[CBFF] Berrian eyes more than Bears have offered :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

[Jerry Madsen]

Based on what Biggs is reporting as Berrian's and Brigg's
expectations, I say let'em walk.  If some team inks them to the money
their asking for, it will screw-up somebody's cap.

Jerry


On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 8:39 AM, Tom Shannon <tshanno at gmail.com> wrote:
> Berrian eyes more than Bears have offered :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears
>
>  Berrian eyes more than Bears have offered
>   Free agency starts tonight, with receiver seeking Branch-like deal
>
>
>  February 28, 2008
>  BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com
>
>  Here's the bottom line for the Bears' attempt to re-sign wide receiver
>  Bernard Berrian: Their most recent offer -- $8 million in bonus money
>  in a five-year, $25 million package -- wasn't enough to get a deal
>  done.
>
>  Free agency begins at 11 tonight, and Berrian is seeking a payday well
>  in excess of that -- $24.5 million in the first three years of a
>  contract -- though general manager Jerry Angelo last week called the
>  Bears' offers to Berrian and linebacker Lance Briggs ''aggressive.''
>
>  » Click to enlarge image
>  Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian
>  (AP)
>
>
>  RELATED STORIES Blog: Updates from Inside the Bears
>
>
>  It's unknown how much room the Bears have to improve that offer for
>  Berrian, who is expected to be courted by the Minnesota Vikings. It's
>  also unclear whether Berrian and agent Drew Rosenhaus will be able to
>  get another team -- the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Oakland
>  Raiders and San Francisco 49ers also are thought to be interested --
>  to meet his asking price, which probably would require a signing bonus
>  of more than $12 million.
>
>  Berrian is aiming to top the six-year, $39 million deal former Super
>  Bowl MVP Deion Branch received from the Seattle Seahawks last fall.
>  That contract pays Branch $23 million in the first three years.
>
>  If the Bears don't step up and retain Berrian, it might create a
>  scramble at Halas Hall to replace him with some experience on the
>  depth chart. Angelo has said the focus of the team's offseason is to
>  invest in its own players, and the Bears' success will be judged on
>  their ability to keep Berrian and Briggs.
>
>  The Arizona Cardinals' Bryant Johnson doesn't have the speed the Bears
>  would need in a replacement for Berrian. The Bears haven't shown
>  interest in Marty Booker. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Troy
>  Williamson to replace Ernest Wilford, so that shows what they think of
>  Wilford.
>
>  The Houston Texans' Andre Davis fits the speed profile but has yet to
>  put together a season like Berrian. Then there are castoffs such as
>  the Jets' Justin McCareins, the Washington Redskins' Brandon Lloyd and
>  the Kansas City Chiefs' Eddie Kennison, an ex-Bear.
>
>  Briggs is thought to be seeking $20 million guaranteed in a deal that
>  will average more than $7 million annually. The Redskins tried to
>  trade for him last year, but they reportedly are tightening their belt
>  when it comes to free agency, perhaps the result of busting out on a
>  few too many players.
>
>  The 49ers have been linked to Briggs since last fall. The Tampa Bay
>  Buccaneers reportedly have $44 million in cap space, and the Cardinals
>  could use an impact defensive player.
>
>  The Bears sent qualifying offers Wednesday to wide receiver Rashied
>  Davis and safety Brandon McGowan, both restricted free agents. Davis
>  was tendered at the low level of $927,000, and because he was not a
>  draft pick, any team signing him to an offer sheet would not have to
>  give the Bears a pick if the Bears opted not to match. He might be a
>  good fit in San Francisco, where offensive coordinator Mike Martz is
>  looking for multiple receivers.
>
>  It's unknown if the Bears tendered McGowan at $927,000 or at the
>  intermediate level of $1.417 million, which would provide them with
>  right of first refusal and a second-round pick as compensation. No
>  team is going to swap a second-rounder for McGowan, but he might
>  generate interest at the low level, considering he also was an
>  undrafted free agent and the Bears would have only right of first
>  refusal on an offer sheet.
>
>  The New York Giants' Gibril Wilson might be the most talented safety
>  available in a thin free-agent market. Angelo called the class of
>  safeties in the draft ''anemic.''
>
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