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Injuries made Vasher bad investment for Bears

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By Brad Biggs

Before the Bears could begin getting a return on their investment in cornerback Nathan Vasher, injuries struck.

Vasher suffered a badly torn groin muscle in Week 3 of the 2007 season, three months after the five-year extension he signed June 26, 2007, that included $28 million in new money. In fact, Vasher pocketed more than half of that money in the first two years of the deal, when a series of injuries following the groin muscle tear limited him to only 12 games.

In three seasons since the extension, he earned more than $18.6 million.
It was a solid contract negotiated by Mike Sullivan and Octagon because they got Vasher the bulk of the money in the first two years of the deal. Neither the team nor the player could have predicted the freakish injuries, that included wrist surgery during the 2008 season.

Here is how the renegotiated contract broke down for the former Pro Bowl performer:

2007
$850,000 base salary
$11.5 million signing bonus
$4,560 workout bonus

2008
$750,000 base salary
$2.5 million roster bonus
$50,000 workout bonus

2009
$2.9 million base salary
$50,000 workout bonus

Here is what the Bears will not have to pay that was in the contract:

2010
$2.95 million base salary
$50,000 workout bonus

2011
$3.45 million base salary
$50,000 workout bonus

2012
$3.7 million base salary
$50,000 workout bonus

1 Comments

jcthatsme on March 17, 2010 9:25 PM

"Go on, take the money and run Vasher, go on take the money and run." It is so sad that this guy quit after he got paid. It was clear that he quit 2 years ago, but no one called him out. I am calling him out now. Vasher, you quit on the team, but most importantly, you quit on yourself. Now, even what you did have at one time will be taken from you, your self respect. Yeah, it is only a game and yeah, it is a business and you sucked it dry. Thanks for giving enough effort to get paid so you could retire. Deep down, You know,as well as anyone who had eyes that you did not deserve to be in the same Bears uniform as Payton. Go spend your money in shame!

Tommie Harris on March 17, 2010 5:13 PM

Dude got his cash, put on weight with new man pipes, and was never the player he was. I can't stand watching someone get paid then suck!


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