NFC North Offseason News and the Poison Pill
Other than preparing for the draft, there's not much to talk about with the Bears these days. Tank Johnson got hurt working out, had surgery, and is out four-to-six months. Four months is the start of training camp. Six months is the start of the season . The Trib thinks it might be a full year. We'll see. The only other news is that the Bears released their preseason schedule. Yeah, a big who cares. There is some interesting news elsewhere in the division, though.
The Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks have gone and gotten themselves into a doozy of a pissing match, it seems. First, the Vikings signed restricted free agent Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet. They put a clause in the contract that guarantees Hutchinson will be the highest paid lineman on the team. With future Hall of Famer Walter Jones already making $7.5 million, the Seahawks couldn't possibly match that offer. So they responded with an offer of their own for Vikings wideout Nate Burleson.
First off, they offered Burleson $49 million over seven seasons. Yes, that Nate Burleson. The Vikings had offered $6 million over two. It's a severely back-loaded deal and Burleson will be lucky to actually see even half of that, as the first four years only call for $15 million total. The rest of the money was just to scare the Vikings away. What's that you say? The Vikings shouldn't be scared because this is the NFL and contracts aren't guaranteed? Right you are. Except the Seahawks put a clause in the contract stating if Burleson were to play five or more games in the state of Minnesota, the full $49 million would be guaranteed. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! They put an additional clause guaranteeing the money if his average salary is higher than the team's starting running back, which in this case is Chester Taylor making only $4 million a year. What a bunch of bastards! Paul Tagliabue is pissed. Teams are going to start playing dirty pool like this to steal restricted free agents, and that shit ain't right. Tags has got to act fast and nip this in the bud before it gets out of control.
Not much else going on in the division. Favre is still taking his time on the crapper, and Javon Walker still refuses to play with him. The Packers are looking for a trade. I'd take him in a heartbeat, but I highly, highly doubt the Pack will deal him within the division. The Lions? Well, they still hate Matt Millen, think the new coach is a little nuts, and they know the new offensive coordinator is nuts. But hey, they've got two new Quarterbacks, so things are looking up.
Till next time.....Go Bears!!!