Bears Get Great Deal on Walker

[DynaPaul]

From ProFootballTalk.com:

BEARS GOT A GREAT DEAL ON DARWIN

A league source tells us that the new contract signed by Bears defensive tackle Darwin Walker is, in essence, a one-year deal with a team option on four more.

Walker will make a base salary of $1.9 million in 2007, a $600,000 increase over what he was due to earn in his prior contract.

In March, a $5 million option bonus comes due. The only way that the Bears can avoid it is to cut him before then.

Years two through four average roughly $3.5 million per year, with the option bonus included in that number. The fifth year, per the source, is a sham -- which means that it likely carries an unrealistically high salary.

So, for the Bears, they get a one-year test drive with Walker. If they like what they see, they pay the $5 million and pick up the balance of a pretty reasonable deal, especially in a market that has made guys we'd never heard of into multi-millionaires. If the Bears don't like Walker, they walk away.

It also has been reported that the fifth-round deal that the Bears gave to Buffalo for Walker can upgrade to a fourth-rounder based on the number of snaps that Walker takes this year.

Apparently Dildo Darwin, which he will now be referred to really never wanted to be here in Buffalo. He's only making $600K more. The positive thing is that we'll probably get that 5th rounder upgraded to a 4th since he's filling in for Tank.

[Earthquake Enyart]

The Bears will never pay that bonus.

[Goobylal]

It will be a great deal for the Bears if Walker produces. Otherwise they lost a 4th rounder (which depends on playing time, not performance, thankfully!).

[duhbilz]

It will be a great deal for the Bears if Walker produces. Otherwise they lost a 4th rounder (which depends on playing time, not performance, thankfully!).

One of the big knocks on Walker was he would take plays off, plus he wasn't much help in the run game. The Bears could make him a rotation guy who only plays on passing downs to cut down on his playing time. If he get's 6 to 10 sacks and stays under the playing time needed to lose their 4th, this could turn out to be a real solid move by the Bears. Still a 5th for him and the Bills made a good trade, if they get a 4th it's a better deal for the Bills. Nonetheless all three teams involved seemed to have made a good overall deal. Bill fans should be happy, be it a 4th or 5th.

[Goobylal]

Hopefully Walker has some playing-time/performance incentives in his contract, and demands to play enough to boost the draft pick the Bills get. Otherwise the Bears COULD limit his time.

[Al13]

another player you lost because your owner is a cheap ass

[The last buffalo fan]

another player you lost because your owner is a cheap ass

:rofl:

4th rd > 5th > 6rd > unhappy player

So, I'll leave your comment on RW like it is now, but props to Marv on this deal :up:

[Wys Guy]

The Bears will never pay that bonus.

Of course not. Then Walker will be begging for veteran minimum.

[Tatonka]

i will be very very happy with the 4th for him.

[BillsFever21]

The Bears are SB contenders in the NFC. Any draft pick will be at the end of the round. Big deal about a late 4th or 5th rounder. That might get you a backup player 70% of the time.

Just like getting the 3rd rounders for McGahee. Some act like it's an amazing draft pick. The Ravens are also SB contenders and them picks are at the end of their rounds.

There is more to a draft pick then just the number of round that it's in. The Ravens pick is basically like a 4th rounder and the Bears pick will be close to basically a 5th or 6th rounder. Now if they were bad teams and the picks were at the top of the rounds that may be different.

Walker would've helped a hell of a lot more then some late 4th or 5th rounder will that will be drafted NEXT year and maybe be ready to play(if lucky) at any type of a NFL level in 2 or 3 years. Especially with how bad our DT's are.

The Bears were creative enough to get a deal done that protects them beyond this season is Walker doesn't produce. Had the Bills been creative enough that would've been a better deal for us then a late 2nd day draft pick.

[BillsFever21]

The Bears are SB contenders in the NFC. Any draft pick will be at the end of the round. Big deal about a late 4th or 5th rounder. That might get you a backup player 70% of the time.

Just like getting the 3rd rounders for McGahee. Some act like it's an amazing draft pick. The Ravens are also SB contenders and them picks are at the end of their rounds.

There is more to a draft pick then just the number of round that it's in. The Ravens pick is basically like a 4th rounder and the Bears pick will be close to basically a 5th or 6th rounder. Now if they were bad teams and the picks were at the top of the rounds that may be different.

Walker would've helped a hell of a lot more then some late 4th or 5th rounder will that will be drafted NEXT year and maybe be ready to play(if lucky) at any type of a NFL level in 2 or 3 years. Especially with how bad our DT's are.

The Bears were creative enough to get a deal done that protects them beyond this season is Walker doesn't produce. Had the Bills been creative enough that would've been a better deal for us then a late 2nd day draft pick.

[The last buffalo fan]

The Bears are SB contenders in the NFC. Any draft pick will be at the end of the round. Big deal about a late 4th or 5th rounder. That might get you a backup player 70% of the time.

Just like getting the 3rd rounders for McGahee. Some act like it's an amazing draft pick. The Ravens are also SB contenders and them picks are at the end of their rounds.

There is more to a draft pick then just the number of round that it's in. The Ravens pick is basically like a 4th rounder and the Bears pick will be close to basically a 5th or 6th rounder. Now if they were bad teams and the picks were at the top of the rounds that may be different.

Walker would've helped a hell of a lot more then some late 4th or 5th rounder will that will be drafted NEXT year and maybe be ready to play(if lucky) at any type of a NFL level in 2 or 3 years. Especially with how bad our DT's are.

The Bears were creative enough to get a deal done that protects them beyond this season is Walker doesn't produce. Had the Bills been creative enough that would've been a better deal for us then a late 2nd day draft pick.

This is like Spikes deal, the guy wasn't willing to play for us. Plus at the end of any deal, players just walk away and we get nothing. So IMO, a draft pick in any round (of course if it is a first day pick, it is better!) is better than no pick at all.