The Bears’ latest acquisition was the AFC leader in sacks last season and has been talking about wanting to join the Bears since his days at Indiana University. Before the trade that sent him to Chicago, he also talked about his falling out with the Dolphins.
Q. The Bears passed on you in the draft four years ago. How do you feel you can fit in with their defense?
A. A lot of teams made a mistake. Over the past couple of years, whenever I have had the opportunity, I have seen the Bears. I know exactly what the Bears need. I don’t know how many sacks their whole D-line had, but I had 15 by myself last year and 10 the year before. That would have been much, much needed in Chicago. I love the city and one of my best friends lives in Chicago.
Q. How will the Bears be able to accommodate the high salary you expect?
A. One of the things people don’t understand is that the salary cap truly is a myth. The salary cap is something a lot of people use to keep fans and media at bay, like that is why they don’t make any moves. When a team really wants somebody, there is nothing that will stop them. It’s not just the Bears or the Miami Dolphins or the San Diego Chargers. Any team in the NFL can make moves. There are ways it can be done. My agent (Drew Rosenhaus) strongly suggested to teams that there are ways that we can work our contract out where it is cap-friendly and it won’t be a hindrance. But a lot of times teams want to hide behind this cap issue.
Q. According to sources, the Bears had been determined to acquire you for some time. What other clubs showed genuine interest?
A. I want to be honest with you: Chicago was really in the forefront. They were not hiding. There were some [other] teams before, like before Grant Wistrom and Jevon Kearse signed. Seattle and Minnesota were interested. And maybe Arizona. But the only team that really, really is in dire need is probably the Chicago Bears.
Q. Last season you led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL with 15 sacks while earning $375,000 in base salary. You earned another $100,000 in incentives for leading the team in sacks. After a Pro Bowl season, were you under the impression the Dolphins were going to improve your contract?
A. [Dolphins owner] Wayne Huizenga was in the locker room. It wasn’t anything like, “I’m going to take care of you.” It was like, “You had a great season, good job.” And I said, “Hey, man, don’t let me go anywhere. Take care of me.” He said, “We want to keep you here for a long time. You’re not going anywhere.” So I’m thinking, “OK, the owner is thinking that way. How is management going to think?”
If it was one of those situations where you sit down and you trust what the owner or the coach sitting across from you is saying, you could walk out of the room with a handshake. And you know his word is his bond. But it is not that type of business. It’s the total opposite. Nothing is set in stone until it is written down on the contract.
Q. You were an undrafted free agent in 2000, mainly because you suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in your left knee during the sixth game of your senior year against Northwestern. Did being an undrafted free agent make the Dolphins believe they could pay you less than your production warranted?
A. If I had been a high draft pick, [holding out] wouldn’t have been an option. Two years ago, I would have been signed [long term]. Now if I was one of these players who was getting arrested for DUIs, or I beat my wife or used drugs . . . but I played well on the field. I am one of the good guys. I do a lot of community work. I’m a family man. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. So it’s like, when is my time going to come? I have to stand up and say: “You’ve got to take care of me.” [Miami] wouldn’t do it. Quite frankly, it is a great organization, the Miami Dolphins. It’s just that now we are at the business side of it. It’s not as rosy as a lot of people think.
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