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The Chicago Bears announced they agreed to terms Thursday with former Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush on a four-year contract worth up to $14 million. The deal includes $7 million in guaranteed money, according to a source.
It's unclear how the acquisition affects negotiations with Matt Forte, who was recently designated the club's franchise player as the sides work to come to a long-term deal. But the move likely signals the end for Marion Barber, a 2011 free agent acquisition, who carries a cap charge of $2.25 million into the 2012 season.
Releasing Barber would represent a cap savings of $2 million.
A fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2007, Bush ran the ball 632 times for 2,642 yards and 21 touchdowns over four seasons, despite missing his rookie year because of a broken leg suffered in college at Louisville. Bush, 27, is coming off his best season as a pro, a campaign in which he gained 977 yards on 256 attempts in addition to scoring seven TDs.
Bush carried 24 times for 69 yards and a touchdown in Oakland's Week 12 victory over Chicago, which kick-started the Bears' five-game slide at the end of 2011.
The acquisition of Bush marks the Bears' third attempt in as many years to bring in a capable backup for Forte. The Bears paid Chester Taylor $7 million guaranteed in 2010, before releasing him on Sept. 3 after the veteran averaged just 2.4 yards on 112 carries.
The Bears didn't fare much better with Barber, who was signed on Aug. 1 to a two-year contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $2 million and $1.9 million in 2011 and 2012, in addition to a $100,000 workout bonus. Barber rushed for 422 yards and six touchdowns last season, but missed the first three games because of a calf injury.
Barber missed the final two games with a calf injury as well.
His most memorable moments came in a 13-10 overtime loss in Week 14 at Denver; a game in which two Barber mistakes (falling out of bounds to stop the clock just after the two-minute warning with his team leading 10-3, and fumbling in overtime) led to the Broncos scoring 10 unanswered in the last 2:08 to tie the game with three seconds remaining in regulation, before eventually winning on a 51-yard field goal by Matt Prater in overtime.
The Bears haven't made any announcement regarding Barber's future. But it's highly unlikely they will carry Bush, Forte, Barber and Kahlil Bell -- recently tendered a qualifying offer worth $1.26 million -- on the roster.
As for Forte, the signing of Bush could be viewed as somewhat of an insurance policy for the Bears as a contingency plan in the event the franchise-tagged running back decides to hold out. The sides have until July 16 to come to an agreement on a multi-year extension. After that date, Forte must play under the tag, which comes with a salary of $7.74 million.
Forte has said in the past that he would be "hard to find" if the Bears tagged him, but the Bears have been adamant in expressing a desire for the sides to come to a long-term agreement.
"Matt is going to play his football for the Chicago Bears, you start with that," Smith said at the NFL scouting combine. "In time, hopefully we can get an agreement in place that suits Matt, and we feel comfortable with. I think it's just a matter of time. That will happen eventually."
Bush started in 19 games over four seasons with the Raiders, which likely gives the Bears confidence in his ability to fill in for Forte. It's unclear how bringing in Bush will affect negotiations with Forte. But it wouldn't be unrealistic to ponder whether the Bears would somehow use Bush as ammunition to devalue Forte.
On Twitter, former Bears tight end Greg Olsen (@gregolsen82) weighed in on the acquisition of Bush.
"If u have a stud 3 down guy like @MattForte 22 why keep paying backups big $ every yr?" Olsen wrote. "Crazy !! Matt deserves better."
Source: AP
It's unclear how the acquisition affects negotiations with Matt Forte, who was recently designated the club's franchise player as the sides work to come to a long-term deal. But the move likely signals the end for Marion Barber, a 2011 free agent acquisition, who carries a cap charge of $2.25 million into the 2012 season.
Releasing Barber would represent a cap savings of $2 million.
A fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2007, Bush ran the ball 632 times for 2,642 yards and 21 touchdowns over four seasons, despite missing his rookie year because of a broken leg suffered in college at Louisville. Bush, 27, is coming off his best season as a pro, a campaign in which he gained 977 yards on 256 attempts in addition to scoring seven TDs.
Bush carried 24 times for 69 yards and a touchdown in Oakland's Week 12 victory over Chicago, which kick-started the Bears' five-game slide at the end of 2011.
The acquisition of Bush marks the Bears' third attempt in as many years to bring in a capable backup for Forte. The Bears paid Chester Taylor $7 million guaranteed in 2010, before releasing him on Sept. 3 after the veteran averaged just 2.4 yards on 112 carries.
The Bears didn't fare much better with Barber, who was signed on Aug. 1 to a two-year contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $2 million and $1.9 million in 2011 and 2012, in addition to a $100,000 workout bonus. Barber rushed for 422 yards and six touchdowns last season, but missed the first three games because of a calf injury.
Barber missed the final two games with a calf injury as well.
His most memorable moments came in a 13-10 overtime loss in Week 14 at Denver; a game in which two Barber mistakes (falling out of bounds to stop the clock just after the two-minute warning with his team leading 10-3, and fumbling in overtime) led to the Broncos scoring 10 unanswered in the last 2:08 to tie the game with three seconds remaining in regulation, before eventually winning on a 51-yard field goal by Matt Prater in overtime.
The Bears haven't made any announcement regarding Barber's future. But it's highly unlikely they will carry Bush, Forte, Barber and Kahlil Bell -- recently tendered a qualifying offer worth $1.26 million -- on the roster.
As for Forte, the signing of Bush could be viewed as somewhat of an insurance policy for the Bears as a contingency plan in the event the franchise-tagged running back decides to hold out. The sides have until July 16 to come to an agreement on a multi-year extension. After that date, Forte must play under the tag, which comes with a salary of $7.74 million.
Forte has said in the past that he would be "hard to find" if the Bears tagged him, but the Bears have been adamant in expressing a desire for the sides to come to a long-term agreement.
"Matt is going to play his football for the Chicago Bears, you start with that," Smith said at the NFL scouting combine. "In time, hopefully we can get an agreement in place that suits Matt, and we feel comfortable with. I think it's just a matter of time. That will happen eventually."
Bush started in 19 games over four seasons with the Raiders, which likely gives the Bears confidence in his ability to fill in for Forte. It's unclear how bringing in Bush will affect negotiations with Forte. But it wouldn't be unrealistic to ponder whether the Bears would somehow use Bush as ammunition to devalue Forte.
On Twitter, former Bears tight end Greg Olsen (@gregolsen82) weighed in on the acquisition of Bush.
"If u have a stud 3 down guy like @MattForte 22 why keep paying backups big $ every yr?" Olsen wrote. "Crazy !! Matt deserves better."
Source: AP