[CBFF] Bears hold out hope :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

[Jerry Madsen]

It's early, but if Berrian and Briggs aren't getting the kind of money
they seem to be seeking, then it's not a stretch to assume that the
Bears original contract offers were - as Angelo characterized them -
fair and aggressive.

Jerry


On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 8:17 AM, ShannonToBeRead
<shannontoberead at gmail.com> wrote:
> Pretty optimistic.  We'll see.
>
> Tom S.
> --
> Bears hold out hope :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears
>
> Bears hold out hope
>  FREE AGENTS | Berrian has yet to sign with Vikes; Briggs running out
> of options
>
>
> March 1, 2008
> BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com
>
> For all the talk about the Bears low-balling their free agents, 24
> hours into free agency it looked like they were right on the money.
>
> Wide receiver Bernard Berrian visited Minnesota on Friday but has yet
> to sign a contract, an indication the Vikings were not outbidding the
> Bears. Berrian is scheduled to travel to Oakland today.
>
> » Click to enlarge image
> Bears linebacker Lance Briggs
> (Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
>
>
> RELATED STORIES Gilmore set to sign with Bucs for 3 years Inside the
> Bears: Updates from our blog
>
>
> The market for three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs seems to
> have all but evaporated. Briggs has a big-money contract on the table
> from the Bears, and it looked late Friday night as if the New Orleans
> Saints could be the only team left to bid against them.
>
> It's believed Briggs has yet to schedule a visit. Sources close to the
> negotiations said reports he was headed to see the Tampa Bay
> Buccaneers weren't correct. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for the
> Bucs, with linebackers Cato June and Derrick Brooks in the fold, to
> throw top dollar at a third player ideally suited for the weak side.
>
> Washington doesn't have the money to bid for Briggs, and San Francisco
> fell out of the running when it signed Dontarrious Thomas. Cleveland
> and the New York Jets are believed to be out of the hunt, leaving the
> Saints, who traded for Jonathan Vilma on Friday, as the only serious
> contender at this point. New Orleans, which will play Vilma in the
> middle, might have the money to retool its defense by adding Briggs on
> the weak side.
>
> The Bears desperately want at least one of the players back. At this
> point, one source called it a 50/50 possibility that both could
> return, with the organization armed with $20 million in available cap
> room.
>
> Berrian took a physical after arriving in Minneapolis in owner Zygi
> Wilf's private jet. The Vikings are hoping the only reason he will
> have to visit the Bay Area is for sightseeing. He's expected to meet
> with coaches in the morning. However, if Minnesota would have knocked
> him over with a contract offer, the deal would be done. That's how the
> NFC North rivals lured in safety Madieu Williams and fullback Thomas
> Tapeh on Friday.
>
> Berrian is seeking $24.5 million over the first three years of a deal
> with $18 million guaranteed and an average of $8 million per year. The
> Bears offered $25 million over five seasons with $8 million to sign, a
> proposal agent Drew Rosenhaus never countered. If the Vikings don't
> come close, Berrian could head to the Raiders in an effort to drive up
> his price. Oakland has been spending big, landing safety Gibril Wilson
> for $39 million over six seasons a day after Tommy Kelly got a record
> deal for defensive tackles.
>
> Briggs is in a peculiar position because some expected him to be the
> top free agent overall. Cornerback Asante Samuel got the biggest
> windfall, reportedly $57 million for six seasons from Philadelphia.
>
> When the frenzy concludes by the end of the weekend, most of the big
> money already will be spent. The Bears have covered themselves by
> arranging a visit Tuesday with linebacker Demorrio Williams, who
> started in Kansas City on Friday and will be in Tampa on Monday. He
> has been a durable performer for the Atlanta Falcons, and the Bears
> liked him when he was a fourth-round pick from Nebraska in 2004.
> Defensive coordinator Bob Babich, then the linebackers coach, visited
> him before the draft and was enamored.
>
> The contingency plan at receiver includes at least four names. Javon
> Walker is an interesting possibility, and when healthy he could be a
> No. 1. Donte Stallworth, also represented by Rosenhaus, could be in
> the picture. The Bears are exploring the possibility of bringing in
> Bryant Johnson for a visit. He's a younger version of Muhsin Muhammad
> who could flourish by escaping the shadows of Larry Fitzgerald and
> Anquan Boldin in Arizona. Johnson could be a ''Z'' receiver for the
> Bears with Mark Bradley and Devin Hester working at the ''X.''
>
> Another option is D.J. Hackett, whom the Bears are known to have had
> internal discussions about. Hackett has the speed to be an ''X'' and
> is a bigger guy, which the Bears probably would prefer.
>
> Hackett played in only six regular-season games last year, hampered by
> a sprained right ankle, and produced only 32 receptions for 384 yards
> and three touchdowns. He put together a 101-yard game with a touchdown
> in Seattle's wild-card round victory over Washington.
>
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