Bears/Dolphins working on monster deal

[Nick]

Reports indicate that the Bears and Dolphins have come to terms on a monster trade that could be announced soon. The Bears will be spending wide receiver Marty Booker and a 2005 third round draft pick to Miami for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. The deal is dependent on the Bears' ability to negotiate a contract with Ogunleye by 7pm eastern tonight. If that doesn't occur, the deal will fall through.

[AvengerRam]

The announcers on the Dolphins telecast tonight said that they are about $6 Million apart on a deal.

[AvengerRam]

Now they've reversed themselves and announced that the deal was done. Ogunleye for Booker and a #3 pick. Ogunleye will receive a big contract.

[Nick]

Dolphins send Ogunleye to Bears for Booker
By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer
August 21, 2004

MIAMI (AP) -- Pro Bowl defensive end Adewale Ogunleye finally found a team willing to give him the contract he sought.

The Chicago Bears acquired Ogunleye from the Miami Dolphins on Saturday for receiver Marty Booker and a third-round draft choice in 2005. The trade was contingent on Ogunleye reaching a contract agreement with the Bears, and he accepted a six-year, $33.4 million deal, agent Drew Rosenhaus said.

Ogunleye, who led the AFC with 15 sacks last season and made the Pro Bowl for the first time, had been unsigned and at a stalemate in negotiations with Miami since May.

``He's going to be a hard guy to replace,'' Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said. ``I hate to lose a great player like Wale, but I like Wale, and I know he got what he wanted. They wouldn't give it to him here.''

For the Dolphins, the deal shores up a receiving corps depleted by injuries, including David Boston's season-ending knee injury. The Bears have been seeking to upgrade their pass rush, and starting end Alex Brown has been sidelined this summer by a sprained calf muscle.

``You know how important those pass rushers are,'' Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. ``We'd much rather have to address the receiver situation than the pass rusher, and we like our young receivers.''

Ogunleye's deal includes a $15 million signing bonus -- $10 million initially, and $5 million at the end of the season, Rosenhaus said. The agent said the Dolphins offered only a $1 million signing bonus.

``We're pleased the Bears stepped up,'' Rosenhaus said. ``Wale is ecstatic. He's set for life, and he becomes one of the highest-paid defensive linemen in the history of the league.''

Booker wasn't in uniform for the Bears' exhibition game Saturday night against San Francisco. A possession receiver, he had 100 catches for 1,071 yards in 2001, and 97 for 1,189 yards in 2002, when he made Pro Bowl. He missed three games with ankle injury last season and was limited to 52 receptions for 715 yards.

Booker, who signed a seven-year, $28-million deal before the 2002 season, was a third-round draft pick in 1999 from Northeast Louisiana. Ogunleye signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent after playing at Indiana.

[ZigZagRam]

Ogunleye for Anthony Thomas would've made more sense to me but hey, what do I know?

[Nick]

A good bit, Zig...



Bears' Anthony Thomas was target of trade for Ogunleye

By Alex Marvez
Staff Writer
Posted August 27 2004

DAVIE -- The Dolphins tried to address the tailback and wide receiver positions before trading defensive end Adewale Ogunleye to the Chicago Bears earlier this week.

A source said the Dolphins wanted to acquire Bears tailback Anthony Thomas and wide receiver Marty Booker in exchange for Ogunleye. But Chicago wouldn't agree to that package, instead offering wide receiver David Terrell and Thomas, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2003 who lost his starting job this offseason to Thomas Jones.

Dolphins management clearly preferred the more established Booker to Terrell, who has failed to log more than 43 receptions in a season since being the eighth overall selection in the 2001 draft. That resulted in the Dolphins instead accepting Booker and a 2005 third-round draft choice for Ogunleye.

The Dolphins may use that pick in a trade for a tailback to augment a rushing attack that was greatly weakened by last month's retirement of Ricky Williams. But the Dolphins are unlikely to surrender such a high selection for a player entering the final year of his contract unless an extension can be reached before a trade is consummated.

One player who falls into that category is Cleveland's James Jackson, who has drawn strong interest from the Dolphins.

Browns coach Butch Davis said he is adamant about receiving no less than a third-round pick for Jackson, which is thought to be greater compensation than what the Dolphins are currently willing to offer.

"If offered a fourth-round pick [or lower], we're better off having him here helping us win games," Davis told USA Today on Wednesday.

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said he plans to split snaps between tailbacks Travis Minor and Sammy Morris in Saturday night's exhibition game at Tampa Bay. Minor has gained only 15 yards on 13 carries in the first two exhibition games, while Morris sat out last Saturday's 17-0 loss to Washington with a concussion.

"I want to see a little consistency," said Wannstedt, who also plans to give fullback Rob Konrad some snaps at tailback. "We're close. It's not just the offensive line. It takes the back making the right cut. This should be interesting. I need to see more of those guys with more playing time in all situations."

Wannstedt said Antuan Edwards would start at free safety but rotate each quarter with backup Arturo Freeman. Rookie right guard Rex Hadnot may receive some snaps with the first-team offense in the third quarter and may soon be pushing Taylor Whitley for a starting spot.

"He's going to be a real good player," Wannstedt said of Hadnot. "It's just a matter of when."

Wide receiver Terrence Wilkens, who missed the first two games with a strained hamstring, will see action as a returner as he battles Sam Simmons for a roster spot.