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Free-agent parade: Bears bring in CB Lucas for visit
By Brad Biggs
on March 30, 2009 5:41 PM |

Orlando Pace was not the only veteran to visit Halas Hall Monday.

A league source told the Sun-Times that cornerback Ken Lucas also was in for a visit, an interesting development given the situation at right cornerback.

Lucas was cut loose by the Carolina Panthers, who are squeezed for salary-cap room, and could make things very interesting for Nathan Vasher if he is signed. The Panthers released Lucas earlier this month in a move that freed up nearly $2.4 million in cap room. After signing offensive tackle Jordan Gross to a major deal, and with defensive end Julius Peppers counting $16.7 million vs. their cap, Carolina has had to dance around the cap some.

While Panthers coach John Fox did not rule out a possible return for Lucas last week at the owners meetings, he's looking elsewhere right now. It is believed that Seattle, Lucas' original team, also has interest in him. A career right cornerback, Lucas started 49 of 50 games for the Panthers since coming over in 2005 after signing a $36 million, six-year contract.

Releasing him allowed the Panthers to promote Richard Marshall, who was one of the better nickel backs in the league. Lucas has good size at 6-foot, 205 pounds, and is a physical performer. He was the teammate Steve Smith punched out last summer. Smith wound up being suspended for the Bears' game at Carolina. Of course, that did them little good in a come-from-ahead loss.

Vasher, the former Pro Bowl performer, ran with the starters at right corner earlier this month at minicamp. But left cornerback Charles Tillman was sidelined with a shoulder injury and it's not know how the action would have been divided between Vasher and Corey Graham. Vasher fell out of favor with coach Lovie Smith last season. Vasher looked slimmed down in minicamp and said he is looking forward to competing. He's played in just 12 games since signing a contract extension in the summer of 2007. Since, he's earned $15 million as Vasher's deal was front-loaded.

Think of the bonus the Bears would have in working with Bus Cook on a deal for Lucas--he is the agent who represents Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.

emperorjones wrote:CB perplexes me. I thought the team liked Graham. And we switched Bowman to Safety because CB was too crowded. So would this be a backup role or a starting role. Clayton (ESPN) insists we are taking a CB in the first 2 rounds.

Ken Lucas: Contract not discussed during Chicago Bears visit
By Vaughn McClure

Cornerback Ken Lucas, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, said on WMVP-AM 1000 Wednesday morning that his visit with the Bears did not include contract discussions.

"To be honest, we never spoke contract at all," he said. "It was me really just coming to Chicago just to get a feel for the coaches, the personnel department. Contract was not even spoken or talked about."

The Bears have a lukewarm interest in Lucas, according to multiple sources. Lucas all but confirmed it when asked if Chicago would be his top choice.

Lucas was one of two veterans to visit Halas Hall on Monday along with offensive tackle Orlando Pace. The Bears want to sign Pace and have plans to start him at left tackle, allowing Chris Williams to move over to the right side.

Lucas is represented by Bus Cook, the same agent dealing with the Jay Cutler saga in Denver. The Broncos agreed to trade Cutler last night, and the Bears appear to be interested. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo somewhat addressed the issue on the team's Web site.

Lucas doesn't know Cutler personally but did offer his take on the gunslinger.

"I just know him from playing against him, and what I can say about him is he's the ultimate competitor," Lucas said of Cutler. "Even though he's a quarterback, he has the mind-set of a wide receiver or cornerback. He's that confident in his ability. You kind of like that about a quarterback that brings that type of swagger to the game.

"If we end up being on the same team, that would be fabulous," Lucas added. "But if not, then that's just part of the game."