http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-bears-smith&prov=ap&type=lgns
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="yspsctnhdln">Bears sign Smith, Angelo to contract extensions</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="7"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer February 28, 2007
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Lovie Smith got a contract extension and a raise, nearly a month after a Super Bowl appearance and a week after his agent said negotiations were so stalled the Chicago Bears coach would probably leave after the 2007 season.
After meeting Wednesday with team president Ted Phillips, Smith signed a four-year contract extension through 2011. The deal was announced by the team Wednesday night as was an extension through 2013 for general manager Jerry Angelo.
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</noscript> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> The lowest-paid coach in the NFL last season at $1.35 million when he led the Bears to the Super Bowl, Smith's deal will average about $4.7 million per season over five years.
Smith will about make $22 million in new money and the total value of the five years is $23.45 million, the Chicago Tribune reported. Smith was scheduled to make $1.45 million this season in the final year of his initial four-year contract.
Despite the dire predictions of his agent Frank Bauer, Smith said last week during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis that he expected to get a new contract.
"Sometimes, with a contract, it takes time," Smith said. "But I'm confident we'll get it done."
The team will hold a news conference Thursday, and had no further comment Wednesday night.
Smith, the 2005 NFL coach of the year, led the Bears to a 15-4 record and their first NFC championship in more than two decades last season before they lost 29-17 to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="yspsctnhdln">Bears sign Smith, Angelo to contract extensions</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="7"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer February 28, 2007
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Lovie Smith got a contract extension and a raise, nearly a month after a Super Bowl appearance and a week after his agent said negotiations were so stalled the Chicago Bears coach would probably leave after the 2007 season.
After meeting Wednesday with team president Ted Phillips, Smith signed a four-year contract extension through 2011. The deal was announced by the team Wednesday night as was an extension through 2013 for general manager Jerry Angelo.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="1" hspace="10" vspace="5"> <tbody><tr> <td>
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Smith will about make $22 million in new money and the total value of the five years is $23.45 million, the Chicago Tribune reported. Smith was scheduled to make $1.45 million this season in the final year of his initial four-year contract.
Despite the dire predictions of his agent Frank Bauer, Smith said last week during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis that he expected to get a new contract.
"Sometimes, with a contract, it takes time," Smith said. "But I'm confident we'll get it done."
The team will hold a news conference Thursday, and had no further comment Wednesday night.
Smith, the 2005 NFL coach of the year, led the Bears to a 15-4 record and their first NFC championship in more than two decades last season before they lost 29-17 to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.
uppy:
