What they are saying.

[ZOD]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-trade22.html

Good read from the other side in that article.

Smith approached Booker at 2:30 p.m. to inform him about the deal, then came back to meet with him and Angelo.

They told me they made the decision to go in a different direction,'' Booker said. "They said they needed to have a pass rusher, and the only way to get one was to trade a [former] Pro Bowler for a Pro Bowler. Look, this is crazy. I knew they were trying to get [Ogunleye], and I knew he wanted to come here since January. Why didn't they do this in the offseason?''

The Bears flirted with acquiring Ogunleye before the draft, but they found the Dolphins' demands of first- and third-round picks excessive. They wound up getting him for Booker and a third-round pick.

Once news of the conditional deal was out, the Bears' hand was forced by Booker saying it would be very difficult for him to return.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...bears,1,6832063.story?coll=cs-bears-headlines

Booker was scheduled to earn $2.7 million this season and $16 million through the duration of a contract that runs out in 2008.

Is that right? We have him for five years for 16 million !?!?!?

"We have a bell cow at defensive end to work with," coach Lovie Smith said. "He'll help our defense as a whole. We're excited about him becoming part of us."

http://www.dailyherald.com/news_story.asp?intid=3822179

 

[bakedmatt]

yes, pretty cheap, huh?