Thread: Vasher joins list of angry Bears

[size=18px]Vasher joins list of angry Bears[/size]

DB has 2 years left but wants extension

By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter

June 13, 2006, 10:40 PM CDT

The Bears consistently have touted returning all 22 starters. That doesn't necessarily mean all of them will be happy.

Full story: Vasher joins list of angry Bears

[size=18px]Bears won't redo Vasher's contract [/size]

June 14, 2006

BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter

The Bears' refusal to discuss a new contract with Nathan Vasher has driven the Pro Bowl cornerback away.

Vasher met with general manager Jerry Angelo on Monday morning at Halas Hall and left after it was made clear the team would not discuss a new deal, not even a one-year extension. Vasher is not expected to participate in the six remaining organized team activities (OTAs), and it's unclear when he will rejoin the team or whether he will report to training camp on time.

"People have a right to know why Nate is not there right now,' said Mike Sullivan, Vasher's agent.

Vasher is entering the third year of a four-year contract that will pay him $425,000 this season -- a bargain for the Bears, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2004. The Bears maintain it is their policy not to redo contracts after two seasons. They approached middle linebacker Brian Urlacher about a new deal when he had two years remaining on his original contract and after he had played three seasons.

"As long as players are under contract, we determine which players and when we move forward on creating an extension,' Angelo said. "We have a process in which we operate from. To have as many players under contract and to keep the continuity of the team intact, you have to operate with a solid plan and stay within those parameters.'

Vasher is the third starter to leave the voluntary offseason program and has been replaced on the field by Ricky Manning Jr. Weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs and running back Thomas Jones already were boycotting OTAs.

According to Sullivan, 130 cornerbacks will make more money than Vasher this season. Sullivan believes his case is buttressed by the fact that Vasher is the only fourth-round pick since 2000 to reach the Pro Bowl on the original ballot. He was the first Bears cornerback to be so honored since Donnell Woolford in 1994.

"My position is Nate's achievements have been so extraordinary coming from the fourth round,' Sullivan said. "And they won't even talk about compensation.'

Because Vasher signed a four-year contract, which included a $390,000 signing bonus, he will not be eligible for restricted free agency after this season. During Angelo's regime, the Bears consistently have signed draft picks from the third round and later to four-year deals, a growing trend leaguewide.

There are precedents, however, for cornerbacks getting new deals early. Jacksonville's Rashean Mathis had two years remaining on his four-year contract when the Jaguars signed him last August to a five-year, $25.5 million extension that included $10 million in bonus money. Philadelphia Eagles starters Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown had their rookie contracts redone during the middle of their third seasons in 2004 with more than two years remaining on their contracts.

NOTE: Wide receiver Airese Currie pulled up awkwardly at the end of Tuesday's OTA and left the field with a trainer.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

Bears won't redo Vasher's contract

ah get over it, you got lucky last season

"Vikes_King" wrote:

ah get over it, you got lucky last season

He know that... that is why he is trying to get paid on last years performance and not on what he will do this year.

Big baby, shut up and play.

For as much bad press that the Vikings get, its nice to see that our divisional rivals are getting it too.

"V-Unit" wrote:

For as much bad press that the Vikings get, its nice to see that our divisional rivals are getting it too.

Especially when it's the Packers.

I think Vasher should hold out the entire season goldarn't. Show him the money :wink:

put him on offense, he had more points on defense then the bears offemse

The average NFL career is only 3 seasons, so you can't fault the guy for wanting to strike while the iron's hot. But on the flipside, it's a bit naive to think that the Bears will pay him top money for only one year's good play. He'd had a MUCH more convincing case if he played to a high standard again this year.