A deal for free-agent safety Antrel Rolle could be in place within the next few hours, and source with knowledge of the situation told the Tribune that the Bears are actively involved in negotiations at this hour.
That surely is the hope of his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who would like to strike while all 32 teams are flush with money entering the free-agency period. Rolle does not have to wait until the official 11:01 p.m. opening of free agency like big targets such as defensive ends Julius Peppers and Aaron Kampman because his contract was terminated by the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.
Rolle is the top free safety expected to be on the market and Rosenhaus told the Tribune that the Bears could be an interesting destination. They certainly have a need after coach Lovie Smith acknowledged last week that the Bears need to "invest" more at the position.
"The Bears would be an attractive team," Rosenhaus said. "Stay tuned."
The Cardinals cut Rolle loose because he was due a $4 million roster bonus Tuesday and had a base salary for 2010 of $8.1 million. As the Tribune reported earlier this week, Rolle turned down a contract offer from the Cardinals that was worth more than $6 million annually. It is believed it was a $38.6 million, six-year offer,
Stay tuned. Something could be done by some team before 11 p.m.
Photo: Arizona's Antrel Rolle and the Bears' Johnny Knox greet each other during Pro Bowl practice. (AP / J Pat Carter)
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Wow, to everyone who made the ABSOLUTE statements where they knew FOR SURE where Peppers, Taylor, Rolle etc... were going, you must feel incredibly smart right about now. Bear Down
Creighton said:
Well reports are now comming in that Peppers is gogin to Washington, word is the Bears never made an offer. Looks like all the talk about their number 1 priority was a PR move and media hype. Philly and Hawks lead the Kampman race, not much mention of the Bears. Bears lead the Rolle race. Chestor Taylor no longer being considered by Texans.
Who are you Creighton? You talk like you have every NFL GM on the phone with you, before you breathlessly give the most up to date news on player movement.
I would like to comment too on this next gem from you.
Creighton said:
Plus If the average is 15-16 million Peppers will try to get the most upfront rather than later. Just like Pace did, just like most do.
Hmmmmm Creighton.....That's what Peppers will try to do? Pace just did it? And most do???
Ummm yeah it does make a lot of sense to get your money upfront as in guaranteed money or nearer to the front end of the contract when you are more likely to get it than you are on the back end when there is a good chance you'll be cut before you get it.
Well stated Creighton!
Bears are getting Peppers, bank on it!! They will get Peppers and Rolle!!! I want all of you nay sayers to apologize after the Bears get this done tomorrow!
The Bears are going to be outbid by the Giants who have offered Rolle what he wanted. Imagine that; giving a guy what he wants as a strategy to win.
So, now the Bears have been outbid by the Giants for Perry Fewell and now Rolle. Nice work Jerry. The Bears are a joke.
The Bears are a joke. We get our hopes up yet to be let down. They are going to end up with some jokers just to fill holes., and I cant wait until they trade one of the best young tight ends in the league, just because it doesnt fit Martz's system. Only to have the whole coaching staff get fired next year. We will then bring in some no name coach and wish we had a good tight end
I don't know why everyone assume Peppers is already gone. I don't think he is. I think the Bears have a very good shot at Peppers. They are only going after Rolle now because he is already available - they don't have to wait until midnight.
They could still get Peppers and Rolle.
Heres my question, Why dont the bears have that money? Its a Free money year right? So in theory the bears could spend whatever they want to right?
So, why not?
Raise tickets again. I klnow if they signed Peppers and Rolle they could easily raise tickets again and we would line up for blocks to see these guys Monster again!
Hear Dolphins,Giants are in the race for Rolle as well....Heard Cardinals want him signed but can they do that?
Yeah, got to figure if Jerry is going after Rolle - then he knows Peppers is already gone.
maybe we can get Kampman... or Dansby???
Yeah , Chris , where would Cutler be without Brandon Marshall to save him ?
he aint no palamalu... just hope the bears dont strike out on all the good free agents but then again its kind of typical
Good call Matt I forgot about that.
Well reports are now comming in that Peppers is gogin to Washington, word is the Bears never made an offer. Looks like all the talk about their number 1 priority was a PR move and media hype. Philly and Hawks lead the Kampman race, not much mention of the Bears. Bears lead the Rolle race. Chestor Taylor no longer being considered by Texans.
Rolle expected to visit Giants
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 4, 2010 11:17 PM ET
Antrel Rolle is taking full advantage of his head start to free agency.
The latest: Rolle is expected to visit with the Giants Friday morning, assuming he doesn't sign a contract before then. Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that Rolle was offered a five-year contract by the Dolphins.
Chris Mortensen is hearing that the Rolle sweepstakes will come down to the Giants and Dolphins. (Even though the Bears were negotiating first.)
Soon-to-be former Cardinals teammate Darnell Dockett has an idea what's going to happen.
"I just talked to Antrell Rolle!! And I already know what's about to happen, mann I'm speechless I'm going to Bed. I'm done with twitter BYE!"
Clearly, OCNN has a lot to teach Dockett about scoopage
Randy,
The Rams had little choice in the Atogwe deal. They agreed not to franchise him again this year, and any tender above ROFR would have to be 110% of his prior year's salary, or at the default level defined by the old CBA, whichever was higher. So the next level up tender would have been $7-8 mil for a second round tender, and would be guaranteed, because they are required to match the perks of the old contract as well (franchise and transition tag money is guaranteed), so someone was going to be on the hook for all that money as a guaranteed contract.
It's not like the Rams think he is crap, or they would have left him without a tender at all. At least this way, they get a chance to match if they think it is a good deal.
Creighton,
Saints aren't allowed to get in the Peppers sweepstakes cuz of the final 8 rule for the uncapped year. I say sign Peppers, Rolle, and Grant. Put all the money into this year, this whole regime is desperate and knows they're gone after this year.
Yeah, and Green Bay is so good even though their awesome defense let the Cardinals put up 50 on them in the playoffs!! LOL! Well done.
torres, sure the Bears are now the team to beat because they acquired a Safety that Aaron Rodgers routinely burned over and over this season and lit that defense up to the tune of 400 yards and 4 TDs in the playoffs. Antrel Rolle isn't that good. The Bears are going to get burned in this deal. He wants to top Safety money but isn't anywhere close to being a top safety. The Bears overpaid for Cutler who isn't really that good. Brandon Marshall made him look better than he really is. Orton threw for 3800 yards and 21 TDs this year and completed 62% of his passes this year. Very similar to what Cutler did in 2007.
Antrel Rolle is scared of Aaron Rodgers. He said so himself.
After starting 21 Free Safety's over the last 6 years I hope he signs soon.
GO BEARS!
Peppers is already a done deal in Washington, so Rolle is their consolation.
They should sign Peppers and Rolle and dump Tommie Harris and his bloated undeserved contract. That way they wouldn't blow their payroll. Find O line help in the draft.
Saints cut Grant and 2 others, looks like the are about to get in the Peppers race, Grant takes 9 mil off the books for them.
I don't care if you have Deion in his prime. W/o a pass rush anyone can get open if there is enough time.
We need a pass rush and 2 OL...Go after these.
Randy the Bears can't get those 4 players they just don't have the money. Heck they may not even be able to afford Peppers. You have to remember the signing Bonus, they can't defer all of it. So if its 16 million for Peppers You may have to add a few million to the signing bonus, which will be big. Plus If the average is 15-16 million Peppers will try to get the most upfront rather than later. Just like Pace did, just like most do. His first year may be well over 20 million.
The Bears like incentive laden contracts and that may push Peppers away.
Joe I actually got the Atogwa thing from you, I heard that he had been offerd the lowest posible tender till you mentioned him. Rolle actually does not fit the Bears defense that well. He was more of a rover for the Cards.
Rolle must be injured,or over the hill.With Angelo's history,I wouldn't be surprised.
Hey skip ya; jerk the bears will win the north next year and your packers and lions will be kissing each others butt cracks all year long skipppppp.
I thought Rolle never wanted to face Aaron Rodgers again? Apparently he will now get to face him twice a year. The guy is overrated. He has been a starting safety on one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL the last two years. He makes big plays. Of course at the same time he gives up big plays.
oh woahas me, oh dear, oh my, we just cant spend all that money or we wont be able to spend all that money. :(
eeyore anyone? :P
30 mil?? welp the other teams know what we have so they know what to counter offer huh?
My wish list
Peppers
Rolle
T. Jones
T.O.
Draft
OG
CB
best Olineman available
I didnt say they would, I said I would...
What the bears will get:
Van Der Bosh
Sharper
Now why do you think the rams are doing the rofr on Atogwa??
Remember Jerry likes to blow smoke, so he probably leaked that Peppers tamper so he could get Kampman or Van Der Bosh cheaper. Same with Rolle. I am hoping Peppers - There is a reason he is ranked No. 1 on everyones list. With the other DE below him.
Same with Rolle.
Boy I would like to see Jones come back,
Its too bad the pack dont have any aspirations on FA this year (except to loose players) so their fans have to post here.....flex that pack!
Skip is an idiot. Typical cheesehead trash. The Vikes won last years division, not the fudgepackers....
ya SKIP, like they did last year huh??
I don't know what ya'll are smoking right now, but this is the only chance for the Bears to get a decent safety outside of Nerd Fantasy Land. They better get his @$$ and either Kampmann or Peppers at the very least. The O-Line needs help, but they're SOL on that this year I think.
The Bears can spend, spend and spend all they want. The Bears and their fans will be disappointed again when the Packers take the division.
I have to agree with the consensus here that the Bears should get Atogwe instead at a cheaper price. Rolle has never been a dominant safety yet he will be paid as if he has been playing like Troy Polamalu.
Creighton,
I am with you on that one. Atogwe is all but done in St. Louis, and they are not going to match. You can get him for a much lower figure than what you have to pay Rolle, and he has experience in the Bears style of defense.
I don't think he is worth the 6 year, $38 mil contract the Cards offered him. I would suggest he isn't worth any more than $5M per season. he got his contract as a corner, not a safety, so the money is way off. Atogwe can be had for $4-5 mil per season, and that still leaves us a lot of room to go after Peppers/
I think he's treating the Bears like Torii Hunter treated the Sox and this is just a sucker play to get the money he wants from the team he really intends on going to.
Bears don't have the money to get him and Peppers. Not sure why they would go after Rolle with Atogwe now on the market.
Don't expect him to get signed. Rosenhaus outclasses Angelo in everyway and Jerry can't afford to look like an idiot now.
He's asking for $8 million a year. That's a lot for a FS. As much as we need a FS, that is too much money tied to one player if we are also going to take a shot a Peppers. Give him $6.75 million a year, that's $.75 more than the Cardinals offered. Incentives can make up the difference in money he wants.