The Bears could easily absorb most of a $5-6 million cap hit on Benson simply by restructuring Muhammad into more guaranteed money and a shorter, more palatable deal.

After last year, the Bears were $26 million under the cap. They tagged Briggs to the tune of $7 million, and gave long term deals or free agent signings to Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, and Darwin Walker. I think that ate up about $22 million of that figure, leaving the Bears $4 million under the cap this year.

Next year, the cap goes up about $10 million, but players salaries will gradually climb to eat about $6-8 million of that figure. That would leave a $3 million bump.

I see the Bears starting this season at $7 million under the cap, roughly.

First, we need to trim the fat.

If Cedric Benson is cut, the Bears would take a sizeable cap hit, but would probably clear $3 million off this year's cap and $9 million off next year's.
Muhsin Muhammad makes $5 million next year, and a restructured deal could free up $3-4 million here.
The release or retirement of Fred Miller would free up $3.5 million.
The release of Mike Brown would free up $2 million.
The trading of Alex Brown could free up $2.5 million.
The retirement of Ruben Brown would free up $2 million.
The release of Mark Bradley frees up $1.25 million.
Lance Briggs leaving frees up $7.25 million.
Rex Grossman's departure frees up $750K.
Bernard Berrian's exit leaves his $500K out there.

After fat trimming, the Bears have freed up another $27 million from the cap. Adding back in the $7 million they were already under and I think we're at $34 million under the cap.

Now, resigning Tommie Harris probably costs $9 million this year, bringing us down to $25 million under. If you choose to resign Lance Briggs and pay him what he wants, you're at $17 million under. You need $5-7 million to sign your rookies, so you're now at about $11 million under.

Now, for that $11 million remaining, you need to replace Cedric Benson, Fred Miller, Rueben Brown, Mike Brown, Alex Brown, Mark Bradley, Rex Grossman, and Bernard Berrian. If you want Michael Turner, plan on spending $6 million this year and bringing yourself to $5 million to fill the remaining holes. You'd need to plug a rookie OT and Beekman into the Oline, not mess with the secondary much, hope Bazuin can be our backup DE, and try and find some rookies or young WR's in free agency, maybe as 2nd tier Free Agents. Then you need a 3rd string QB, perhaps in the 2nd or 3rd round to develop behind Griese alongside of Orton. He needs to be a high choice though because Griese has a year or two left, at most.

If you let Briggs go, you have a host of additional options and an extra $8 million+ to spend to fill those holes with key players.

Hope that helped...

Do you let Briggs go with Urlacher's back in question for any amount of durability from here on out?

Benson has proven to be a capable player in a running back by committee situation. I would not cut him even if they spent a first rounder on an RB.

Yeah, but then do you want to pay #4 overall money to one half of an RBBC stiuation?

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Time to update the signature, FavreFan. He was just kidding.

Conspiracy theory time:

Urlacher is using the back injury story to not only justify his depreciating skills, but to also make the Bears have to consider keeping Briggs.

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Not sure.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

That is an interesting question. I would have to know more about the back injury to make a solid decision there.