Post by mpbears68 on Jan 1, 2018 19:29:13 GMT -6
Jan 1, 2018 17:31:37 GMT -6 @soulman said:
I don't know if its that simple.
Do you show him the money with him only having one good year and the possibility of the guy who help develop him leaving? Who is to say Fuller won't regress once Fangio leaves? If Fangio stays I may be more willing to overpay but I don't see him staying with the new HC coming.
One of the worse things a GM can do is overpay for average talent.
10-12 million is what I be ok with. Anything more and I say don't let the door hit you on the way out.
But those players of our own Pace extended like Hicks and Leno played well.
Life itself is a gamble monsters. Pace had his three starting CBs hitting FA. He needs to keep at least two of the three and Fuller is the top dog. To keep him we'll have to pay what others will offer him. If I had to guess I'd say it'll be in the neighborhood of $50 mil/4yrs with $25-$30 mil guaranteed. The other two CBs who'll also attract top dollar are Trumaine Johnson and Malcom Butler and we'd be paying the same or close to it for them so why not keep "our own guy"?
If he regresses it won't be because Fangio left.
Fuller was always a good zone CB but this year he finally adapted and learned how to play well in a man coverage scheme. If he's not the best UFA CB he's probably the most versatile anyway since he can play in either scheme. So this isn't about what you or I might think he's worth. It's about his market value. That's what he'll be out to test and if we aren't willing to pay it we might as well not even bother, say good bye now, and let yet another of our former walk, play well elsewhere and get zip in return.
That's worked out soooooooo well for us so far so why not keep doing it?
A lot of us, myself included, had all but given up on Fuller before this year and not without good reason. Even Biggs, who's far more connected and dialed in to HH than any of us, was repeatedly casting doubt this summer on Fuller even making the team. I remember reading him predicting Fuller's possible release multiple times. But....KF did turn it around and give credit where credit is due. He stopped playing like a pussy and as Soul said learned to play tight man coverage and improve his run support tackling as well. Scoff if you want, but he had a very good year and was a rare bright spot on an otherwise pretty painful team to watch.
Like it or not (I'm referring to all the "overpaying" talk around here) he's going to be one of the top paid CBs if he makes it to FA. Like it or not, SOMEONE IS GOING TO PAY HIM. Like it or not, Fuller WANTS TO CASH IN. No shit....I would too if I were him. Those are the simple realities no matter how much some may want to ignore them. The Bears have no leverage beyond the FT to force him to take a below-market-value deal. It's not gonna happen.
I've been pretty critical of Ryan Pace as you know. He's gotta get this done. Between now and March his highest priority tasks are the head coaching hire and re-signing Fuller.