At a time when five teams supposedly are interested in receiver Plaxico Burress, John Clayton of ESPN.com reports that the Chicago Bears have all but ruled out the possibility of signing him.
But with Burress undoubtedly eyeballing a contract similar to (if not better than) the one-year, $6.5 million deal signed in March by Terrell Owens, it’s hard not to wonder whether such leaks are part of the Bears’ broader posturing process.
The more accurate story could be that agent Drew Rosenhaus has asked the Bears for $8 million on a one-year deal, and that the Bears have made it clear that they’d only pay, say, $1.5 million.
Under that circumstance, it would be safe to say that the Bears have “all but ruled out” signing Burress, and that they would do so only if he dramatically reduces his salary expectations.
So unless and until G.M. Jerry Angelo and/or coach Lovie Smith unequivocally state that the door is closed, we should assume that the door remains open.
And even if they say the door is closed, it’s never impossible to twist the knob.
That’s what she said.