BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The decision to ship tight end Greg Olsen from the Chicago Bears to the Carolina Panthers revolved around a pair of basic concepts: fit and money.

"We're really not looking for Kellen Winslow; we're looking for Mike Ditka," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said Sunday. "The tight ends that we have now really fit more of the profile we want in the offense. It's no more than that."

It was slightly more than that, because Olsen, entering the final year of his rookie contract, was looking for a long-term extension to remain in Chicago. Following being sent to the Panthers, Olsen signed a four-year, $24 million, including $10 million guaranteed.

"We just didn't feel we were going to be able to make that kind of investment," Angelo said. "I told Greg, I said 'Greg, our intent is not to extend you'. He didn't like hearing that, no more than I liked saying it, but hey, it is what it is. I hate that term, but I've been using it a lot."

Ironically, the roles were reversed the previous offseason, when Olsen pushed Angelo for a trade after the club hired offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

"He came at me hard last year, I understood it," Angelo said. "I told him I'd think about it. Greg is a great kid, works his tail off, and I said 'Greg, I don't see that being in our best interests.' Again, it's about the team, and I said, 'That's going to hurt our football team.' I said you're going to have to suck it up. Just do your job, you have a contract, we paid you well for your services. He's a professional, he took the high rode. I respect that.

"Saying that, this year was different."