GM says team had no hope of keeping Bush

Michael Bush officially became an ex-Raider on Thursday, signing a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears, but Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie had reluctantly written off the team's leading rusher not long after taking the job.

"My thought process was he was going to be gone that first week (during free agency)," McKenzie said after Stanford's Pro Day.

When told the contract numbers – $14 million over four years, with $7 million guaranteed – McKenzie said, "That's more than we could do. That's the way it goes. This year, that's what we're up against, but we knew that."

Bush, the Raiders' leading rusher last season with 977 yards, could conceivably be in the same role he had in Oakland – as a complementary back for Bears starter Matt Forte.

Bush backed up Darren McFadden before assuming a larger role when McFadden missed the final nine games of the season with an injury.

The Raiders, meanwhile, confirmed the re-signing of offensive tackle Khalif Barnes, and McKenzie said the team was putting the finishing touches on a contract for cornerback Pat Lee.

Lee was a second-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2008 when McKenzie was that team's director of player personnel.

The Raiders have stayed out of the bidding for big-name free agents while McKenzie has worked on getting the club's financial house in order. It hasn't been glamorous, but according to Mc-Kenzie, it's all gone according to plan.

McKenzie said he was pleased to have brought back Barnes and guard Cooper Carlisle, as well as signing free agent Mike Brisiel.

The coaching staff, McKenzie said, plans to move Stefen Wisniewski to center, and have Carlisle move to left guard with Brisiel at right guard.

He also noted the acquisition of veteran cornerbacks Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer as important.

McKenzie said his priority is finding an outside linebacker to replace Kamerion Wimbley, who was released and signed with the Tennessee Titans.

The original contract Wimbley signed made bringing him back virtually impossible.

"I really wanted to keep him, but it would have cost us," McKenzie said. "I wouldn't have been able to sign any of the players I've signed or want to sign. It was unfortunate that couldn't work itself out. He wanted what he wanted and we needed what we needed, and it couldn't work out."

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