Laine to handle Bears contracts

Joey Laine will become the Bears' new contract negotiator and handle salary cap management as the team's director of football administration according to an NFL source.

Laine spent 11 years in the New Orleans Saints' organization and developed a relationship with Bears general manager Ryan Pace, who spent 14 years in the Saints' organization before being named the Bears' G.M. on Jan. 8. Laine started as an intern in 2005 and most recently served as the Saints' salary cap analyst. He will take over some of the duties previously held by Cliff Stein, who will remain as the Bears' general counsel.

Stein joined the Bears in 2002 as the director of player contracts and legal affairs. He has been one of the NFL's most effective contract negotiator for the past several years, responsible for the Bears often being the first teams to sign all its draft picks.

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