Tillman Finalizes Pact

With a heavy heart and a heavier wallet, running back LewisTillman officially became a Bear Tuesday.

Coach Dave Wannstedt said the starting job is Tillman's to lose.The three-year, $2.9-million contract Tillman signed said the samething.

He will receive $425,000 to sign, $300,000 to report and$425,000 in 1994 salary. In 1995, he'll be paid $825,000 and in 1996his salary will be $925,000.

"The thing that excites me as much as anything is he can carry25 times a game," Wannstedt said. "He's done it. We've got to havebacks who can hold up and have the tough mentality to get it done inthe fourth quarter."

Tillman said questions of durability will be answered withactions, not words. He's happy he'll have the opportunity, althoughbeing a backup with the Giants wasn't all bad either.

"There will always be a spot in my heart for the Giants," hesaid. "They were always good for me, and if not for them I wouldn'tbe in the spot I'm in now. I feel a little empty right now."

SETTING THE LINE: Although Tony Casillas is out of the pictureafter signing a four-year, $5.95-million contract with the Chiefs,the Bears defensive-line situation remains muddled.

One option would be to make a run at the player who is expectedto be freed as a result of Casillas' signing. The Chiefs areexpected to lift the transition tag from Dan Saleamua, makingSaleamua an unrestricted free agent.

Bears talent evaluators find Saleamua an appealing fallback planto Casillas, but Saleamua is more of an unknown given the readingscheme he plays in for the Chiefs. At this point, it appears morelikely the Bears will stick with Steve McMichael and Carl Simpson.

"To sign Casillas and limit Simpson from taking the next step,that doesn't feel like the right thing to do," Wannstedt said. "Wehave some young players we're excited about. With the new system, weas coaches have to take steps quicker than we want to."

The Bears can live with less from the tackle spot if they cansign Richard Dent, but the Dent negotiations are nowhere close tobeing resolved. Dent's representatives say they are puttingeverything on hold, and it is obvious they have few options at thispoint.

The Dent camp believes the most opportune time for Dent might bethe day before training camp begins or the day before the seasonstarts. Bears negotiator Ted Phillips conceded it is conceiveablethe Dent situation could drag on until June, but he said he wouldn'tanticipate it.

CAP BRIM: Management is planning on a 1994 payroll that will bewithin $1.5 million of the salary cap, or $32.7 million total.

That's closer to the top of the cap than a lot of teams will go.The reason is to allow some breathing room is in case players areinjured and other players need to be signed.

With Tuesday's signings, the Bears have $27.9 million of their1994 payroll committed. They need to allot $2.1 million for rookies,but figure to gain $1.7 million when they get rid of Craig Heywardand Tim Worley. So the amount of money they have to work with onveterans is approximately $4.4 million.

NOTES: The Raiders are talking with the Cardinals about a draftday manuever that would give the Raiders the 10th pick in the draft.Why do the Raiders covet the 10th pick? They want to draft NorthernIllinois running back Leshon Johnson before the Bears have a shot athim with the 11th pick. The Bears also signed three holdover players and Greg Primus, areceiver from the Broncos practice squad. Running back Robert Greensigned a two-year deal worth $450,000. The other signees werereceiver Chris Holder and offensive lineman Frank Kmet from thepractice squad.