Bears Trade Rumors

"Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was conveniently out of town and did not return phone calls. No doubt he needs to gather more information, as well. Sadly, it's a bit late for that. There's a big enough pile of evidence for the Bears to cut ties with Benson without another thought. Maybe that's the real positive of his water-logged weekend. Benson has one leg out the door and another on a banana peel anyway after the draft last weekend, when the Bears effectively replaced him by using a second-round pick on Matt Forte."

"It is even logical to suggest that if Benson ever carries the ball again for the Bears, maybe the team has learned even less than the running back in the last three years. But take a deep breath, Windy City cynics. Just because Benson has done nothing to earn the benefit of the doubt during his tumultuous Bears career doesn't mean he should be deprived it. Fairness dictates being deliberate when deciding whether the Bears should get rid of Benson after he was arrested Saturday night near Austin, Texas, on charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. Knowing the Bears and Lovie Smith, don't be surprised if that ship doesn't sail after all — at least not because of this incident."

"Cedric Benson famously wept on draft day back in 2005 when the Bears selected him with the No. 4 overall pick. Now he really has a reason to cry. If Benson wasn't already a bona fide bust before Saturday, the Bears declared him thus by using their second-round pick, No. 44 overall, to select his replacement, Tulane running back Matt Forte."

"So when the Bears drafted another running back Saturday, incumbent Cedric Benson probably shook his head, assumed that perplexed facial expression of his, and wondered how dumb these people are."

"Jerry Angelo didn't want to get into the specifics of contract negotiations for any one player, but that didn't prevent the Bears' general manager from veering off the path Tuesday in the face of a long line of questions regarding Brian Urlacher's demands."

"Contracts, trade requests, team chemistry, salary cap, fairness, unfairness -- most of the questions centering on the status of unhappy linebacker Brian Urlacher. But also included in the mix was the status of Tommie Harris, Devin Hester and Robbie Gould, all of whom, like Urlacher, are angling to restructure their contracts. And all of whom are under contract."

"Yeah, I'm sure mustering a lot of sympathy for Brian Urlacher in his quest to "feel appreciated." The best way to do that, I always say, is to invite a fawning Tribune writer into your luxurious Arizona existence, threaten to boycott mini-camp because your $57 million deal is obsolete and completely downplay that neck and back problems might blunt your impact and shorten your career."

"It's hard to argue with Jerry Angelo's characterization Tuesday of the contract extension offered Brian Urlacher as fair. A $5 million signing bonus with $1 million tacked on to each of Urlacher's next four years' salaries indeed shows the Bears understand this problem probably won't go away without reaching into their pockets."

"Tommie Harris wants more money. Devin Hester wants more money. Robbie Gould, a freakin' kicker, wants more money. And, of course, Brian Urlacher, a mere five years into a nine-year deal, wants more money."

"Around this time last year, Lance Briggs expressed displeasure over his contract situation with the Bears. This spring, the Pro Bowl linebacker is raising his voice again—in support of teammate Brian Urlacher."

"Now that Brian Urlacher has had his say, the Bears will have a chance today to respond on the record about the middle linebacker's contract demands. The team hosts its annual predraft meeting with the media at Halas Hall, an occasion typically reserved for more smoke-blowing than a convention of cigar connoisseurs."

"The latest stir back at Halas Hall involves his contract situation and how he has opted to stay away from voluntary workouts with his teammates, in part because he wants Bears management to show more appreciation. He's uncertain about attending a mandatory mini-camp scheduled for the end of May, but Urlacher won't go as far as to declare himself a holdout."

"People who doubt Brian Urlacher's influence in the locker room are ignoring the teammates who are following his lead by seeking new contracts. They also overlook the wedge being driven between players and management by Urlacher's impasse evident at a recent workout when a Bears veteran loudly pleaded with coach Lovie Smith for the team just to pay the linebacker, according to a teammate."

"Forget what's fair or unfair, why we have contracts (to establish order amid chaos) or why an aging Brian Urlacher might want to renegotiate his own multimillion-dollar contract with the Bears when he has four years left on it."

"Brian Urlacher will have to wait his turn. While the star linebacker is becoming more vocal about his contract demands, return specialist and receiver Devin Hester is next when it comes to talks with the Bears."

"Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher disputed a report that he has threatened to retire if the Bears don't reward him with more guaranteed money."

"Brian Urlacher said in an Internet report Friday that the Bears have offered him a one-year extension of the nine-year, $56.65 million deal he signed in 2003. But it apparently isn't enough for the Pro Bowl middle linebacker. Urlacher, who will turn 30 in May and still has four years remaining on his deal, is boycotting the Bears voluntary offseason workout program and contemplating a training-camp holdout in search of a multiyear deal. "

"Ever see a man so popular become so bitter, so calculating, so childish? No one in pro football has benefited from positive p.r. more than Brian Urlacher, who led the NFL in jersey sales last year and continues to show up in TV commercials that somehow make a monotonal, monosyllabic mope seem funny. Yet for some odd reason, he's mad at the world he owns. And if he isn't careful, that world could turn on him, if it hasn't already. "

"One league source says Urlacher's agents have asked the team if they could explore a trade. Another says Urlacher is threatening to retire because of neck and back problems, a move in which he wouldn't have to repay any portion of the $13 million signing bonus he received in 2003, when he received a nine-year, $56.65 million deal."

"The original $57 million didn't seem to bother anyone. It was a little high for Brian Urlacher, but he had the potential to be a big star. And he got there, too. When athletes land these contracts, for the most part the big bucks are celebrated."

"There were no fireworks when contract talks between Drew Rosenhaus and the Bears broke off Wednesday. Just because they didn't reach a new deal for defensive tackle Tommie Harris doesn't mean it's not a possibility, as well as a priority for the Bears. It just might take some time. Extensions for players under contract are always a delicate issue."

"As the media surrounded Ted Phillips on Tuesday, the Bears president and CEO refused to put a timetable on contract talks with defensive standouts Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher."

"Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips says he would like to complete negotiations soon on new contracts for Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher for several reasons."

"The jokester in Tommie Harris walked into the gym at Maryville Academy on Tuesday and proclaimed relief that a long contract negotiation was complete. After receiving the Ed Block Courage Award at a luncheon benefitting the Ed McCaskey Scholarship Fund, the frequent comedian put all kidding aside. Harris doesn't want any drama in his bid to receive an extension from the Bears as he enters the final year of his contract."

"Brian Urlacher skipping Monday's start of voluntary workouts at Halas Hall over a contract dispute was like an engine light going on in the car."

"For the second year in a row, the Bears will be without a Pro Bowl linebacker for the start of their voluntary off-season program, in part because of an unresolved contract situation. Brian Urlacher told the Tribune on Sunday he plans to skip the first day of workouts, slated to begin Monday, and left open the strong possibility that he will bypass the Bears' entire voluntary off-season program, which includes organized team activities (OTAs)."

"The Bears will build toward the 2008 season today with the beginning of the offseason conditioning program and will work toward securing a cornerstone of the defense well into the future Tuesday as agent Drew Rosenhaus will visit Halas Hall to work on a contract for tackle Tommie Harris."

"Safety Brandon McGowan will be back with the Bears for the 2008 season. Will Rashied Davis return, too? McGowan, an unrestricted free agent, signed a one-year tender Tuesday worth $1.417 million, leaving Davis as the final unsigned regular from last year's team. The receiver has drawn interest from several teams, including the Chiefs, Seahawks and Bills, but has not visited any of them."

"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."

"Brendon Ayanbadejo likely will bid farewell to the Bears for good today. The two-time Pro Bowl special teams player said he will choose between contract offers from the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets today, then give the Bears the opportunity to match the final offer. They're not expected to be interested after announcing Monday on the team Web site they had broken off contract talks with Ayanbadejo."

"Now Ayanbadejo has to take his search elsewhere, and he reportedly visited the New York Jets on Monday. Jacksonville and Green Bay are interested as well."

"Hours before they were going to cut Brian Griese, the Bears shipped the veteran quarterback to Tampa Bay for a sixth-round draft pick in 2009. Then the club bid goodbye to two-time Pro Bowl special teams player Brendon Ayanbadejo, pulling a four-year contract offer that he had had for some time."

"Negotiations between the Bears and star Devin Hester are expected to officially start this week, a source close to Hester said. ... The Bears are expected to get a visit this week from Arizona free-agent receiver Bryant Johnson unless Johnson signs a deal with Buffalo."

"The Bears are expected to release quarterback Brian Griese today if they are unable to trade him rather than pay him a $300,000 roster bonus Tuesday. Tampa Bay is believed to be the only team to express interest."

"The Bears also have made the decision to start throwing more to Devin Hester. Money, that is. The team has held informal discussions with Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, about a new deal and it will move to the forefront along with efforts to extend the contracts of defensive tackle Tommie Harris, kicker Robbie Gould and, potentially, defensive end Mark Anderson."

"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."

"After a flurry of free-agent signings around the NFL on Friday, the Bears were left with a legitimate chance to keep linebacker Lance Briggs. As agent Drew Rosenhaus previously had said, the Bears remain a major player in the Briggs sweepstakes heading into Day 2 of free agency."

"I noticed that San Francisco picked up a linebacker (Dontarrious Thomas) and three other free agents. I pay attention to it, then I turn it off. I'm from Sacramento, close to San Francisco. Being close to home, that could have been nice."

"Those figures pale in comparison to the numbers the Vikings were preparing for receiver Bernard Berrian, who arrived Friday in the Twin Cities, and defensive end Justin Smith - whom the Vikings hoped to lure for a visit today... Those decisions left the Vikings facing more trade talks with Houston - or possibly Buffalo for J.P. Losman."

"Aggressive from the outset, the Vikings signed and introduced Johnson High graduate Thomas Tapeh at a news conference Friday afternoon and agreed to a six-year, $33 million contract with safety Madieu Williams. They certainly will introduce Williams today, but the Vikings hope he won't be alone: the club was trying to ensure wide receiver Bernard Berrian didn't leave the Twin Cities without a deal, and they were anxiously awaiting defensive end Justin Smith's arrival today from San Francisco, where he visited with the 49ers on Friday. "

"The Bucs also offered a bit of mystery as vague reports surfaced linking the team to Bears free-agent linebacker Lance Briggs... Among them is cornerback, where the team is targeting three of the better free agents on the market: San Diego's Drayton Florence, New England's Randall Gay and Dallas' Jacques Reeves each received early phone calls from the Bucs."

"Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf sent his personal jet to California to retrieve Berrian, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The sides will meet today at the club's facility and potentially work on a huge contract... A source linked Briggs, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, to Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Cleveland, with Denver called a ''dark horse.''"

"The Vikings are scheduled to host receiver Bernard Berrian today and were working on arrangements for defensive end Justin Smith and safety Madieu Williams. Meanwhile, another free agent might not have to travel as far; fullback Thomas Tapeh, who attended Johnson High School in St. Paul and played football at the University of Minnesota, still has family in the Twin Cities."

"The Vikings opened the 2008 free-agent market Thursday night by sending owner Zygi Wilf's private plane to northern California, where they hoped to collect free-agent receiver Bernard Berrian. If all goes according to plan, Berrian will visit Winter Park today and could sign a bombshell contract by tonight... The Vikings also were attempting to arrange visits with Cincinnati safety Madieu Williams and Philadelphia fullback Thomas Tapeh. In addition, they were working on multiple fronts to add a backup quarterback, discussing trades for Houston's Sage Rosenfels and Buffalo's J.P. Losman and also expressing interest in free agent Josh McCown."

"The Vikings are expected to make a strong push to host Chicago Bears receiver Bernard Berrian and Cincinnati Bengals safety Madieu Williams, as well a defensive end, perhaps Bobby McCray of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings also reportedly offered a third-round pick for Houston backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels, but the Texans were not interested."

"Andre Davis did not figure to be serious competition for Bernard Berrian in the free-agent market. But Berrian could not have been counting on him to be an ally either."

"Ongoing contract discussions between the Bears and linebacker Brian Urlacher took up a portion of the team's time Thursday, the day before the start of free agency, the Tribune has learned."

"I've been to Chicago, Arizona, Sacramento and back. I have some things at my house in Arizona that I need to take care of, just preparing for what life is going to be like in the coming months."

"In particular, the Bears should be devoting big pieces of their pie a la money to Lance Briggs and Bernard Berrian, who have their bosses by the you-know-whats thanks to the Burger King barker himself, agent Drew Rosenhaus, who will stab Angelo with a three-pronged hot poker if, as expected, he guides Briggs, Berrian and special-teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo to other teams."

"A player like Faneca could do that for the Bears, who find themselves in need of offensive linemen after the releases of Miller and Brown. But they are not interested in giving Faneca the kind of market-setting offer he surely will receive, perhaps from the Jets."