Charles "Peanut" Tillman: Preaux Career

[NewsCopy]

ELMHURST, IL - The signature play that put Chicago Bears cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman on the map came in 2005 when he ripped a pass out of Minnesota Viking wideout Randy Moss’ grasp for an interception to seal a Bears' victory. Tillman has since continued to cause havoc in the secondary, recording five interceptions during last year’s NFC championship and Super Bowl season. Roles were reversed Wednesday at Elmhurst College’s Langhorst Field as Tillman, along with numerous Bears’ teammates, became the gunslingers with “average Joes” trying to pick them apart. The fan-friendly event was Charles Tillman’s first annual Meijer Celebrity Gridiron Challenge — a 6-on-6 flag football tournament to benefit Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation. There were 14 squads made up of six players with a Chicago Bear as the quarterback. Besides Tillman, the signal-callers featured the likes of John Tait, John Gilmore, Chris Harris, Rashied Davis, Israel Idonije, Jason McKie, Leon Joe and others. “Everyone has a celebrity golf tournament, things like that, so we tried to change it up and do a gridiron challenge flag football with ‘Average Joes,’ ” Tillman said. “So come out and watch and see what kind of arm John Gilmore doesn’t have and have some fun with it. I’m not here to school them. I’m here to get my Rex Grossman on, so I’m here to throw the ball — throw some touchdowns.” Firm Foundation Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman started his Cornerstone Foundation a year ago to provide financial assistance and educational funding for at-risk youth in the inner-city community. He also launched two programs — “Pick it Up” and “It’s Cool to be in School.” The rest of the story By Ryan Lowry Elmhurst Press

[Kernel]

Bears agree to 6-year contract extension with cornerback Tillman
By John Clayton
ESPN.com

The Bears cleared a major hurdle for the future of their defense Tuesday by agreeing with cornerback Charles Tillman on a six-year extension that will keep him in Chicago until 2013. The deal will pay about $38 million in new money with $18.5 million in guarantees.

Combined with the recent signing of cornerback Nathan Vasher for $28 million for five years, the Bears have resolved the two major questions in their secondary. Tillman and Vasher were scheduled to become free agents after the season. Keeping them was of one of the main priorities of general manager Jerry Angelo.

The team announced the signing Tuesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Tillman, who matches up well with tall wide receivers, is close with quarterback Rex Grossman and one of the most popular players on the team. He made a name for himself as a rookie in 2003 when he covered Randy Moss of the Vikings well in two games.

The former third-round choice has played 53 games for the Bears and has 14 interceptions, 10 of which came over the past two seasons.

With Tillman and Vasher re-signed, the Bears can concentrate on wide receiver Bernard Berrian. After taking over the starting job last season, Berrian is set to become a free agent following the 2007-08 season.

Left unsigned for the Bears is franchise linebacker Lance Briggs. Because the team isn't offering him a multi-year deal, Briggs will likely hold out of training camp.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

[gridiron]

Post of the day way to Geaux Peanut.

[TillmansNumber1]

Charles Tillman, a former Ragin Cajun representing Louisiana---Lafayette in the NFL, signed a huge contract with the Chicago Bears. The contract, according to ESPN.com, is worth nearly 38 million dollars with 18.5 million guaranteed. A former Ragin Cajun, who played in Super Bowl ¨Peyton Manning overcame the New England Patriots curse,¨just helped showcase the progress of the program and showed potential student athletes at Louisiana---Lafayette they, too, can succeed at the highest level.

Sadly, this information is not available on RaginCajuns.com, the primary online information source for Ragin Cajuns fans, Louisian---Lafayette students and faculty, and, most important, recruits who look to RaginCajuns.com for coverage of former athletes and current athletes.

What is a seventeen year old to think when he sees Charles Tillman´s contract gets no mention on RaginCajuns.com? What does he think when he sees Ron Guidry(no longer playing, but coaching) featured more than BJ Ryan and Ike Taylor (both currently playing and making an impact)? What does he think when RaginCajuns.com doesn´t feature a page focusing on recent former Cajun athletes´success in the pro leagues?

RaginCajuns.com must have information every recruit wants to know. Recruits need to know former athletes are having personal and financial success in the pro leagues (semi professional, too). When Jessie Evans´recruit Oriene Greene was signed by the Celtics in 2005, it took RaginCajuns.com nearly five days to write an article about Greene being drafted.

Recruits constantly look for information on former athletes. Even if Brian Mitchell or every other member from Jessie Evans´tenure are bouncing around Europe or México playing basketball, it´s important information.

Each week, OhioStateBuckeyes.com has a feature ¨Buckeyes in the Pros,¨which showcases the statistical accomplishments of former Buckeyes. Yes, Ohio State has been the best program for football players and will have more NFL players than the Cajuns, but they´re promoting their former athletes and fans, students and recruits can know the accomplishments of former athletes.

Here´s how the RaginCajuns.com can improve...

1. Cajuns in the Pros (get a sponsor, show videos online, write articles) for each sport. It needs to get more modern than Ron Guidry. 17 year olds don´t care about Yankee pitchers from the 70s.

2. Tickets must be available for purchase online.

3. There must be a Spanish version of RaginCajuns.com. There are far too many Latinos in Louisiana who are not being cultivated as a buying market. Remember, only Texas Austin has information in Spanish. The Cajuns need to be the second university in the country.

4. Video footage of every athletic event must be available. Record track and field events because it lets recruits of that sport know the university does care.

The website will never be perfect, but when a former Ragin Cajun signs a huge contract for a former Super Bowl contender and RaginCajuns.com completely drops the ball, it reflects poorly on the university, the athletic department, and runs counter to the goal of the football program: win games and create pro athletes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2947774

[Turbine]

Great ideas.

Thanks to you and Kernal (in his thread) for making everyone aware of Tillman's success.

This is great.

Tillman is the guy Bustle's program needs to promo as the star pupil. Unlike Vic, Tillman will not let him down.

It is unheard of but having met the guy I can see why a D-Back is as popular as the quarterback.

Thanks for the info and Tillmans#1 also.

[NewsCopy]

  LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Former UL football standout Charles Tillman has locked himself into a long-term relationship with the Chicago Bears.
The former second-round NFL draft selection by the Bears came to terms with the club Tuesday on a six-year contract extension that runs through 2013.

"I'm glad to remain in Chicago," said Tillman. "I like playing for coach (Lovie) Smith. I like my teammates. I love the organization and I like the city, so it feels good."

Tillman has played 53 games and started 49 for the Bears in his four pro seasons after becoming the 35th player selected in the 2003 NFL draft. He had five interceptions for the second straight year last season, giving him 14 for his career.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

LAKE FOREST -- When Charles "Peanut" Tillman was a young boy, his family lived on the south side of Chicago for a short time before leaving the area. His second stay in Chicagoland could last much longer after he signed a six-year contract extension Tuesday which would keep him with the team until 2013. The deal wasn't for "peanuts." They paid him $41 million with $18.5 million coming in various bonuses. "They compromised, we compromised. No one was big-headed," Tillman said about the talks. "They were willing to listen, we were willing to listen, and I think that's how the deal ultimately got done." Tillman was slated to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. His deal was $13 million more and one year longer than starting cornerback Nate Vasher received earlier this summer. The rest of the story By GENE CHAMBERLAIN Sun-Times

[rhineaux]

3. There must be a Spanish version of RaginCajuns.com. _

No, there must not be.

[TillmansNumber1]

It´s been over an entire day since Tillman signed his deal, the story is featured prominently on ESPN.com and NFL.com, but there is still no mention on RaginCajuns.com. It cannot be understated how important having this information on the website is. Charles Tillman, one of the top defensive backs, behind maybe only Champ Bailey, signs a huge deal and there´s absolutely nothing on the website of his former university.

Bustle and the university need to promote Tillman. Delhomme will be out of the league soon due to age, and Stokley´s got just a few more years left in him, but Tillman and other recent players (Ike Taylor) have a long time left and can be promoted for quite some time. Plus, unlike Vick, Bustle actually produced Tillman and Ike Taylor. Future players look at Tillman and Taylor and see Bustle and Louisiana--Lafayette had a hand in producing two current NFL players.

If the Cajuns want to begin promoting their program as a gateway to the NFL, which is a great idea, they have to start promoting their players on air, radio, in print, and most accessible, their webpage. There are pictures on former Cajuns on RaginCajuns.com and that´s about it.

Quote:
Originally Provided by TillmansNumber1

3. There must be a Spanish version of RaginCajuns.com. _

_ No, there must not be. _

Hopefully this disturbingly dismissive statement doesn´t reflect the thinking of the Ragin Cajun fanbase or the athletic department. Latinos are moving to Lafayette in great numbers, they are going to stay, which will make the city better, and there is no information for them, and, thus, no reason for Latinos to attend Ragin Cajun football games.

By choosing not to update some webpages in Spanish because ¨there must not be a Spanish version of RaginCajuns.com¨ the Cajuns and Louisiana---Lafayette are missing out on getting a new market of customers. It sends the message Latinos aren´t important (common in the US) along with the message the Cajuns are unaware there are Latinos who want to go to football games.

[TheFan]

_ It´s been over an entire day since Tillman signed his deal, the story is featured prominently on ESPN.com and NFL.com, but there is still no mention on RaginCajuns.com. It cannot be understated how important having this information on the website is. Charles Tillman, one of the top defensive backs, behind maybe only Champ Bailey, signs a huge deal and there´s absolutely nothing on the website of his former university.

Bustle and the university need to promote Tillman. Delhomme will be out of the league soon due to age, and Stokley´s got just a few more years left in him, but Tillman and other recent players (Ike Taylor) have a long time left and can be promoted for quite some time. Plus, unlike Vick, Bustle actually produced Tillman and Ike Taylor. Future players look at Tillman and Taylor and see Bustle and Louisiana--Lafayette had a hand in producing two current NFL players.

If the Cajuns want to begin promoting their program as a gateway to the NFL, which is a great idea, they have to start promoting their players on air, radio, in print, and most accessible, their webpage. There are pictures on former Cajuns on RaginCajuns.com and that´s about it.

I agree 110%

Geaux UL and Tillman