The Bears have restructured Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers' contract to create more salary-cap room for next season.
Peppers signed a six-year deal worth potentially $91.5 million a year ago and was due a $10.5 roster bonus for next season.
Instead, the Bears exercised their right to convert that money into a signing bonus and prorate it over the remaining years of his contract, which runs through the 2015 season.
The move give Chicago roughly $8 million in cap space for the 2011 season.
Bears Get Cap Space By Restructuring Peppers' Deal