During the coaching search that eventually brought Lovie Smith to Chicago, general manager Jerry Angelo fought the perception that he sought control over every aspect of the football team.
But the Bears’ vigorous pursuit Saturday of Miami Dolphins defensive end Adewale Ogunleye illustrated once again that Angelo embraces the opportunity to style the Bears’ roster according to Smith’s design.
The Bears traded their best receiver, Marty Booker, and a 2005 third-round draft pick to get the type of dominant pass rusher in Ogunleye that Smith values more than any other player.
The decision to choose a Pro Bowl sack specialist over a Pro Bowl receiver makes Smith’s stamp on his first Bears team the most obvious and the latest example of his impact on Angelo.
Angelo refrained from signing a veteran backup quarterback last spring, as Smith preferred, and pursued free agents last winter after initially indicating otherwise because Smith encouraged him to do so. Trading Booker confirms how far Angelo will go to help the coach he hired.
“Our defense is built around defensive pressure,” Smith said after the Bears’ 20-13 exhibition victory over the 49ers. “Now we feel like we have a bell-cow at defensive end to work with.”
He didn’t come cheap. The Bears signed Ogunleye to a six-year deal worth $33.4 million. It pays him $20 million in the first three years of the contract, including $15 million in bonuses–a $10 million signing bonus and a $5 million roster bonus that kicks in next year.
“To get a valued player, you have to give up value,” Angelo said.
The Bears initially discussed David Terrell as part of the deal but the Dolphins insisted on Booker. The trade wasn’t completed until late Saturday night and was contingent on the Bears working out a contract extension with Ogunleye. Both players must pass physicals and the contract must pass league muster by Monday.
News of the rumored deal was leaked on a national Web site Saturday afternoon. An artificial deadline of 6 p.m. was originally set, putting the Bears in a public-relations predicament and providing leverage for Ogunleye and agent Drew Rosenhaus.
It resulted in a Bears’ deal that Rosenhaus said was better than anything the Dolphins had offered.
Reached earlier Saturday night, Ogunleye said he was surprised by the developments but would love to play in Chicago.
“Let’s wait and see what happens,” Ogunleye said. “But it would be very exciting, sure.”
Ogunleye had a year left on his contract but held out of training camp in hopes of receiving a long-term deal.Ogunleye, 27, was especially wary of risking injury after missing the second half of his senior season at Indiana University with a torn ligament in his left knee. Concern over that injury scared away NFL teams and Ogunleye signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. After sitting out 2000 rehabilitating his knee, Ogunleye has had 25 sacks–including an AFC-high 15 last season.
“He’s got production,” Angelo said. “I don’t know what more to say.”
The Bears entered training camp believed to be nearly $4 million under the salary cap and had to be creative in structuring a deal that would fit under those parameters.
Booker was scheduled to earn $2.7 million this season and $16 million through the duration of a contract that runs out in 2008. Before the 2002 season, the Bears locked Booker up with a record seven-year, $28 million deal that included a $5.5 million bonus. That bonus accelerates against this year’s salary cap, but the loss of his big salary means the Bears would only take a $500,000 cap hit.
Terrell will get first shot at replacing Booker as the Bears’ primary receiver.
“David Terrell stepped it up in training camp, and we’re putting the onus on David,” said Angelo, looking exhausted. “Both teams were motivated to make a deal, and we did.”
