Bears' Devin Hester big loser after NFL owners' decision

Devin Hester, this is ridiculous.

Sorry to borrow Bears play-by-play man Jeff Joniak's favorite adjective in reference to the All-Pro kick returner, but that best describes one way Hester's agent could have told the player how Tuesday's NFL labor impasse might affect his contract talks with the Bears.

Before the league's 32 owners voted unanimously to opt out early from the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association that was to have run through 2012, Hester had two years left on his rookie deal before he could have attained free agent status.
That unfathomable option—a potential Hall of Fame player being allowed to sign with another team, even for compensation—gave Hester unspoken leverage during ongoing negotiations to extend his contract.

Now it has vanished as quickly as Hester through the wedge on a kickoff return. If the 2010 season takes place without a salary cap, maybe the biggest result of Tuesday's vote, then an oft-overlooked provision written into the original agreement in 1993 extends the amount of required service for potential free agents in an uncapped year from four seasons to six.

That means Hester wouldn't be permitted to test free agency until after the 2011 season at the earliest—in essence buying the Bears two more years of highlights from Hester and more time to work out a long-term deal.

The most underpaid athlete in Chicago is scheduled to make $445,000 this season and $530,000 in 2009. He signed a four-year, $2.61 million contract in 2006 after he was the 57th overall pick in the second round. It should be filed under Hester Heist in a Halas Hall drawer.

Hester has made it known he isn't happy with the terms of his deal and the Bears began addressing the matter with agent Eugene Parker in February at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Though less vocal about his contract status than fellow stars Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have been, Hester confided in mentor Deion Sanders last month, surely knowing Sanders would share the news with his NFL Network audience.

One view: While still unclear and reversible, Tuesday's CBA development lessens the urgency for the Bears, who don't like redoing contracts with two years remaining anyway.

Another immediate result of playing 2010 without a salary cap and a potential work stoppage looming a year later could be teams showing more reluctance to commit big money beyond the next three years. That could factor into discussions involving Tommie Harris, who is looking for the richest deal ever awarded a defensive tackle.

Harris already has turned down an offer from the Bears one source said was richer than the record-setting seven-year, $50.5 million deal the Raiders gave Tommy Kelly. Why would the Bears up the offer amid labor uncertainty?

That's a question Harris might want to ponder, not that his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will persuade him to settle for anything other than a historic contract.

On the other hand, Harris might have gained a slight bit of leverage because he now can make the argument he is served best over the long haul by signing nothing if the Bears won't match his price.

Even if Harris and the Bears don't come to terms in the next two months and he technically becomes a free agent before the final capped season of 2009, expect the Bears to apply the franchise tag to keep him in Chicago. That would guarantee Harris around $7 million in 2009 (the tag value for defensive tackles in 2008 was $6.3 million).

Then after the 2009 season, Harris would stand to be the most hotly pursued free agent in a market that has no ceiling because of the absence of a salary cap. Can you imagine the potential bidding war between Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for a 27-year-old defensive tackle who could be coming off five straight Pro Bowl appearances?

Forget Harris donating equipment to a children's center in Killeen, Texas. He could buy Killeen.

If 2010 ends up being an uncapped year, it also could end up being significant in stabilizing the Bears' quarterback position if Kyle Orton beats out Rex Grossman and goes on to enjoy two seasons' worth of success. Orton redid his deal to run through 2009, but that would complete only his fifth season in the league and the new caveat requires six years of service before free agency.

Under that scenario—no guarantee for a guy who hasn't proved he's a bona fide NFL starter—Orton could face the prospect of negotiating with the Bears before the 2010 uncapped season with a work stoppage looming. That would be less than ideal for Orton or any player looking for a long-term deal amid so much short-term uncertainty.

Tuesday's news probably has no impact on Urlacher's contract impasse, which he maintains is more about respect than salary cap space. If he and the team find a middle ground before training camp on July 23, as expected, it likely will be the last contract Urlacher signs.

John Tait and Adewale Ogunleye each might have one deal left in them, but they will be 35 and 33, respectively, before the 2010 season. Each player's contract is to expire at the end of 2009.

Interest in either player may depend on where the Bears are in their rebuilding project. And where they are in the rebuilding project might depend on how happy and productive they keep core players such as Harris and Hester, two stars whose talks got more interesting Tuesday without either saying a word.

(chicagosports.chicagotribune.com)