New CBA Should Upgrade Bears Roster

[Wont PerDont]

Just read an article on ESPN Chicago (now located in the Chicago Bears Blog) regarding how there will be a provision in the new CBA that will mandate that teams spend a minimum amount of money for payroll - a salary cap floor is what they are referring to it as.

Basically, the article used this premise to suggest that the Bears would be bringing back Olin for at least another season, but also mentioned that the Bears were one of the few teams that would have millions to spend for pending free agency to even get to this new threshold. The article suggested that the Bears might be required to spend upwards of $40 million on additional payroll, from less than $80 million in 2010 salaries to as much as $120-$130 million for 2011.

It would seem that the Bear's FO notorious stinginess (prior to last off season's unheard of spending spree on Peppers, Taylor, and Manu) might finally become regulated by the new deal. This is almost as good news as the fact that they're nearing an agreement, period. Maybe we finally get a legit #1 WR this offseason? Hell, with $40-$50 mil, we could get a lot of things! Should be a wild offseason. Thoughts?

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears