Feb. 27--The Bears have not spared expenses when it comes to player payroll the last two seasons.
While the results weren't what the team intended, the Bears ponied up when it came to constructing the roster during the Marc Trestman era, spending $271,469,560 on players in the 2013 and 2014 seasons combined, according to figures supplied by the NFL Players Association.
The Bears spent $131,522,517 in cash on player payroll in 2014, a tick below the $133 million salary cap.
Cash spending and the salary-cap figures are calculated differently. The Bears spent $139,947,043 in cash on player payroll in 2013. For the last two years, the Bears have spent 106.04 percent of the salary cap, putting them well above the mandated 89 percent minimum for cash spending, which must be achieved over a four-year period.
NFL teams are required to spend a minimum of 89 percent of the salary cap in cash between 2013 and 2016. If a team fails to do so, they have to pay the difference to the NFL Players Association, and the players' union is free to distribute the money as it sees fit.
General manager Ryan Pace came from the Saints, who have spent considerably less cash over the previous two seasons. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Saints spent $96,555,157 in cash in 2013 and $124,241,430 in 2014 -- more than $50 million less than the Bears.
The NFLPA has advised agents it expects the salary cap for 2015 to climb to $143 million and possibly a little higher. Using $143 million as a benchmark, the Bears have a little more than $27 million in cap space,. The Bears have committed $100.59 million in cash to players for the 2015 season. Of course, these numbers change with each transaction. The Bears have $116.66 million in salary cap committed for the 2015 season.
Pace and coach John Fox have been noncommittal about two players with two of the biggest contracts: quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
"We're not up against a deadline," Fox said last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "My experience has always been that you need to gather the information and in turn you usually make better decisions. We're in that process and we'll keep you posted."
bmbiggs@tribpub.com
