DJ Williams?

**Nanky** · 03-23-2013, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by brantcruz50

Also, related to the whole "BU deserved better" sentiments some have metioned (though fewer than I would have expected, thankfully).

BU's salary last year was $8 million. By keeping him and not asking him to take a pay cut last year, PE did give him his "Legend" treatment. From strictly a business standpoint, no other NFL team would have paid him nearly that much last year had we jettisoned him. We honored that contract when many in the cruel NFL biz might not have. So, I personally don't feel so bad, despite BU being my favorite Bear since Singletary.

Seems like a better idea for BU would have been to extend his contract by 1 year, lowering last year's number to $5M and give him $5M this year. It would be the same effect of $8M last year and $2M this year, but would have appeared better. Too late now, wish they would have made something happen with him then not now.

**Wounded Bear** · 03-23-2013, 03:55 AM

I think DJ is definitely faster and more physical than BU, although he is 3" shorter.

DJ's biggest challenge is to get that defense to gel around him the same way BU did.

**mouse** · 03-23-2013, 06:22 AM

Good signing, I have always liked Williams/ Nice for us that he could also play OLB if needed as well.

**janos_51** · 03-23-2013, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by Wounded Bear

I think DJ is definitely faster and more physical than BU, although he is 3" shorter.

DJ's biggest challenge is to get that defense to gel around him the same way BU did.

Actually, I hope the Bears still draft Urlacher's replacement this year and slide DJ over to OLB.

**Mikefive** · 03-23-2013, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Nanky

Seems like a better idea for BU would have been to extend his contract by 1 year, lowering last year's number to $5M and give him $5M this year. It would be the same effect of $8M last year and $2M this year, but would have appeared better. Too late now, wish they would have made something happen with him then not now.

And under those circumstances, we would have over $3M less in cap room, but also have Urlacher and Not Williams. Without that cap room, we wouldn't have been able to sign both Bushrod and Bennett. Which one of those two are you proposing we should have given up to keep Urlacher instead of Williams?

**Nanky** · 03-23-2013, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mikefive

And under those circumstances, we would have over $3M less in cap room, but also have Urlacher and Not Williams. Without that cap room, we wouldn't have been able to sign both Bushrod and Bennett. Which one of those two are you proposing we should have given up to keep Urlacher instead of Williams?

We'd have the same amount of cap room since we carried forward all remaining cap from 2012. We could have still gotten Bushrod and Bennett under this scenario.

**Mikefive** · 03-24-2013, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by Nanky

We'd have the same amount of cap room since we carried forward all remaining cap from 2012. We could have still gotten Bushrod and Bennett under this scenario.

You can carry forward cap room??? Then why do teams sign guys at the end of the year to use up their cap space?

**Nanky** · 03-24-2013, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by Mikefive

You can carry forward cap room??? Then why do teams sign guys at the end of the year to use up their cap space?

Go ahead and type your question into google, it'll give you all the answers, but yes the new CBA allows teams to carry forward unused cap space with written notice. I believe they carried forward around $3M this year.

**jamus34** · 03-24-2013, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Nanky

Go ahead and type your question into google, it'll give you all the answers, but yes the new CBA allows teams to carry forward unused cap space with written notice. I believe they carried forward around $3M this year.

I think Nanky's right on this one Fiver...I remember reading somewhere there's a special stipulation that teams can carry a limited amount of salary cap into the following year. No idea on specifics but I think it can be done.