On Time with an Important Decision: Chris Williams is a man who cashes in on his vows, a man who you can take his word to the bank - count on it! In this case, he came through like he said he would this afternoon, as he agreed to a five-year deal. Williams was chosen to come to the Windy City with the 14th selection in past April’s draft. The move-making, roster shaking Bears now have all 12 draft choices ready to go and awaiting to suit for Wednesday’s start of Training Camp. The 6-foot 6, 315-pound offensive tackle put on the pads and helmet in 36 contests at left tackle and left guard while attending Vanderbilt, as he finalized his collegiate stay with an impressive 33 consecutive starts. Williams garnered first team all-SEC congrats while manning the left tackle spot as a senior. According to NFL sources, the deal is believed to be worth $16 million, including $10 million guaranteed.

LT for the Next Decade? The hopeful answer to the Bears hole at left tackle surrendered just two sacks over his final two seasons in College Football’s toughest conference. Bears fans everywhere can now take a sigh of relief (could be the last time before the offense takes the field) - assuming they don’t look over to overanalyze the overblown, overhyped, overtalked about QB situation/controversy (hold your breath), an on-going battle between two incumbent signal callers that will have spectators and reporters alike going nuts during the next 3-4 weeks at Bourbonnais.

On the eve of the opening of training camp, the Bears and Brian Urlacher have agreed to a new contract.  The “Chicago Tribune” reports the new deal will pay the 30-year old linebacker a $6-million signing bonus and give him a $1-million raise over the next four seasons.  Urlacher has been a marquee player for the Bears’ defense since being drafted by the team with the ninth-overall pick in 2000.

Revised Deal = Good Business: That’s a total of around $43.5 million over the next five years, with $18 million in new money for one of the best linebackers in the NFL.  The 2006 defensive player of the year is coming off a productive 2007 season in which, despite back and neck issues that required minor offseason surgery, he started all of the team’s 16 games.

Front Page News - Forte Set To Fuel Fresh Start At Running Back: The Chicago Bears signed RB Matt Forte to a four-year deal today. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. His agent had this to say: “We’re excited about Matt and understand he has a huge opportunity to step in and start.” “We know he is well-positioned to meet the (Bears’) expectations.” The “shot-caller”, decision-maker Jerry Angelo, said Forte adds to the Bears a dimension they didn’t have last season: a back worthy of getting to the corner and making people miss at the second level. Forte was chosen by the Bears in the second round (44th overall) out of Tulane and is the 11th of 12 Bears selections to translate the ink to paper, the most in the NFL.

Three’s An Elite Company - Bowman, Bennett, and Harrison Waste No Time: The Bears on Tuesday signed third-rounders Earl Bennett and Marcus Harrison, along with fifth-round draftee Zackary Bowman, all to four-year deals. The only unsigned draft pick, 1st round selection Chris Williams, vowed he will not hold out. The 14th overall choice is slated to cash in somewhere between $9-11 million in guaranteed money, when he signs his five-year deal. With talks yet to progress in the contract situations of the Windy City Flyer (Devin Hester) and Brian Urlacher - expect Williams to make headlines before the two All-Pros do. Therefore, you can count on the main attractions at Training Camp (beings: July 23) to be starting RB Matt Forte and LT Chris Williams, as all eyes and attention will point their direction, while they look to enhance the newly revamped ground attack in ‘08. Hopefully, the veterans’ (Hester and Urlacher) disputes concerning green paper will not take away from what will be the most deserving news and more important stories - the rookies (Matt Forte, Chris Williams & Co.)

While the Bears still have major issues on offense, they are still in the mix as far as having a good defense, and Thursday moved to keep that defense intact with signing DT Tommie Harris to a four-year deal. The deal is worth $40 million according to the Chicago Tribune. The deal guarantees him $18 mil overall and $27 mil over the first three years of the contract.

Harris will become the highest paid DT in the leagues history. The Tribune says that talks with Harris’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, heated up over the past few weeks and Rosenhaus arrived in Chicago on Thursday to close the deal. The Bears would have stuck the franchise tag on Harris in 09, but both sides appear happy to have come to this conclusion.

The former Oklahoma Sooner was the Bears first-round pick back in 2004, and has been a Pro Bowler the last two seasons. Last year even playing with leg issues, he put up solid numbers - 35 tackles in 16 games to go along with 8 sacks for negative 47 yards. He fits the Bears cover-2 defense well, and should continue to play at a high level should he stay healthy.

The next in line for the Bears according to the Tribune will be Devin Hester, the teams biggest playmaker, and linebacker Brian Urlacher, who has been in the news a lot this offseason back and forth with talks of a contract. Reports are that talks for both players are already going on, and could have some closure by training camp or shortly thereafter.

Getting Harris done is a solid move for the Bears, as he’s proven his worth in his four years in the league, playing in 60 games, putting up 141 total tackles and 19.5 sacks.

Check Out The Freshest Segment Of Bears Banter Featuring Columnists Eric Cook & Ron Norman. Site Editor Russ Loede Leads The Bears Gab Staff Through 7 More Sure-Fire Questions In The 2nd Part Of 3 Series Inside Volume 6 Of Bears Banter. Acquire The Most Reliable Bears Insight/Knowledge On The Web As You Read This Newest Issue From Bears Gab: Bears Gab - Bears Banter Volume 6, Round 2

Check Out The Freshest Edition Of Bears Banter Featuring Columnists Eric Cook & Ron Norman. Site Editor Russ Loede Leads The Bears Gab Staff Through 7 Sure-Fire Questions In The 1st Of 3 Segments Inside Volume 6 Of Bears Banter. Acquire The Most Reliable Bears Insight/Knowledge On The Web As You Read The 1st Part Of This Newest Issue - Bears Banter Volume 6: Post-Draft Edition

Fresh Bears Gab Article: Check Out The Newest Edition Of Bears Banter Volume 5 With Columnist Eric Cook And Site Editor Russ Loede. Inside Part 1 Of The 4th Volume You Can Find Out The Answers To The Bears Greatest Needs, What They Need To Address Offensively Via Draft, QB Controversy, Draft Plan In The 1st Round Between Rashard Mendenhall & Branden Albert, Fixing The OL And If There’s A Lineman Worthy Of The 14th Pick, And A Surprise Pick In The 3rd Round. Eric Cooks Asks The Questions While Russ Loede Dishes Out The Answers Inside Part 1 Of Bears Banter Volume 5. Check It Out: Bears Banter Volume 5, Part 1