Biggs: Kyle Long restructures contract

[UOK]

@BradBiggs
2m
#Bears RG Kyle Long has agreed to a restructured contract that will create some cap room and ensure he's with the team in 2019. He was due to count $8.5M vs. cap this year. Team player will be back.

[wab]

This is good news.

[ursamagnus]

Great news. One of those necessary moves we needed to make before Free Agency to give some more room to maneuver.

[Umbali]

Glad to hear. Kyle is a stud who keeps getting freaky injuries. Hope he can stay healthy and be a longtime Bear! )

[Boris13c]

Glad to hear.

If he could just stay healthy, he would be a perennial All Pro. His attitude, spirit and effort are always there. And then some freaky shit happens to his body to derail his season.

Everyone needs to take some time this off season to burn some incense and pray to whoever you deem necessary on his behalf that his physical distress is behind him.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

This is good news.

This is good news...and we're all really smart.

I think a lot of us said that he would probably do this.

[Z Bear]

After all the crap years he has been through with us he damned sure deserves to be here for the good years. Well done Bears!

[WagonForce]

I really didn't think he would restructure.

Long's level of loyalty to the franchise that drafted him is something that doesn't really happen anymore in the modern NFL, and it's one of the many reasons I'm a fan of his. This last point isn't meant to be taken as a criticism of players that want to maximize their earnings which is something I support, it just sets #75 apart from most of the league in my eyes.

I'm thrilled he's on the Bears and hopes he is with the team for a long time (and the rest of his career).

[Funkster]

Another move we all saw coming. Long has been a bear to the core, great teammate! I’m hoping he’s available for the entire season, he truly deserves to partake in a winning team for all he’s done over the years.

Potential next moves:
Acho-released
Trevathan-restructured

[Mikefive]

Glad to hear. Kyle is a stud who keeps getting freaky injuries. Hope he can stay healthy and be a longtime Bear! )

See above.

[Otis Day]

Long = team player. Says a lot about the guy. Thanks Long.

[Bad Flanders]

I always thought the guy was a reach in the first round, but if you find someone THIS loyal to a town and a team... there's just no doubt he was worth it over and over again.

[G08]

Awesome news, curious to see the numbers.

[VA_Mountain_Bear]

Good move for the team and for Long. I love his loyalty to the Bears, that is important for team morale to have some guys show that. Allows us to focus on some other areas of need in draft, opens up a bit of cap space too. I like everything about this news. The next player I'd like to see do a restructure with a couple years added in Trevathan.

[Funkster]

He is a team player but it also seems like he understand his situation as well, he’s made a lot of money (26M plus) in years he hasn’t played very much. I’m more so hoping for his sake he can stay healthy. From a production stand point, there wasn’t much of a drop off last season and that’s not saying anyone is better than him but more so speaks for the bears system and depth.

[southdakbearfan]

He is a team player but it also seems like he understand his situation as well, he’s made a lot of money (26M plus) in years he hasn’t played very much. I’m more so hoping for his sake he can stay healthy. From a production stand point, there wasn’t much of a drop off last season and that’s not saying anyone is better than him but more so speaks for the bears system and depth.

As far as pass blocking goes, I think our very agile and mobile QB makes up for some of the backups having to play at times. As far as the running game goes, there was a significant drop off on successful inside runs to the right side when he was out.

Glad to have him and hope he stays healthy this coming season.

[Bearfacts]

I really didn't think he would restructure.

Long's level of loyalty to the franchise that drafted him is something that doesn't really happen anymore in the modern NFL, and it's one of the many reasons I'm a fan of his. This last point isn't meant to be taken as a criticism of players that want to maximize their earnings which is something I support, it just sets #75 apart from most of the league in my eyes.

I'm thrilled he's on the Bears and hopes he is with the team for a long time (and the rest of his career).

I believe his attitude, his leadership, and his loyalty are why he'd still be around.

I keep reading "he's not the player he once was" but who knows if that's true or not. He spent two offseasons recovering from injuries and surgery which had to have impacted his conditioning and preparation.

Now, if we can get our own guys to stop injuring him and with an offseason where he is 100% healthy and can stay in football condition let's see what we have in him this fall. Even at 80%-90% he's still a stud OL.

[malk]

Awesome news, curious to see the numbers.

This!

I really didn't think he would restructure.

Long's level of loyalty to the franchise that drafted him is something that doesn't really happen anymore in the modern NFL, and it's one of the many reasons I'm a fan of his. This last point isn't meant to be taken as a criticism of players that want to maximize their earnings which is something I support, it just sets #75 apart from most of the league in my eyes.

I'm thrilled he's on the Bears and hopes he is with the team for a long time (and the rest of his career).

I'm also surprised in general as it doesn't happen that often but really glad that all parties have seen sense. Kyle was down to make $6.9m this year and it would have cost us (dead cap plus new salary) between $3.5m to replace him with a minimum player, $4.8 with a Sowell level player and god knows how much for anything better. This has to be better for both sides!

[UOK]

@FieldYates

As part of Kyle Long’s restructured, Chicago created $2.9M in cap space, per source. Long agreed to drop his base salary to $2.5M with bonuses/incentives bringing his cap hit to $5.6M for 2019.

@RapSheet

The #Bears described Kyle Long’s restructure as a win-win and there is enough for both sides to like: He took $2.9M less in ’19 (was due $8.9M), but could make $2.5M of that back in incentives. Chicago turned 2020 into a team option & chopped off 2021 (back to the market quicker)

[malk]

@FieldYates

As part of Kyle Long’s restructured, Chicago created $2.9M in cap space, per source. Long agreed to drop his base salary to $2.5M with bonuses/incentives bringing his cap hit to $5.6M for 2019.

@RapSheet

The #Bears described Kyle Long’s restructure as a win-win and there is enough for both sides to like: He took $2.9M less in ’19 (was due $8.9M), but could make $2.5M of that back in incentives. Chicago turned 2020 into a team option & chopped off 2021 (back to the market quicker)

Seems decent to me. Still salty we couldn't have done something similar (but more extreme) with McPhee.

Just because I'm always salty.

[Bearfacts]

@FieldYates

As part of Kyle Long’s restructured, Chicago created $2.9M in cap space, per source. Long agreed to drop his base salary to $2.5M with bonuses/incentives bringing his cap hit to $5.6M for 2019.

@RapSheet

The #Bears described Kyle Long’s restructure as a win-win and there is enough for both sides to like: He took $2.9M less in ’19 (was due $8.9M), but could make $2.5M of that back in incentives. Chicago turned 2020 into a team option & chopped off 2021 (back to the market quicker)

So it was a straight salary reduction with ULTBE bonuses or incentives that if earned would be charged against the 2020 cap. No extensions or new money but dumped the final year.

[Mr.Irrelevant]

Not sure how this comes out as a win-win.

Kyle takes less money for this year (even after the incentives) and has no guarantees going forward. Yes, he'll be a free agent a year earlier, but before this change he was scheduled to make $8.8M in 2021. The only way he wins is if he can sign for more than that in 2021, a big IF for a 32 year old with his injury history. And even then with Trubisky's deal coming due it's doubtful that contract would be with the bears.

[malk]

Not sure how this comes out as a win-win.

Kyle takes less money for this year (even after the incentives) and has no guarantees going forward. Yes, he'll be a free agent a year earlier, but before this change he was scheduled to make $8.8M in 2021. The only way he wins is if he can sign for more than that in 2021, a big IF for a 32 year old with his injury history. And even then with Trubisky's deal coming due it's doubtful that contract would be with the bears.

It's a win win as he makes more than he would have done if cut.

[southdakbearfan]

Not sure how this comes out as a win-win.

Kyle takes less money for this year (even after the incentives) and has no guarantees going forward. Yes, he'll be a free agent a year earlier, but before this change he was scheduled to make $8.8M in 2021. The only way he wins is if he can sign for more than that in 2021, a big IF for a 32 year old with his injury history. And even then with Trubisky's deal coming due it's doubtful that contract would be with the bears.

It's a win win as he makes more than he would have done if cut.

Exactly, if he was cut he wasn't going to sign for more than the Vet minimum. This way he makes more and gets a chance to prove he can remain healthy and return to probowl form. The team gets more cap space and keeps an important veteran.

[Mr.Irrelevant]

Not sure how this comes out as a win-win.

Kyle takes less money for this year (even after the incentives) and has no guarantees going forward. Yes, he'll be a free agent a year earlier, but before this change he was scheduled to make $8.8M in 2021. The only way he wins is if he can sign for more than that in 2021, a big IF for a 32 year old with his injury history. And even then with Trubisky's deal coming due it's doubtful that contract would be with the bears.

It's a win win as he makes more than he would have done if cut.

Your boss walks into your office and says, "Malk, we're going to fire you, or if you'd prefer we can cut your pay by 33%"

If you think taking the pay cut is a win, then I concede your point.

[wab]

Not sure how this comes out as a win-win.

Kyle takes less money for this year (even after the incentives) and has no guarantees going forward. Yes, he'll be a free agent a year earlier, but before this change he was scheduled to make $8.8M in 2021. The only way he wins is if he can sign for more than that in 2021, a big IF for a 32 year old with his injury history. And even then with Trubisky's deal coming due it's doubtful that contract would be with the bears.

It's a win win as he makes more than he would have done if cut.

Your boss walks into your office and says, "Malk, we're going to fire you, or if you'd prefer we can cut your pay by 33%"

If you think taking the pay cut is a win, then I concede your point.

If he'd already made the bulk of his money while getting a significant raise and still being absent for 25% of the duration of his employment.....then yeah that's a win.

[dplank]

If he'd already made the bulk of his money while getting a significant raise and still being absent for 25% of the duration of his employment.....then yeah that's a win.

[malk]

If he'd already made the bulk of his money while getting a significant raise and still being absent for 25% of the duration of his employment.....then yeah that's a win.

Guys, this stalking... not cool.

[UOK]

@spotrac

Kyle Long agreed to a 1 year $4.1M fully GTD restructured contract w/ the #Bears that includes an $8.1M option for 2020. The move clears $2.9M of cap space for CHI this year.