From Len Pasquerelli's Morning After Week 8:
Of the 11 players who started on defense in Sunday's 19-13 victory -- which nudged Chicago to 4-3, the lone winning mark in a bad division where the three other competitors have posted an aggregate 6-15 record -- all but one, strong-side linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, is under contract through at least the '06 season. And Hillenmeyer, a third-year veteran, can be retained just by making him a restricted free-agent qualifying offer next spring. It should be noted that Jerry Azumah -- a starting-caliber cornerback who lost his No. 1 job to Nathan Vasher when injured and is now coming off the bench and playing as a "nickel" defender -- is eligible for unrestricted free agency. Azumah is a solid player, and Chicago management would probably like to keep him around, but technically he's not currently a starter. Seven starters from the Sunday lineup are under contract to the Bears through the 2007 season and a half dozen through 2008.
Looking at their base salaries, it appears most of Chicago's defensive starters have palatable salary-cap charges for upcoming seasons. And there is this element, too: The 11 starters against the Lions on Sunday average only 3.4 seasons of NFL tenure and 24.8 years of age. Just two players, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and strong safety Mike Brown, have more than five seasons in the league. Only four starters are older than 25 years and none is older than 28.
That is very sweet.
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