The Chicago Bulls are scheduled to receive
Omer Asik's three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet from the Houston Rockets at
their Vegas Summer League finale on Sunday. But it appears to be a moot point.
While the Rockets are planning to lobby the
league for a Tuesday deadline on the Asik decision since attempts to deliver
the offer sheet were made on Saturday, the Bulls were finalizing negotiations
on veteran center and local product Nazr Mohammed, league sources confirmed.
Longtime New York Post NBA columnist Peter Vecsey first reported the imminent
signing.
The writing on the wall on the Asik
decision developed more clearly over the last couple days. With news that the
Bulls planned to use a portion of their midlevel exception to sign Kirk Hinrich
and also negotiating a deal with guard Marco Belinello using the biannual
exception, the Bulls' payroll would be limited to $74.3 million.
They already have roughly $65 million
committed to eight players and need to sign first-round pick Marquis Teague for
his rookie scale contract of just over $1 million. If Hinrich signs for $3-4
million and Belinelli signs for $1.9 million, it would be impossible to match
Asik's contract and stay under the $74.3 million cap.
Enter Mohammed, a 14-year veteran and
product of Kenwood Academy. Vecsey reported Mohammed has notified both the
Bulls and Nets, who welcomed him over the weekend, of his decision. He played
for the Thunder last season.
The biggest offseason expenditure entering
2011 was on Adam Podlesh, who became the first punter in franchise history to
finish with a net average above 40 yards.
Toub kept plugging new parts in across the
board and the Bears wound up finishing third in comprehensive special teams
rankings. In 13 of the 22 categories, they were in the top six. They finished
first (or tied for first) in six categories: Punt return, opponent gross punt,
extra-point percentage, giveaways, points allowed and kick security. They
placed second in punt coverage and tied for second in points scored. Football
Outsiders, using its ranking system, had the Bears No. 1 in the league for the
third time in the last five years.
Recognition came at the end of the season.
Cover man Corey Graham received a trip to the Pro Bowl after being snubbed the
year before. Later, he cashed in with free agency, getting a two-year contract
from the Ravens that maxes out at $4 million.
Toub got some recognition around the NFL as
the Dolphins interviewed him for their head-coaching position that eventually
went to former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
It's a difficult hurdle for special teams
coaches to clear to get into the mix for top jobs but Toub has done it now. The
Bears rewarded him with a contract extension that makes him one of the
highest-paid special teams coordinators in the NFL and if he continues to find
success, perhaps his name will surface in future coaching searches.
A peek ahead: The Bears lost Graham in free
agency but replaced him with more signings geared to Toub's unit than in the
past. Perhaps it's a reflection of the emphasis new general manager Phil Emery
wants to place on the area.
Toub identified linebacker Blake Costanzo
and wide receiver Eric Weems as the best free agents available at their
respective positions and landed both.
Wide receiver Devin Thomas, if he makes the
club, should contribute and Toub already is talking up the possibility of using
safety Brandon Hardin, the third-round draft pick from Oregon State.
So, in theory the rich should get richer
here as Costanzo will likely remind people of former linebackers Tim Shaw and
Brendon Ayanbadejo.
Gould is entering his eighth season and is
coming off one of his finest. Smith never used to send him out to attempt field
goals of 50 yards or more. That isn't the case anymore. Gould connected on
6-of-6 field goals from 50 yards and beyond, and he's 11-of-13 from that range
since 2009. He took full advantage of the new kickoff rules from the 35-yard
line and hit touchbacks on 43 of his 81 kickoffs (53.1 percent), ninth in the NFL.
It's hard to set a bar to measure Hester's
performance because he's capable of doing almost anything. He scored three
touchdowns on returns in 2011 (two punts, one kickoff) and probably would have
been a threat to have more if an ankle injury didn't hobble him for the
majority of the second half of the season. He will remain the punt returner and
be involved on kickoff returns along with Weems. Make no mistake about it
though, Hester is the top returner.
Mannelly was cleared to return from his
injury in the spring and will be back for a 15th season, passing Hall of Famer
Bill George and Doug Buffone for most in franchise history. Fullback Tyler
Clutts remains an emergency option.
Linebacker Dom DeCicco made 17 tackles as a
rookie, second-most on the team, and he projects to be a major contributor
again. Safety Craig Steltz will be a core performer and Toub will look to get
production from young defensive backs like cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Greg
McCoy.
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