wasteland
10-06-2010, 12:37 PM
The Bears were able to sign veteran defensive end Charles Grant to take the place of Mark Anderson on Tuesday because he was released by the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League on Monday.
Grant cleared waivers in the UFL, meaning the league's other four teams passed on him, according to UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue. Otherwise, the Bears would have had to pay a fee of $150,000 to the UFL and be granted permission to sign away Grant during the league's season.
Grant was the fifth defensive end for the Nighthawks and did not start, but played in the rotation. The defensive line includes former Bear Dusty Dvoracek.
Omaha released Grant to make room for Dewayne White, a player it drafted. White finally decided to give the UFL a shot and signed Monday. White played for Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli in Tampa Bay and then signed a $29 million contract as a free agent to join forces with Marinelli in Detroit in 2007. So, the Bears could have pursued White to take the place of Anderson, but a league source said the Bears never showed interest.
Israel Idonije is expected to remain the starter at left end opposite Julius Peppers. It will be interesting to see how Grant fits for the Bears. He's listed at 6-3, 285 pounds, 30 pounds heavier than Anderson.
One NFL scout said he didn't believe Grant was a fit for what the Bears do in their scheme. We'll see how it shakes out.
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/bears-get-grant-after-release-by-ufls-nighthawks.html
Grant cleared waivers in the UFL, meaning the league's other four teams passed on him, according to UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue. Otherwise, the Bears would have had to pay a fee of $150,000 to the UFL and be granted permission to sign away Grant during the league's season.
Grant was the fifth defensive end for the Nighthawks and did not start, but played in the rotation. The defensive line includes former Bear Dusty Dvoracek.
Omaha released Grant to make room for Dewayne White, a player it drafted. White finally decided to give the UFL a shot and signed Monday. White played for Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli in Tampa Bay and then signed a $29 million contract as a free agent to join forces with Marinelli in Detroit in 2007. So, the Bears could have pursued White to take the place of Anderson, but a league source said the Bears never showed interest.
Israel Idonije is expected to remain the starter at left end opposite Julius Peppers. It will be interesting to see how Grant fits for the Bears. He's listed at 6-3, 285 pounds, 30 pounds heavier than Anderson.
One NFL scout said he didn't believe Grant was a fit for what the Bears do in their scheme. We'll see how it shakes out.
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/bears-get-grant-after-release-by-ufls-nighthawks.html