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Orton waits out 4-year deal; Benson talks at standstill

July 25, 2005

BY BRAD BIGGS STAFF REPORTER Advertisement

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Quarterback Kyle Orton arrived in town at 5 p.m. Saturday, figuring his agent, David Dunn, would have his contract wrapped up then.



Orton discovered negotiations were ongoing, and Dunn told him to stay off campus until they concluded. So with his air conditioning cranking, he parked in a lot across from Olivet Nazarene University and began reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. And he read.

After a few phone conversations with Dunn, Orton finally told him to just call when the deal was done as afternoon turned into late evening. Finally, after six hours and more than 300 pages, the contract was done and Orton moved his gear into the dorm before the midnight deadline.

''I gave [Dunn] one demand, 'Get me into camp on time,' and told him he could use all the time that he wanted to do it,'' Orton said. "He got me a good deal, and I'm happy with it.''

Orton's four-year deal includes a $458,000 signing bonus. The total package is worth $1.862 million.


ON HOLD: Meanwhile, negotiations for first-round pick Cedric Benson have reached a standstill. Discussions have yet to center on money as the club and Benson's agent, Eugene Parker, are still jockeying with how to construct the contract. There is no cookie-cutter pattern to first-round deals, especially ones for top-five picks.

The Bears made it clear when they drafted Benson that they would not follow the deal given to last year's No. 4 pick, San Diego's Philip Rivers, because quarterback contracts are usually more loaded and the Chargers were working with a rookie pool number from the top slot after trading the rights to No. 1 pick Eli Manning to the New York Giants.

Apparently, the team also does not like the way the deal for last year's No. 3 pick, Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, was written either. Parker did that contract, a six-year, $60 million deal that likely will get Fitzgerald back at the bargaining table after only four seasons. The Bears prefer how deals were structured for No. 2 pick Robert Gallery and No. 5 pick Sean Taylor, contracts with cleaner back sides. Finding a common ground on how to build Benson's pact could take time.


HOT STUFF: The training staff measured the temperature on the field at 100 degrees when practice began. There were three water breaks, and at the start of one, strong safety Mike Brown hollered, ''Hook up some IVs!''

One staff member said new strength and conditioning coach Rusty Jones has only had one or two players need IVs in his 20-year career, and it appeared the Bears weathered the workout nicely. Jones sold coach Lovie Smith on a total fitness system with nutrition and hydration key elements when he was hired.

''It doesn't feel that hot when you're just standing,'' Brown said afterward. ''But running around, it was hard to breathe out there. You couldn't catch that oxygen you were looking for, but I think a lot of it had to do with it being the first day and trying to get some of the rust off.''


EXTRA POINTS: Using a tailwind, Brad Maynard nailed a couple of 70-yard punts in drills. His use will be monitored closely as he is the only punter in camp. It's expected the Bears will add Gabe Lindstrom to share duties, maybe next week.

*Muhsin Muhammad made the grab of the day when he pinned cornerback Jerry Azumah on his hip and hauled in a pass from Rex Grossman.

1niksder wrote:

Finally, after six hours and more than 300 pages, the contract was done