LITTLE ROCK — BEARS RB Bush signs
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Michael Bush is joining the Chicago Bears, perhaps to team with Matt Forte and give the team two hard and effective runners who can alternate punishing defense.
Or maybe in a more visible role should Forte hold out after he earlier was slapped with the franchise tag.
Bush played four seasons for the Oakland Raiders, gaining 2,642 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and scoring 21 touchdowns. The powerful 245-pound back had his most productive season in 2011, setting career highs in rushes (256), yards (977), touchdowns (7), receptions (37) and yards receiving (418).He mostly was a backup to Darren McFadden (Pulaski Oak Grove, Arkansas Razorbacks) but had nine starts last season when McFadden was injured.
“I was told that the rotation will be very good,” Bush said in a conference call after signing a four-year deal the Chicago Tribune reported was worth $14 million, with $7 million guaranteed. “I think there are enough carries to go around.”
Forte, who sprained his knee in early December and missed the final month of the season but went to the Pro Bowl, has not been able to get a long-term deal from the Bears. He was given the franchise tag, meaning he will make $7.742 million next season if there is no new contract reached.
Forte went to Twitter to express his opinion of the signing of Bush, saying he had been “disrespected.”
“There’s only so many times a man that has done everything he’s been asked to do can be disrespected! Guess the GOOD GUYS do finish last,” his post read.
Forte finished 2011 with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and 997 rushing in his fourth season. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry. He was the first Chicago running back to make it to the Pro Bowl since Neal Anderson following the 1991 season.
Bush said he can relate to how Forte feels.
“It’s just one of those things where you want to be rewarded for your success. I understand, but that has nothing to do with me,” he said. “My job is to come here and play ball. If he wants to hold out, I know what he’s going through. I’m just going to be there doing what I’m supposed to do.”
Bush said he also visited the Cincinnati Bengals and was planning to go to Seattle to meet with the Seahawks before agreeing with the Bears. Re-signing with the Raiders wasn’t much of an option because there not much communication.
BRONCOS Caldwell added
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Peyton Manning’s appeal is already paying off.
Free agent receiver Andre Caldwell elected to sign with the Denver Broncos on Thursday in large part because of the presence of No. 18 under center.
“He gets the best out of the receivers,” said Caldwell, who spent the last four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. “That’s a big reason why I came.”
Before acquiring Manning, there were concerns that maybe receivers would be reticent to come to Denver and play for a run-oriented quarterback in Tim Tebow.
Not so with Manning, the only fourtime MVP in league history. Caldwell began talking with the Broncos just before news broke that Manning was coming on board.
“Everything heated up,” Caldwell said. “I was all on board after they signed Peyton.”
The Broncos are anticipating that Manning’s magnetism will actually give them a crack at more of the top free agents on the open market. His aura certainly drew in Caldwell.
“He’s a veteran quarterback who knows how to win games,” Caldwell said. “He knows how to put players in positions to be their best.”
A third-round pick in the 2008 draft, Caldwell has caught 124 passes for 1,172 yards and 6 touchdowns in his career. Last year, he had 37 catches for 317 yards and 3 scores.
Porter agrees
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with free-agent cornerback Tracy Porter, who picked off one of Peyton Manning’s passes in the New Orleans Saints’ victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl three years ago.
Now, both will try to win a second Super Bowl in Denver.
Porter spent his first four seasons in New Orleans, collecting 7 interceptions, 37 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. He also started six playoff games, and the highlight of his career is a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl that denied Manning another championship.
GIANTS Carr re-signs
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants have re-signed backup quarterback David Carr.
The Giants officially announced the signing Thursday, a week after the two sides reached a contract agreement.
Carr did not throw a regular-season pass in the team’s 2011 championship season, but he gives the Giants a proven veteran who could step in if two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning is injured.
Carr was Manning’s backup in 2008 and 2009. He played in three games the first season and in six games in 2009.
In 2011, Carr re-joined the Giants after spending a season with the San Francisco 49ers. He and Sage Rosenfels competed for the backup job until Rosenfels went on injured reserve because of back problems.
Sports, Pages 28 on 03/23/2012