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Ayanbadejo's next stop? Likely Ravens or Jets -- chicagotribune.com




www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-0800305-chicago-bears-brendon-ayanbadejo,1,7104334.story
chicagotribune.com
Ayanbadejo's next stop? Likely Ravens or Jets

By Vaughn McClure

Tribune reporter

8:01 PM CST, March 5, 2008



 Brendon Ayanbadejo inquired about taking out a full-page newspaper ad
just to thank the fans in Chicago for their great support. That's a
good indication the Pro Bowl special-teamer won't be with the Bears
this coming season.

 Ayanbadejo is considering offers from the Ravens and Jets, both of
them four-year deals that he says are worth close to $5 million total.
He hopes to land $2 million guaranteed and is expected to choose
between the teams Thursday.

 Ayanbadejo also wants the opportunity to play more linebacker,
something he wasn't able to do much with the Bears.

 "I want to stay in Chicago," he said via text message Wednesday after
landing home in Florida, "but I probably would play more defense in
Baltimore. I will call the Bears in the morning to see if they will
match, as promised."

 Receiver Marty Booker doesn't have to mull over his options after
agreeing to a two-year deal Tuesday with the Bears.

 Booker is vacationing in Jamaica and has yet to sign the contract,
but the Bears are counting on their former third-round draft pick to
bring veteran leadership to a young receiving corps.

 As for Ayanbadejo, the Bears recently indicated on their Web site
that they would part ways with him after he visited the Jets on
Monday, so matching the other teams' offers seems unlikely.

 From the beginning, Ayanbadejo desired a contract somewhat equal to
the five-year, $7.5 million one New York Giants specialist David Tyree
signed before the beginning of last season. Tyree is believed to be
the highest-paid special-teams player in the league.

 Ayanbadejo was the Bears' special-teams captain. He led the team with
26 special-teams tackles last season.

 He was selected to the last two Pro Bowls. The undrafted free agent
actually had a stint with the Ravens in 2001, when he was allocated to
NFL Europe then waived by Baltimore before the start of the season.


Extra pointsRyan Clady, a junior offensive tackle from Boise State,
impressed during a personal workout at the school Monday. According to
the Idaho Statesman, Bears coach Lovie Smith is headed to Boise for a
private workout with Clady.

 The Bears have the No. 14 overall pick and could use it on an
offensive lineman.

 vxmcclure at tribune.com

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