CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have restructured Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers' contract to create more salary-cap room for next season.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed
the move Thursday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition
of anonymity because the team had not announced it.
ESPNChicago.com was the first to report the
restructure.
Peppers signed a six-year deal worth potentially
$91.5 million a year ago, was due a $10.5 million roster bonus for next season.
Instead, the team exercised its right to convert that money into a signing
bonus and prorate it over the remaining years of his contract, which runs
through the 2015 season.
That saves roughly $8 million in cap space for next
season, giving the Bears more room to bring in free agents and retain their
own.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
