R. Manning

A Bears fan on a differant forum I read said they have a press conference set for noon. Please be an offer for Manning! Would something like this be press conference worthy considering it isn't final until the Panthers don't match?

 

Maybe they traded everything for FAvre.

 

PLEASE TAKE MANNING!!

 

Bears have until today to get Manning


By Darin Gantt The Herald
(Published April 21‚ 2006)


CHARLOTTE -- Either the Carolina Panthers draft plans or their secondary will change this afternoon, as the Chicago Bears are faced with a decision.
The Bears have until this 4 p.m. to sign Panthers restricted free agent cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. to an offer sheet. He met with team officials at Halas Hall last week, and was expected to get an offer sheet. All indications were that they wanted him to come compete for a starting job, but thus far, the contract hasn't followed. Chicago officials are meeting with reporters there around noon, at which point an announcement of their intentions regarding Manning is expected.

Panthers officials weren't sure what to make of the situation, as Manning's departure seemed inevitable a week ago. But with the clock ticking toward this afternoon's deadline, there's some uncertainty over whether any offer will be made at all.

If the Bears signed Manning to an offer the Panthers didn't match (they'd have seven days to do so) they would owe Carolina their third-round pick (88th overall). That would give the Panthers back-to-back picks in the late third round, and the flexibility to make draft-day trades. All indications are that the Panthers would not match an offer sheet, since it would likely be more than they'd want to pay their nickel corner, and that it would be their only chance to get something for Manning. Though he didn't complain last year, he wasn't thrilled about losing a starting job upon the arrival of Ken Lucas. He's said that he wants a chance to start eventually, and that's not likely to happen here. If he plays under his existing one-year offer, he'd be an unrestricted free agent next year, and could leave with no compensation.

To guard against his potential departure, the Panthers signed former starter Reggie Howard last month.

 

won't be heartbroken if we don't lose him, but having Howard means it's basically a free 3rd rounder.

 

[homer]Then we can trade up for Manny!!!![/homer]

 

Ill take the 3rd. he's gone next year anyway and we just brought Howard back.

I assume they'll sign him, why bother with a presser if your doing nothing?

 

could be they finally worked out a deal for one of their guys, Lance Briggs, maybe nothing more. CB is one of the deepest positions in the draft so they may not need Manning.

 

April 21, 2006
Bears interest in Manning heats up
Although recent indications were the Chicago Bears weren't going to make an offer to Panthers restricted free agent Ricky Manning, that may have changed late last night. According to Chicago sources, Bears officials met late last night and into this morning to talk about a potential deal for Manning.

The Bears will have to tip their hand soon. They have until 4 p.m. today to sign Manning to an offer sheet. If an offer sheet is signed, the Panthers would have seven days to match it. If the Panthers decline to match, they would receive Chicago's third-round pick in this year's draft as compensation.

If Chicago makes the offer, it's expected to be a fairly conventional deal because Bears general manager doesn't believe in using the "poison pill'' clauses that have become popular with other teams.

Manning, Carolina's third cornerback last season, met with Bears officials last week

 

Where did you find this. Supposedly there was no press conference and it was started by a bogus post on some Bears board. I'm curious who writes stuff based soley on internet boards.