March 11--When the NFL's new league year kicked in Tuesday afternoon, the fireworks began exploding in spectacular fashion. In a dizzying spree, some of the league's biggest names were involved in Twitter-shaking transactions.
Saints tight end Jimmy Graham? Traded to the Seahawks. Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata? Dealt to the Lions. Quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Nick Foles? Swapping places in St. Louis and Philadelphia.
The eye-catching trades came fast and furious Tuesday. And that said nothing of the landmark contracts that were officially finalized. Ndamukong Suh to the Dolphins on a six-year, $114 million deal with $60 million in guarantees. Jeremy Maclin headed to Kansas City on a five-year contract worth $11 million per season.
With a landscape like that and so much chaotic action on the open market, it would have been nearly impossible for the Bears to steal the national headlines. So the first afternoon of this new league year passed in quiet fashion in Chicago with new general manager Ryan Pace patiently and methodically continuing his offseason approach with only a few notable developments.
Safety Antrel Rolle appears to be closing in on a deal to join the Bears, a move that will bring a proven veteran leader to the back end of the defense. Rolle was visiting with the team Tuesday afternoon with expectations he would leave with a contract in place.
Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, whose five-year, $40 million agreement with the team emerged Monday, will also be a key component in Pace's roster renovation.
And as expected, the Bears' trade of Brandon Marshall to the Jets, agreed upon Friday, became official Tuesday as well. In that deal, the Bears surrendered Marshall and a seventh-round pick in this spring's draft in exchange for the Jets' fifth-round selection.
Beyond that, the Bears chose to spend the first hours of free agency dipping their toes into the water rather than cannon-balling off the high dive. Pace, in his first stint as GM, began the day with roughly $31 million in salary cap space but no obligation to go on a spending spree. Instead, in some circles, it was theorized that the Bears would stick to a patient and disciplined plan with their shopping, content to do the bulk of their work later this week or early next week if necessary.
The plan at Halas Hall all along has been to retain a big-picture perspective on all that lies ahead. And if that means letting the initial free agency chaos settle down and then reassessing the market, so be it. The free agency game is played in stages and there is no requirement for teams to be active all throughout if they're not finding the pieces they need.
The Bears had expressed interest in Broncos tight end Virgil Green, who ultimately stuck in Denver with a three-year extension. And if new head coach John Fox covets a reunion with stout defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, that is not yet off the table -- though it remains to be seen what range Knighton's final price tag will sit in.
On Tuesday evening, ESPN reported that Knighton had ruled out the Raiders and Broncos in his search for a new team. He had previously been linked to the Bears, Colts and Redskins as well.
Safety Ron Parker, according to sources, had been a top target of the Bears as well. Though it was unclear where any negotiations on that front had led.
Overall, those wanting more navy and orange in the NFL's fireworks show might have been a tad let down as the sun set Tuesday. But the free agency show is far from over at this point with plenty of time for the Bears to strengthen their roster.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
