Olin Kreutz Rejects Chicago Bears Offer; Considering Retirement
By Josh Sanchez
Six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz has spent his entire thirteen-year career as a member of the Chicago Bears. Now, it is time for a change and Kreutz made it clear that he was ready to move on from the Bears after turning down a $4 million, one-year offer.
Now that he has turned down the Bears offer, he needs to consider other options. One of those options for Kreutz is retirement, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
“That is a decision I am still making. I am sure I will have an opportunity,” Kreutz said Sunday night. “I am just not sure if I want to play for anyone else. Retirement is definitely an option.”
Kreutz wants it to be clear that he has no hard feelings towards the Bears or GM Jerry Angelo.
“Jerry has been good to me too. He’s given me a lot of money and I’ve been there a long time,” Kreutz said. “It felt like maybe it was time to move on. I just got that feeling. If I was right, if I was wrong, if the offer was fair. I have enough money. So the offer wasn’t a big hurdle for me. It was a feel I had, just maybe they wanted to move on no matter what the offer was.
“At this point in my career, the offer of money is not a big deal to me. It’s just a feel I had. I don’t want to taint anyone. Both sides have won since I’ve been here. I’ve won. They’ve treated me good. They’ve given me everything I’ve asked for and I think I’ve played my ass off for them.”
Without Kreutz, the Chicago Bears have moved on and signed Chris Spencer to take his place. While Spencer is a very solid player, the Bears locker room will not be the same without Kreutz and his leadership. Per FOXSports.com’s Jay Glazer, the locker room is “distraught.”
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Chicago has been busy this offseason adding a handful of free agents who they hope can contribute. Hopefully for the Bears, the loss of Kreutz will not break the team apart from their core.
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