Bears sign CB Tillman to 6 year extension (1 Viewer)

[DrJ]

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears further solidified their strong defense Tuesday, agreeing to terms with cornerback Charles Tillman on a six-year contract extension through 2013.

Tillman has appeared in 53 games with 49 starts in four seasons since joining the Bears as a second-round pick (35th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft from Louisiana-Lafayette.

The 6-1, 196-pounder registered five interceptions last season for the second straight year, increasing his career total to 14, second among current Bears behind fellow cornerback Nathan Vasher, who has picked off 16 passes in three seasons.

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3610

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Michael Okwo and Jamar Williams dynasty value takes another tick up, Briggs another tick down - although this was expected. It certainly doesn't look like there will be enough in the coffers for Briggs demands, although I also didn't expect the Bears to keep both starting CBs

 

[Warpig]

No $ left for Briggs.

 

[sholditch]

Glad to have him locked up. I wish there was a way in all of this to lock up Briggs too but it's seeming less and less likely. If there's one thing I try to never question the Bears on (at least not recently) its decisions on defensive personnel.

 

[PsychoMan]

Michael Okwo and Jamar Williams dynasty value takes another tick up, Briggs another tick down - although this was expected. It certainly doesn't look like there will be enough in the coffers for Briggs demands, although I also didn't expect the Bears to keep both starting CBs

Yep, I remember you saying that maybe they weren't going to keep Tillman when they signed Vasher to a 5 yr extension. I'm so glad they got both. I'm fine with Briggs leaving and the Bears sticking with these two CBs.This is definitely a boost for Jamar and Okwo, although I'm guessing Jamar would get the nod ahead of Okwo because he has a little more experience.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Michael Okwo and Jamar Williams dynasty value takes another tick up, Briggs another tick down - although this was expected. It certainly doesn't look like there will be enough in the coffers for Briggs demands, although I also didn't expect the Bears to keep both starting CBs

Yep, I remember you saying that maybe they weren't going to keep Tillman when they signed Vasher to a 5 yr extension. I'm so glad they got both. I'm fine with Briggs leaving and the Bears sticking with these two CBs.This is definitely a boost for Jamar and Okwo, although I'm guessing Jamar would get the nod ahead of Okwo because he has a little more experience.

The Bears certainly have a lot of money tied up at CB with Vasher, Tillman, and Manning, but all three contracts will look like bargains in a year or two.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Thats a lot of peanuts.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Briggs had his shot at a long term contract last offseason - he elected to pass and now he 'pays the price' by playing for only $7Million guaranteed for a year.

With Urlacher and the two CBs locked up for years - Tommie Harris should be the next priority as his gig is up after the '08 season. They have to see how that hamstring bounces back first.

Next year either Alex Brown or Oglunleye are history (thank you Mark Anderson!) and Berrian has to be extended - if he's not this year.

 

[Klecko HOF]

Great job, Chicago. The defensive backfield is set, with both starting corners signed, with our startin corners and nickle signed long term(Vasher/Tillman/Manning) and our safeties set with Brown/Archuleta/Manning/Harris.

Lock up Tommie Harris now.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Tommie was just on ESPN1000 with Carm, Jurko and Harry.

He said he's about 10% away from being his normal 110%. He didn't know that Tillman got his new paper. You could almost hear him smiling through the phone.

My guess - Briggs is history after this year (or best case next) and Tommie Harris will be their highest paid D-Lineman.

Tommie and Urlacher are the cornerstones of the defense, with Mark Anderson the young up and comer - just as Sapp/Brooks/Rice got the job done for Tampa.

Mike Brown, Muhsin Muhammed, Desmond Clark and Fred Miller won't be on this team beyond this season imho. Too old, too expensive and/or not productive enough.

 

[flapgreen]

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

To break this signing down a bit further.

Vasher and Tillman will be the Bears CB's, barring injury, for the next 5 seasons. Ricky Manning Jr, will play the nickel/cover slot WR's...although he does get burnt at times.

What does all of this mean for....Daniel Manning?

He started last season at FS as a D-II Rookie and did look bad at times(see Reggie Bush in the NFC Championship game), but he is talented and developing.

However, this offseason the Bears have also played him at CB and saftey. I assumed this was because both Vasher and Tillman were due to become FA's. Ricky Manning would stay nickel, and D. Manning would develop into the starting CB for 2008.

Fast forward to today, both Vasher and Tillman are locked up long term.

Does D. Manning move back full-time to FS?

Would the training camp battle for FS be between Daniel Manning and Chris Harris?

Would the training camp battle for SS be between Mike Brown and Adam Archuleta?

I almost certainly would think that D. Manning would move back to FS, to further his development into a starter for this defense.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Briggs had his shot at a long term contract last offseason - he elected to pass and now he 'pays the price' by playing for only $7Million guaranteed for a year.

With Urlacher and the two CBs locked up for years - Tommie Harris should be the next priority as his gig is up after the '08 season. They have to see how that hamstring bounces back first.

Next year either Alex Brown or Oglunleye are history (thank you Mark Anderson!) and Berrian has to be extended - if he's not this year.

Exactly right - he messed up if he really wanted to stay in Chicago. What a surprise that Drew Rosenhaus is his agent. If Briggs told him he really wanted to stay in Chicago, Rosenhaus should have been able to look at the contract situations with the Bears and realize that the priorities were going to change big time in '07. Good job by the Bears locking up Tillman and Vasher. It's too hard to come by good cornerbacks these days. Berrian and Harris are next up.

 

[Sweetness_34]

Do not put too much stock into giving positions to players. Angelo and Lovie are great in finding players that can play multiple positions/roles. Danniel Manning will stay with us for a long time too since he is definitely talented. He will serve as a safety and corner and given the way the NFL is today (multi WR sets run by many teams, especially with Martz in the division) and how injuries can never be predicted making depth key, getting this flexibility is great for the Bears.

Well Done Jerry Angelo....this team is going to be a dynasty with expectations to contend every year barring some crazy unforeseen injuries.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

To break this signing down a bit further.Vasher and Tillman will be the Bears CB's, barring injury, for the next 5 seasons. Ricky Manning Jr, will play the nickel/cover slot WR's...although he does get burnt at times.What does all of this mean for....Daniel Manning?He started last season at FS as a D-II Rookie and did look bad at times(see Reggie Bush in the NFC Championship game), but he is talented and developing.However, this offseason the Bears have also played him at CB and saftey. I assumed this was because both Vasher and Tillman were due to become FA's. Ricky Manning would stay nickel, and D. Manning would develop into the starting CB for 2008.Fast forward to today, both Vasher and Tillman are locked up long term.Does D. Manning move back full-time to FS?Would the training camp battle for FS be between Daniel Manning and Chris Harris?Would the training camp battle for SS be between Mike Brown and Adam Archuleta?I almost certainly would think that D. Manning would move back to FS, to further his development into a starter for this defense.

Danieal Manning will be a special team contributor this year, be used in dime coverages and more than likely replace Mike Brown after this season concludes. ...or if Archuletta has 'really' lost it, he'll be needed.

 

[DrJ]

Michael Okwo and Jamar Williams dynasty value takes another tick up, Briggs another tick down - although this was expected. It certainly doesn't look like there will be enough in the coffers for Briggs demands, although I also didn't expect the Bears to keep both starting CBs

Yep, I remember you saying that maybe they weren't going to keep Tillman when they signed Vasher to a 5 yr extension. I'm so glad they got both. I'm fine with Briggs leaving and the Bears sticking with these two CBs.This is definitely a boost for Jamar and Okwo, although I'm guessing Jamar would get the nod ahead of Okwo because he has a little more experience.

The Bears certainly have a lot of money tied up at CB with Vasher, Tillman, and Manning, but all three contracts will look like bargains in a year or two.

I disagree on the Vasher contract - that was a STEAL. They didn't redo his current year, so he's really making 29 million over the next 6 seasons with that 5 year 28 mill extension. About 4.8 per on average over the next 6 seasons. That's barely more than Manning Jr's pulling down.Clements got 10.0 per and even Jason David got 3.9 per from the Saints. Vasher's contract is actually very good by today's standards, and will look like a TOTAL steal in a year or two.Tillman got 38 over 6 with this extension....but they also didn't redo his current year which is 3.45 base. So they're paying him about 42 million over the next 7, about 6.0 per. Again, comparing that to the Clements and David contracts, that's really not bad at all. And as you noted, it'll only look better in a year or two.

 

[Sweetness_34]

Tillman and Vasher combined got less than Nate Clements alone.....this is a steal for solid solid talent. In the age of ever increasing salary caps, these contracts will look great against what every one is getting on the FA market

 

[DrJ]

Tillman and Vasher combined got less than Nate Clements alone.....this is a steal for solid solid talent. In the age of ever increasing salary caps, these contracts will look great against what every one is getting on the FA market

Well, a tad over...but still, not by a lot. 1 Nate Clements costs 10.0 million a season. 2 Jason Davids would cost 7.8 million a year. I'll take Vasher and Tillman for 10.8 instead any day of the week.

 

[DrJ]

Wow, apparantly the deal is a 6 year, 38 million dollar deal. BUT, he gets a base salary of 9 million in the final season....which he isn't going to make. So in reality it's a 5 year, 29 million dollar deal tacked onto his current 3.45 from this season. 32.5 million over the next 6 seasons, or 5.4 million a year.

10.2 million average per season for BOTH Vasher and Tillman over the next 6 years.....Angelo did a TERRIFIC job here.

 

[DrJ]

A lot better money spent than Jason David.