons (Tillman is up after '08, correct?).

V
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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears locked up a key member of their defense 
for the foreseeable future Monday, signing cornerback Nathan Vasher 
<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3550&print=yes#> 
to a five-year contract extension through 2012. Terms were not disclosed.

Vasher leads all active Bears with 16 interceptions in regular-season 
play and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2005 after topping the team with a 
career-high eight interceptions, the third highest single season total 
in franchise history.

The 2004 fourth-round draft pick was due to become an unrestricted free 
agent following the upcoming season.

“It’s a great relief,” Vasher said. “I feel excited just to be able to 
get to this point in my career and just excited to know that my family 
will be secure for the next number of years and I’ll be here and be a 
Chicago Bear for the second part of my career.”

Nicknamed “ESPN3” while at Texas because he needed his own channel to 
show all of his highlights, Vasher has displayed his big-play ability 
with the Bears.

He returned an interception 71 yards for a TD against the 49ers in 2004 
and set a record (that has since been tied by teammate Devin Hester 
<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3550&print=yes#>) 
for the longest play in NFL history by returning a missed field goal 108 
yards for a TD also versus San Francisco in 2005.

Inking Vasher to a long-term deal will not hamper the Bears’ ability to 
re-sign other players such as cornerback Charles Tillman 
<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3550&print=yes#>, 
wide receiver Bernard Berrian 
<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3550&print=yes#> 
or quarterback Rex Grossman 
<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3550&print=yes#> 
who are due to become unrestricted free agents next offseason.

"I'm more than confident that there's more than enough to go around and 
that they're able to structure deals and salary cap issues to where we 
could sign back a lot of players," Vasher said. "I'm more than confident 
that myself, Charles, Bernard-anybody else that's up about this 
time-that we can still continue to be teammates."

Vasher was more interested in receiving a lucrative extension with the 
reigning NFC champions than hitting the open market following the 
upcoming season.

"The only thing I really wanted was security and that was exactly how it 
ended up," he said. "I just didn't go in saying I wanted $100 million or 
something that was more or less outlandish. I just wanted to get 
something done where my family would be taken care of and I would still 
be here to play in Chicago, so I'm really happy that it worked out that way.

“It’s an exciting time right now and it’s just good to get it done and 
over with. The whole process went well. I made no bones about wanting to 
be here and my agent understood that. Mr. [Jerry] Angelo and those guys 
really stretched and made it work, so I’m really happy about it.

“Playing football is the most important thing and whenever you can go 
out there and do that stress-free, it’s great. You don’t have any other 
distractions. I know a lot of guys have contract issues and different 
things like that, but that’s one thing I can definitely put behind me 
right now.”

Vasher has been an integral member of Bears teams that have won 24 of 32 
regular-season games in capturing back-to-back division championships 
for the first time since the 1980s.

“It’s the attitude,” he said. “It’s a place where winning is expected, 
and you really can’t trade that for anything. I always wanted to be part 
of a winner and through the past couple years that’s exactly what we’ve 
done. We’ve added a lot of pieces as far as players and we continue to 
get better each and every year, so you can’t be anything but excited.”