Bears sign Kordell
Bears sign Kordell
The Associated Press
March 13, 2003, 7:39 PM CST
Kordell Stewart needed a team and the Chicago Bears needed a quarterback. On Thursday, they agreed to terms on a two-year, $5 million contract.
"We wanted a shorter-term deal that gives him the opportunity to establish himself and come back and negotiate a long-term deal," Stewart's agent, Leigh Steinberg, said Thursday from his California office.
"Kordell is ecstatic. He had a higher offer of more money which he turned down earlier in the week. My job is to get the right fit for him. He had an opportunity to talk to the coach and the players and it made sense."
Stewart, who spent eight years with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being released last month after losing his starting job to Tommy Maddox, was one of three free agent quarterbacks to visit the Bears last week. Jake Plummer and Jeff Blake were the others.
Plummer signed with Denver and Blake with Arizona, another team that offered Stewart a deal.
The Bears created a quarterback vacancy when they released veteran Jim Miller last month. With Miller ailing most of last season, Chicago staggered to a 4-12 record, one year after winning its division.
Even though the Bears have the No. 4 pick in April's draft, Steinberg said he doesn't think they'll use it on a quarterback.
"We were looking to avoid a place where there would be a quarterback controversy or where they would be drafting one of the young college franchise players in the first round," Steinberg said.
"We're just real happy we have an experienced veteran in the building. We needed to bring somebody in here to hit the ground running," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said.
"We're looking for a young, developing quarterback. We're not driven to take him necessarily with the fourth pick. But that doesn't eliminate that we wouldn't bring another quarterback in here through the draft."
Stewart was 46-30 as a starter and twice led the Steelers to the AFC title game. But he struggled in those contests, throwing three interceptions in each Pittsburgh loss.
He lost his job to XFL survivor Maddox last season, and his only substantial playing time came in victories over the Bengals and Jaguars, when Maddox was hurt.
Stewart has 13,328 career yards passing while completing 1,190 of 2,107 attempts with 70 touchdown passes and 72 interceptions.
Before becoming the Steelers' starter in 1997, Stewart was known as "Slash," a multidimensional threat who could make plays as a quarterback, running back and receiver.
He ranks 13th on the Steelers' all-time rushing list with 2,540 yards on 496 carries with 35 touchdowns.
"We know what Kordell is and we know what we want him to do. He feels very comfortable in this offense," Angelo said.
"If he's the guy that we think he is and he says he is, we'll be back at the table. Two years is a good enough time frame to get it done."
Angelo said the Bears are prepared to alter their offensive approach to accommodate Stewart's style.
"If we want to accentuate on his strengths, you want to let this guy be creative," he said.
"A lot of his good play comes with his spontaneity. You don't want to overcoach this guy."
The Bears will introduce Stewart at a news conference Saturday.
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As a Bears fan.. I got to say I am happy with this deal.
Out of the available FA QBs, Kordell was my top pick, and to get him for $2.5M/ season is even better. Add to that the fact that only having him signed to a 2 year deal will leave the door wide open for our rookie QB (maybe even in the first round still) to take over when Kordells contract runs out (if the rookie is ready that is). It also give us plenty of $$ to do some more shopping for FAs!
