GM Phil Emery says no Bears will get extensions during season
BY ADAM L. JAHNS ajahns@suntimes.com July 24, 2013 10:01PM
BEARS FREE AGENTS-TO-BE
The Bears have 43 players with contracts set to expire after the 2013 season.
TE Kyle Adams
RB Armando Allen
LB James Anderson
WR Joe Anderson
WR Devin Aromashodu
C Taylor Boggs
DB Zackary Bowman
OT Cory Brandon
OL Eben Britton
DT Nate Collins
LB Blake Costanzo
QB Jay Cutler
TE Brody Eldridge
DT Sedrick Ellis
FB Tony Fiammetta
LB Jerry Franklin
C Roberto Garza
K Robbie Gould
CB Kelvin Hayden
KR Devin Hester
DT Corvey Irvin
WR Jerrell Jackson
CB Tim Jennings
LS Patrick Mannelly
DE Turk McBride
QB Josh McCown
DB Sherrick McManis
DT Henry Melton
DE Kyle Moore
S Tom Nelson
TE Fendi Onobun
DT Cheta Ozougwu
OT Jonathan Scott
OG Matt Slauson
S Craig Steltz
CB Charles Tillman
RB Harvey Unga
OT J’Marcus Webb
LB D.J. Williams
OL Edwin Williams
DE Corey Wootton
S Major Wright
S Tom Zbikowski
Article Extras
Updated: July 25, 2013 10:44AM
BOURBONNAIS — Bears receiver Brandon Marshall remembers his contract year. He remembers how it affected his concentration. He remembers doing things the wrong way.
But Marshall doesn’t believe having so many teammates — key ones, for that matter — in the final years of their contracts or on one-year deals will hinder the Bears much this season.
It will be a phenomenal thing for the Bears if he is right because general manager Phil Emery wasted little time making headlines Wednesday, saying he doesn’t expect to sign any players to contract extensions during the 2013 season — and that includes quarterback Jay Cutler.
“I remember when I was going through that a few years ago, that affected me,” Marshall said. “I still put up numbers. But it took away from the chemistry I had with the guys, my presence in the locker room. I was immature and I went about it the wrong way.
“But the guys that we have in this locker room that are up, that have one year left on their deals, they’re pro’s pros. So I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that here.”
Cutler tops an impressive list of players in the same make-or-break situations. It includes Pro Bowlers Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and Henry Melton, young starters Corey Wootton and Major Wright, kicker Robbie Gould and kick returner Devin Hester.
In fact, according to the Bears media guide, the team has 43 players on the roster with contracts set to expire after the 2013 season.
Asked about Emery’s no-extension proclamation, Cutler said, “That’s fine with me.” He also said there weren’t any contract talks with the Bears during the offseason.
Cutler, meanwhile, shrugged off any pressure he feels from his situation.
“It doesn’t really matter what year you are in your contract I don’t think, you’ve got to still go out and prove yourself,” Cutler said.
“You’ve got to play each and every week. You’ve got to be consistent and you’ve got to sustain that the whole season. Nothing’s really changed on that part.”
Emery said the Bears’ tight salary-cap situation is a major factor, saying “you have to have room, both cap and cash, to make those types of extensions, and we’re just not in that position.”
That said, Emery said he hasn’t felt any “push back” from the veterans with expiring deals.
“They’ve seen since I’ve been here that we will reward players that are on the upside, still improving and still contributing, whether they’re young or old,” Emery said.
Emery isn’t concerned that the Bears’ situation will give Cutler an “enormous amount of leverage” for his next deal, either.
“That means we had a great season,” Emery said. “And that’s a problem I look forward to.”
And that could mean a big deal for Cutler. He knows what type of contracts other quarterbacks such as the Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco have signed recently.
“There’s some big contracts going around,” Cutler said, “so I mean if you win and produce, you’re going to get paid.”
