Bears quarterback Jay Cutler got his long-term deal, then restructured it to make room for more help.
But those cap proceeds turned into defensive end Jared Allen, rather than an extension for wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
But Marshall’s not sweating, happy to enter the final year of his contract, with no plans to leave Chicago.
“I have another year left on my contract. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, I’m glad to be a Bear for another year and I’m going to force them to sign me after next year,” Marshall told ESPN Chicago 1000. “One way or another, they’re going to get the deal done.
“But if it comes down to next year, I’ll be picketing outside of Halas Hall for a new deal, a new contract, because I’m not going anyplace.”
As well as he’s performed, he’s not looking for leverage, however, as he said repeatedly he didn’t want to leave.
“I’m not going anywhere, man,” Marshall said. “The guys that are out there now like Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald they’re making $16 million, $15 million a year, and I’m not looking for anything like that. A lot of that money goes to the quarterback position and rightfully so.
“For me, we do want to sign guys like Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston and we got Martellus [Bennett] last year and have Matt Forte. I do want to be in a good position, but at the same time I definitely am not trying to be in the $15 million range. I get a year to deal with that, and right now I’m focusing on how to be a better teammate. How can I grow as a receiver, as a man, as a leader on this team and also in the community. How can our foundation do bigger things? That stuff is going to take care of itself. We have all year to figure that out and I believe we’ll get it done before the end of the season and I’m going to be happy when we do. “
That sounds good to Bears fans, for sure, and Cutler. In fact, the only person that probably doesn’t want to hear it is his agent.