It could be that the Bears just got an idea what the price will be for a longterm contract extension when it comes to Kyle Orton.
And Orton can thank Aaron Rodgers when he sees him in Green Bay in a little more than two weeks.
That is because the Packers just signed Brett Favre’s replacement to a lucrative extension through 2014. Terms have not been disclosed yet but it’s been reported that Rodgers received a deal in the range of the $67.5 million, six-year deal Dallas’ Tony Romo bagged in the offseason. Significant, too, is the fact that Rodgers and Orton share the same agent, David Dunn.
UPDATING: NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports Rodgers’ deal is six years for $65 million with $20 million guaranteed.
The Packers were able to make the move with more than $19 million available in salary-cap room this season. The deadline to write a contract and have it impact this year’s cap is Monday. It’s not believed the Bears have any business in the works. Rodgers, a first-round pick in 2005, was signed through next year. Orton is also signed through ’09 after the one-year extension he signed in March which is worth as much as $4.5 million.
If any comparison between the quarterbacks is based on first-half statistics, you’ll see why Orton’s pay will be similar. His numbers closely mirror Rodgers.
Quarterback Completions-Attempts Pct. Yards TD-IN Rating
Kyle Orton 143-230 62.2 1,669 10-4 91.4
Aaron Rodgers 145-221 65.6 1,668 12-4 98.8
Orton has said he is not worried about a contract and knows that will work itself out in the offseason. Dunn was at the Minnesota game last month and visited with team officials.
A deal for Orton could also be based off what Jacksonville gave David Garrard. With 30 career starts, he received a $57.95 million, six-year extension in April. Then there is Cleveland’s Derek Anderson, also a Dunn client, who bagged a deal worth $8 million annually.
