[CBFF] Bears to Muhsin: Vamoose :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

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Bears to Muhsin: Vamoose :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears


Bears to Muhsin: Vamoose
 Re-sign Brown, offer deals to Briggs, Berrian, Harris


February 19, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com

The contracts the Bears proposed Monday could reverberate long after
the moves they made are forgotten.

General manager Jerry Angelo began the team's offseason reshaping with
a flurry of offers, sending contract proposals to linebacker Lance
Briggs, defensive tackle Tommie Harris, wide receiver Bernard Berrian
and special-teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo.

» Click to enlarge image
The Bears released veteran wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who turns 35 in May.
(AP)


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That came on the same day the team cut ties with right tackle Fred
Miller, wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and defensive tackle Darwin
Walker and re-signed defensive end Alex Brown to a two-year, $15.5
million extension.

And the whirlwind of activity occurred two days before the scouting
combine in Indianapolis, where team officials are expected to meet
with the agent for quarterback Rex Grossman regarding a new deal.

Whew.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus represents the four players the Bears are trying
to keep, and it's believed each offer is under consideration with free
agency set to open in nine days. All but Harris, who's signed through
the 2008 season, will be unrestricted free agents. It has been thought
that Briggs was long gone, but an offer at this stage signals a
serious commitment to keeping the three-time Pro Bowl selection.

The Bears began the day with $20 million in available salary-cap room,
and that number is now near $30 million. Angelo could knock out the
majority of his free-agent spending before the market opens if he can
find common ground with Rosenhaus and his clients. The Bears then
could proceed with a plan to draft an offensive tackle in the first
two rounds, add a defensive tackle as insurance for Dusty Dvoracek and
be poised to make a third playoff run in four years.

Re-signing Berrian is an important step, considering Devin Hester,
Mark Bradley and Mike Hass are the only wide receivers under contract.
Berrian had a career-high 71 receptions for 951 yards last season.
While most view him as a No. 2 receiver, he could command big bucks in
a market thin on wideouts.

Brown didn't have to be coaxed into an extension with two years left
on a contract that now has him in place through 2011. He had stated
his desire for an extension or trade at the end of the season and was
prepared to boycott the offseason program before a deal was brokered
by Joel Segal, who also represents Muhammad.

Brown will arrive from Puerto Rico today to sign the contract, which
will pay him $5 million up front with salaries of $5 million in 2010
and $5.5 million in 2011.

''Half the battle when you're trying to get a team better is that
everyone is happy,'' Brown said. ''I'm definitely happy.''

He lost his starting job to Mark Anderson last season but was
considered a third starter by the team. With Anderson sidelined for
the last two games, Brown had two sacks, a forced fumble, an
interception and four passes defended. Before agreeing to the deal, he
spoke with coach Lovie Smith and came away satisfied.

''Nothing has been promised,'' Brown said. ''I will have an
opportunity to go in and compete for the job.''

Muhammad turns 35 in May, and while he might have some productive
seasons left, it's unlikely he'll be a starter. He had a $500,000
roster bonus due March 4 and was to earn $1.6 million next season.
Segal commended the team for the early release.

Muhammad's departure creates an opening for Bradley but doesn't signal
an opening for Marty Booker. The ex-Bear will visit the New England
Patriots today and could sign before leaving.

Walker was done in by finances; there was no way the team was going to
pay him a $5.2 million roster bonus. Miller gutted out an
injury-plagued season that required ankle surgery, but the Bears
decided to get younger on the line. MOVING DAY


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