Kordell Signs w/ Bears

[maddogkf]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6249961

Stewart agrees to two-year deal with Bears
March 13, 2003
By Jay Glazer
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Jay your opinion!





Kordell Stewart has agreed to a two-year deal to become the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, SportsLine.com has learned.

Financial terms of the deal were not available. The Bears had been pushing for Stewart to make a decision by Thursday.

Stewart was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers after eight seasons of both brilliant and erratic play.

Stewart, who lost his starting job last year to Tommy Maddox, was one of three quarterbacks to visit the Bears last week, along with Jake Plummer (who then left Arizona for the Denver Broncos) and Jeff Blake, signed Wednesday by the Arizona Cardinals.

The Bears had a quarterback opening after releasing Jim Miller.

Before becoming the Steelers' starter in 1997, Stewart was known as "Slash," a multidimensional threat who could make plays as a quarterback, running back and receiver.

As a quarterback, he led the Steelers to two AFC title games but threw three interceptions in each Pittsburgh loss.

The Bears are coming off a 4-12 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Terms?

 

[maddogkf]

Not yet released...2 years though....

 

[Dback Jon]

Originally posted by maddogkf
Not yet released...2 years though....

Since it is only two years, does this mean they are planning on drafting a QB with their first, with the intent of Stewart being a place holder until Leftwich/Boller/Palmer is ready?

 

[Tangodnzr]

Hmmmmm...very interesting.

I like what has happened here. I'm guessing the contract will be in the 3 mil/yr neighborhood, maybe a little more, but I doubt it would be much.

The Cards came out smelling like a rose on this one. Kordell and Steinberg appear to have gotten just a little too cute. I'm glad to see the Cards made a limited offer, then slammed the door in his face.

I have said before that if the Bears signed Kordell then they would pass on Leftwich and take Suggs. Now with a 2 year contract, I'm not so sure about that. They may indeed take Leftwich now with the Idea of Kordell just babysitting for 1-2 years.

 

[Billy Flynt]

I have to say how excited I am That we signed Blake before Stewart digned with the Bears. It makes it look like we made our choice first and didn't wait to pick up table scraps.

 

[Krangodnzr]

After turning down Cards, Stewart joins Bears

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By John Clayton
ESPN.com


After letting Jeff Blake take the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback job, Kordell Stewart accepted a two-year deal to take over as the Bears' starting quarterback.

Stewart, released by the Steelers last month, considered making a visit to the Baltimore Ravens, but instead of letting the Bears reopen their search for a new starting quarterback, Stewart took a shorter term deal than had been discussed.

The two-year deal is believed to worth around the same $2.5 million a year that Blake received Wednesday from the Cardinals. It includes a $1.75 million signing bonus and will pay him $3.25 million this year.

Stewart, 30, was scheduled to make $6.3 million with the Steelers, but they released him because Tommy Maddox had taken over last season as the team's starting quarterback. Stewart replaces Jim Miller as the Bears' starting quarterback.

"When you aren't satisfied with the long-term money, you then accept the shorter term contract,'' Stewart's agent, Leigh Steinberg, said.

What appealed to Stewart about the Bears situation more than the Ravens job is that there is less likelihood that Chicago will use its first-round choice on a quarterback. The Ravens might use the 10th pick on a quarterback.

"Kordell had a visit to Baltimore scheduled for Monday, but there is a real chance that they could draft a quarterback with the 10th pick," Steinberg said. "Second, you have Chris Redman sitting there. Having just come from the Tommy Maddox situation, that didn't work for Kordell."

Steinberg's feeling is that if Stewart does well in the first year with the Bears, the team will want to negotiate a long-term deal next season.

Stewart played eight seasons in Pittsburgh and has been to three AFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. He was a second-round pick of the Steelers in 1995 who hit the playing field first a little more as a receiver than a quarterback.

He first became a regular starter in 1997. The Cardinals offered him a four-year deal at little more than $12 million, but Stewart wouldn't accept. Hoping at some point to get back to the $5 million to $6 million range annually, Stewart took the shorter term deal with the hope of eventually obtaining the longer term contract.

At 30, Stewart is young enough to get those big numbers again.




This is absolutely ridiculous....the guy goes to the Bears so he doesn't have to compete for the starting job. I'm even more glad that we didn't sign him, he is a total joke.