Chicago Bears Release DE Mark Anderson, Sign Charles Grant
Published by Christopher Murphy on October 5, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
According to ESPNChicago.com, the Chicago Bears have released defensive end Mark Anderson and signed former New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant.
Anderson had 12 sacks in his rookie season in 2006, the most by an NFL rookie since 1982, helping the Bears reach the Super Bowl.
After that season, he was promoted to the starting lineup over Alex Brown, but offenses began learning Anderson was an explosive end, who simply burst after the quarterback rather than clogging holes, eventually losing his starting spot.
Anderson looked like he was clearly a third-and-long substitute, which he was in his rookie season when he had 12 sacks, because he would burn by everyone looking for the quarterback; a nice sub, but clearly not an every-down defensive end.
Before the 2010 season, the Chicago Bears released Brown because they were “high on Anderson and 2009 draft picks Jarron Gilbert and Henry Melton.” Gilbert was cut by the Bears before this season, and Melton has three tackles on the season and has started over Tommie Harris the last two weeks.
Brown had played in 127 consecutive games with the Bears and was fourth in franchise history in sacks. Brown recorded 483 tackles, 55 tackles-for-loss, five interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, and three blocked kicks. Brown was named a first alternate to the Pro Bowl in 2006 and a second alternate in 2007.
Brown is starting on the New Orleans Saints, after signing a two-year deal with the team before the 2010 season.
Israel Idonije will likely take over at the end opposite of Julius Peppers. Idonije has eight tackles on the season and one sack.
Grant was playing for Omaha in the UFL when the Bears came knocking. Grant was a first-round draft pick in 2002. His career-high in sacks came in 2004 when he had 10.5. He was cut by the Saints on March 5.
Grant played eight seasons in New Orleans, where he had 505 tackles and 47 sacks in 118 games. Grant joined the Miami Dolphins, but was cut after a solid preseason. He was set to be suspended after testing positive for a diuretic, but the NFL delayed suspension pending the outcome of a litigation filed by fellow players who had tested positive for the same diuretic.
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