This story just keeps getting dumber. We’ve detailed how the Green Bay Packers signed Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Fuller — then carrying the transition tag — to an offer sheet. The tag gave the Bears the right to match the offer, specifically five days to match.
We’ve also detailed how the contract, negotiated by director of football operations Russ Ball, contained no poison pill, i.e. nothing to really make the Bears think twice about matching. It should be noted that the Bears had at least double the amount of salary cap space as the Packers did at the time.
The Bears took about two hours to announce they would match the deal. But okay. No harm really. All the Packers did was negotiate a contract for their division rival.
Well, it turns out there was some potential real harm there. Even though they said they were matching, the Bears didn’t actually file the paperwork until the last possible minute.
They did hold the money for five days, according to Gutekunst. Verbally matched the day of, didn’t file paperwork until fifth day
— Michael Cohen (@Michael_Cohen13) March 28, 2018
Why is this significant? The Packers money was tied up in the offer sheet with Fuller for five days. During that time they couldn’t spent that money on anyone else.
Did the Packers potentially lose out on another player because they had money tied up with the Bears?
It’s certainly possible.
Interestingly, Gutekunst defended the move earlier this week. Of course, what’s he going say? Yeah, we might have fucked that one up…
It’s something I might call a rookie mistake.
Isn’t that why Ted was kept on as “Senior adviser to the GM?”
Isn’t that why he continues to draw his millions?
The Circus just didn’t continue, it actually got larger.
Mordecai, stick to your TMZ stuff . Poison pills don’t exist anymore
Thanks! You beat me to the point that poison pills were made ill
…illegal since the 2011 CBA. And screw this buggy interface.
There is no true poison pill but you can put them in a position to hesitate or be reluctant or to have regret. Of course, double edged sword. But if you value the player more than them and go to pay him what you value him at, then you either get him or you get them to pay more than they wanted to pay.
The Bears put a transition tag on him because they thought he was worth that but did not want to pay franchise tag. The difference between the two, in this case, was relatively small, less than 2 million. So, if Gute the Bad had paid him a couple mill per year more than they either would have gotten him and would have forced the Bears to at least pay him more than they thought they should.
Instead, not only did they sign him in yearly dollar range the Bears envisioned and wanted, they also locked him up for 4 years — exactly what the team wanted as no one wants to transition tag year after year with the steep increases.
But wait, it gets better! Much better!!
If Fuller had played under the transition tag he would have gotten 14 + million this year and, obviously, that is what the Bears would have paid. It’s what they expected to pay, at least, I’m sure.
There was an 18 million dollar signing bonus that is spread evenly over 4 years. But this years base salary is only 1 million. So, in a sense, he does get 19 million this year which is more than 14 million. But next year the base pay is 8 million. OK, so first two years, with signing bonus wrapped in, comes to 27 million. Hmmm, that is actually less than 14 million per year! Then his base pay goes to 12 million and 13 million in the last two years. (These numbers do not add up to the 56 million due to roster and other bonuses spread about)
What I’m trying to say here is that the Bears quick announcement was because it really was a no-brainer for them and they are probably relieved and grateful to Gute the Bad.
It was always a Hail Mary. So maybe someone can explain how the fact the Bears waited 5 days stopped the Packers from signing another player?
Fuller signed an offer from the Packers that would have had an approximate 6.5 million cap hit in the first year. I would estimate that would have left the Packers with approximately 14 million in available cap space to sign another player if they wanted. Unless the NFL requires the team that makes an offer to not be able to sign another player, no matter what? That would make no sense. It makes more sense that the offering team only be on the hook for the potential value on that years cap hit (6.5 mil.) until the bears file the paperwork.
Maybe there is some strange rule that causes the offering team to have their entire free agency or hiring process be put on hold? Does anyone know the answer? My guess is the Packers just had the 6.5 million put on hold.
I don’t think there were any players available at the time that were worth 10 to 14 million a year that the Packers wanted to, or had to sign. So did the offer really stop the Packers signing a free agent or make a trade for a player. Unless the Packers were going to sign or trade for a player that would cost them 10 million plus. It is hard to believe the offer had any effect on the Packers signing another player.
I agree. Second tier of Free agency does not demand much money. Personally I think we pulled one over on the bears. No way fuller is worth 14-15 mil a season
The guaranteed money in the contract isn’t all that much more than the transition tag guaranteed him this year. I wouldn’t exactly say the bears were screwed over
The same bunch of rubes that got hosed by the Hoodie in the Bennett fiasco. Not surprising.