panthers will not match offer to manning..

[spjets]

Panthers | Won't match Manning offer sheet; to receive third-round pick

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 12:31:21 -0700

Pat Yasinskas, of the Charlotte Observer, reports the Carolina Panthers will not match the offer sheet to CB Ricky Manning Jr. by the Chicago Bears. As a result, the Panthers will receive the Bears' third-round pick (88th overall) in the upcoming NFL Draft. Manning signed a five-year offer sheet, which is worth up to $21 million, with the Bears.

[BigJermaineFromQnz]

damn the bears are bolstering up... nate vasher and RMJ will be tight

[RSJ]

If manning makes it to the field this year.

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3743309

Irrelevant no more: Elliotts have big fight on their hands

By Billy Witz, Staff Writer

Former UCLA cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. was arrested early Sunday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly knocking a man unconscious at a Westwood diner.

Manning, a three-year NFL veteran who Friday had signed a five-year, $21 million offer sheet with the Chicago Bears, walked in to Denny's Restaurant just after 3 a.m. with four or five friends and began to tease a man working on a laptop at a nearby table, according to Los Angeles Police Department Det. Robert Lewis.

The man asked a Denny's employee to intervene, then Manning punched the man in the face and others in the group began to kick and beat him, Lewis said. The group then fled as an employee phoned police.

Manning was pulled over several blocks away because the Range Rover he was driving fit the description of the car witnesses had given police. Manning was arrested after the victim, who had regained consciousness, identified him, Lewis said.

The detectives, said police are still looking for independent witnesses to confirm the victim's account. A call to Manning's agent, Jim Ivler, was not returned, but the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Manning told his agent he had no involvement in the incident.

It is the second time Manning has been arrested after a fight in Westwood. In 2002, he was arrested and charged with assault after a fight outside Madison's.

This arrest is not expected to have any impact on the offer sheet Manning signed.

The Carolina Panthers, for whom Manning helped to the Super Bowl as a rookie in 2003 when he intercepted four passes in the playoffs, have until Friday to match the offer made by the Bears.

[MiamiJet]

I like the move for Manning Jr, but this incident is bad. The guy is a knucklehead and should spend time in jail if he were involved.

Even if he weren't the mere fact that he put himself into a situation like this, by hanging out with a bunch of punks, is a sign of poor judgment. I don't feel comfortable with him playing for Chicago.

The deal, however, is a very manageable one. He stands to make 7.5 M this season, but the contract is front loaded and actually degrades. If Manning Jr. fails to earn a starting spot(from Vasher or Tillman), he earns next to nothing.

Pretty nice contract by Chicago.