Nathan Vasher signed with the Chargers. Despite Robs claims that Vasher is still a Pro Bowl caliber player, the guy is not what he was and is out of Chicago and reunites with Rivera in San Diego. Maybe the change of scenery and the warm weather will help rejuvenate his career because he has been less than mediocre the last few years.
The Bears also will probably lose out on Alex Brown since they signed Peppers to the mega deal. Brown is a Chicago guy and is the same age as Peppers and had more tackles and only 4.5 sacks less than Peppers but I suppose the Bears felt that those 4.5 more sacks was worth $12M more per year.
7 comments:
Vasher can play, as can Brown. The problem is their salaries were far too high given their production in recent years.
I like both players and would have liked to see them both back - but football is a business.
Injuries really derailed Vasher and he lost a step the last two years. I think he is still young enough and talented enough to get back to playing at a high level.
I love Alex Brown and hate to see him go. He is a blue collar player who works hard and doesn't complain. But, 6 sacks per year from your starting DE just isn't good enough production for $5M/year.
I'm fine with Peppers and his contract.
You funny. If this were the Redskins, you would be saying that we didn't need to overspend on Peppers, then you would make fun of him, and you would say that the Skins got rid of core guys.
However, when it is the Bears, you have a totally different tune. It's that football is a business and you are happy with all the moves.
Again, you think you are objective but it's clear to the rest of us, you are not.
Good day!
Vasher is not a starter - hasn't been for 2 years - so he is not a core guy.
I said I hate to see Brown go, but his production does not justify $5M.
I have no idea what you are talking about - as usual.
The pickup of Peppers makes sense, because their D-line has not produced pressure on the QB since their Super Bowl run.
Compare that to Fat Albert - the Skins D did not improve, nor did the Deadskins win total increase. They should have spent the money on an O-line and they would have won more games.
We'll see if Peppers works out, but there is little question that he comes at a major position of need for the Bears.
Urlacher is apparently shocked that the Bears are going to get rid of Brown and does see him as a core guy and well respected veteran on the defense.
The Skins D did improve with Haynesworth. Remember, Haynesworth is not a DE and does not get a lot of sacks. However, look at the production of Carter and Orakpo. Carter had a career year and Orakpo was a Pro Bowler. I'm not saying that all of that can be attributed to Haynesworth but it would be foolish to say he didn't have any part in their success.
The Skins in 2008 got zero pressure on opposing QBs and were pathetic in the sack total. We were vastly improved last year and the one big difference b/t the years was Haynesworth so I think he deserves just a little bit of credit.
Brown was a team guy and his replacements (presumably Anderson and that other dude) don't have near the production of Brown. We'll see how Peppers fares but there doesn't seem to be a huge disparity b/t the two players. Brown is a two time Pro Bowl alternate. I can agree that Peppers is better just not sure he is THAT much better to warrant that signing. It's your team so enjoy and I can't help but feel you would be trashing the Skins if this was happening to them. I could be wrong on that though.
Peppers and Brown? No disparity? WTF are you talking about?
I didn't say Brown wasn't a core guy. In fact, I keep saying I hate to see Brown go. But, his production just does not justify paying him $5M/year. He is an above average DE who is being paid like a star.
Read, dude. I didn't say that there was NO DISPARITY and I said that Peppers is better than Brown but do not know if he is THAT much better than Brown where I would spend $10-$12M more per year on the guy.
Brown loves playing for the Bears even though he felt disrespected when they were going to hand the job to Anderson a couple of years ago. Still, he played hard, earned his job back, and didn't gripe. The guy bulked up to 285 lbs to try and fit the Greg Blache defense and then dropped down to his more natural 250 lbs to fit Lovie's defense.
The Bears could have at least asked Brown to restructure the deal or take a reduced salary. He may not have taken it but they could have asked.
You are a numbers guy and the numbers weren't tremendously different b/t Brown and Peppers last year. Certainly not $12M different. Now Peppers may come out and have a monster year and put up 20 sacks and this and that or he might just continue buying thousand dollar bottles of champagne for all his "friends" at the club and enjoying his lottery win.
Pretty good article on CSN Chicago: http://www.csnchicago.com/03/26/10/Mullin-Urlacher-Shocked-Bears-May-Move-B/landing.html?blockID=204839&feedID=3769
Good luck, Bear fan!
There is no ability for a team to lower a salary without cutting a player. The collective bargaining agreement does not allow that.
The Bears have three choices:
1. Pay him his current salary and keep him. (not going to happen because his contract does not match production/ability)
2. Trade him for something (which they are trying to do).
3. Release him and let him get on the open market. They will still offer him a lower contract I'm sure, but another team may be willing to pay more and he may want to move on.
When you restructure, you get all of the money in your contract, but you just redistribute it over a different time period. Given that he is not worth the money on his contract, there is no reason to consider restructuring.
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