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Brendon Ayanbadejo to declare for free agency Feb. 29 -- chicagotribune.com




www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-21-bears-chicago-scouting-cofeb21,1,141696.story
chicagotribune.com
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
Brendon Ayanbadejo to declare for free agency Feb. 29
Bear will test market to seek chance at LB

By Vaughn McClure

Tribune reporter

 February 21, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS



 Bears special teams coach Dave Toub, prepping to dissect kickers and
punters at the NFL scouting combine, stopped in the hotel lobby to
marvel over Brendon Ayanbadejo's performance at linebacker during this
year's Pro Bowl.

 "Every time he gets plays on defense, Brendon makes plays," Toub said.

 If Ayanbadejo could get more defensive snaps on his own team, maybe
the Bears wouldn't have to work so hard to keep him.

 Ayanbadejo said Wednesday he will be an unrestricted free agent Feb.
29 when free agency begins. The Bears had extended an offer to the
special teams standout during the regular season that fell short of
his expectations.

 The Bears also have attempted to keep receiver Bernard Berrian and
linebacker Lance Briggs off the open market with offers. Berrian could
address the media Thursday, possibly to discuss the offer or talk
about being designated as the team's franchise player. Briggs is
headed to the market.

 Ayanbadejo believes the Bears understand his value to a degree, just
not when it comes to playing linebacker.

 "When anybody got hurt at linebacker, everybody else was in line in
front of me," the five-year veteran said by phone Wednesday. "That
really bothered me.

 "I want to go to a place where if the starter goes down, I at least
get a chance -- like I did in 2006. That's when Hunter [Hillenmeyer]
went down and I was able to play. [Coach] Lovie Smith came to me and
didn't say I was a special teams player. He said I was a linebacker."

 Ayanbadejo made it clear he wants to be the highest-paid special
teams player in the league. David Tyree of the Giants is believed to
have that distinction after signing a five-year, $7.5 million deal
before last season, including a $1.5 million signing bonus.

 The bottom line is Ayanbadejo wants to get paid much more than his
2007 base of $595,000. Plus he wants the opportunity to play defense.

 "I played half the Pro Bowl at [weak-side linebacker], and that was
the first time in a long time that I felt it wasn't about business, it
was about football," said Ayanbadejo, who was in on four tackles.

 During his trip to Hawaii, Ayanbadejo actually bonded with some of
Green Bay's coaching staff. Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman even
approached Ayanbadejo during the week and said, "You'd love it in
Green Bay."

 Extra points

 Kevin O'Dea, the Bears' assistant special teams coach, was hired as
the New York Jets' special teams coach. He replaces Mike Westhoff, who
stepped down after last season for health reasons.

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 vxmcclure at tribune.com

Copyright (c) 2008, Chicago Tribune