By Brad Biggs
The numbers are in on the contract the Bears gave running back Harvey Unga, a four-year deal with a base value of a little more than $1.846 million.
Unga received a signing bonus of just less than $56,300, according to a league source. The Bears, who announced the signing Wednesday, chose Unga in the seventh round of the supplemental draft. The team was assigned the 12th pick, meaning Unga was officially pick 7-12a of the draft.
The numbers are in on the contract the Bears gave running back Harvey Unga, a four-year deal with a base value of a little more than $1.846 million.
Unga received a signing bonus of just less than $56,300, according to a league source. The Bears, who announced the signing Wednesday, chose Unga in the seventh round of the supplemental draft. The team was assigned the 12th pick, meaning Unga was officially pick 7-12a of the draft.
The Washington Redskins chose wide receiver Terrence Austin with the
12th pick in the seventh round of the April draft. The signing bonus the
Bears gave Unga is more in line with what has been paid to picks closer
to the middle of the round.
Unga's contract includes an escalator for 2013 that raises the base pay for that season from $575,000 to $1.308 million or the low tender for restricted free agents. He needs to hit a playing-time minimum in order to trigger the bump in pay. That makes the max value of Unga's deal $2.58 million.
The Bears figure to have Unga compete for a role as the third running back, but he also could be introduced to the fullback position. BYU's all-time leading rusher wasn't called on to run block in school, so that would mean a transition. He's also expected to be given a crash course on special teams, something all reserve players are required to do.
But because the Bears used a supplemental pick on Unga, something that cost them their seventh-round pick in the April 2011 draft, he is probably expected to make the 53-man roster.
Waiving Unga for the purpose of sliding him to the practice squad would expose him to the other 31 teams. Scouts consistently said he would have a mid-round grade in the regular April draft, so the Bears will likely want to protect their investment, one they believe was a value selection.
Unga's contract includes an escalator for 2013 that raises the base pay for that season from $575,000 to $1.308 million or the low tender for restricted free agents. He needs to hit a playing-time minimum in order to trigger the bump in pay. That makes the max value of Unga's deal $2.58 million.
The Bears figure to have Unga compete for a role as the third running back, but he also could be introduced to the fullback position. BYU's all-time leading rusher wasn't called on to run block in school, so that would mean a transition. He's also expected to be given a crash course on special teams, something all reserve players are required to do.
But because the Bears used a supplemental pick on Unga, something that cost them their seventh-round pick in the April 2011 draft, he is probably expected to make the 53-man roster.
Waiving Unga for the purpose of sliding him to the practice squad would expose him to the other 31 teams. Scouts consistently said he would have a mid-round grade in the regular April draft, so the Bears will likely want to protect their investment, one they believe was a value selection.
This guy is going to help the Bears immensely,,he has the potential to be a back like Maurice Jones Drew if he can face the challenge.
Unga is Tongan, not Samoan. If he knew who you were he would come kick your butt for insulting him like that!
3rd and 2? No problem with Harvey Unga in the backfield.
So lemme get this straight, we've picked up yet ANOTHER monster Samoan bruiser, and he's a fast, hard hitting. actual honest to GOD blocking back? Pinch me I must be dreaming. Give Chicago a pounding juggernaut ground game and an incendiary passing attack (hey, in case I really AM dreaming) and we could actually beat Green Bay AND Minnesota but just flat out outscoring them. Whoooeeeee, can't wait for the new season.
Unga has great hands as well. He has caught balls out of the backfield his whole college career and will add that dimension to the Bears.
This kid was a steal and will thrive for the bears. He is extremely quick with his feet for a 245 pd back. The bears needed this one to help get more physical. His head coach in college was urlachers position coach in college. Both have the mentality of a punished.
This guy is a monster back. I have closely watched him play for 3 years - Drive after drive he lays the wood to defenders on the hit, and psychologically wears down the line backers. In almost every game he is clearly the best ball player on the field. Honestly by the 3rd quarter, no one wants to stick this guy - it is guaranteed painful, and is too hard to bring this guy down. H makes the defender pay dearly every time.
The Bears will be very happy with this bruiser.
There's nothing I dislike about them picking Unga in the 7th round. He could easily pay dividends if there's an injury, or even just in short yardage as a 3rd down change of pace back. Wolfe will be in there as well at times. Great depth at RB is a good thing. It would be classic if Unga out performs Gehart of the Queens.