New Bear Brandon Meriweather 'a certified playmaker'

Even though he was a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past two seasons, Brandon Meriweather wore out his welcome with the Patriots.

But now he's looking forward to doing anything he can to help the Bears.

“I expect to come in and do whatever the coach asks me to,” said the fifth-year veteran. “If (coach Lovie Smith) comes in and asks me to play all special teams, I expect to do that. I want to come in and contribute any way I can.”

Meriweather comes with a reputation for mixing big plays and bad plays and a risk-taking style of play on and off the field that includes big rewards and big mistakes. But Smith prefers to look on the bright side.

“He's just a good football player,” the Bears' coach said. “He can hit. He's got excellent ball skills, can change directions; all the things we're looking for in a defensive back. He's got a good pedigree too. Devin Hester said a lot of good things about him. We did research and felt like he was a good fit.”

Hester played with Meriweather at the University of Miami, where the safety was involved in a gunfight but wasn't charged. He was also involved in the brawl with Florida International and suspended after stomping on fallen opponents.

Seven-year veteran strong safety Chris Harris says the Bears' secondary is better with Meriweather, who has 12 interceptions in the past three years, 4 forced fumbles, 2 sacks and 27 pass breakups.

“He's a certified playmaker,” Harris said. “The guy has made plays his entire career, so anytime you can get a guy of that caliber on your roster, I think it definitely makes your team better.”

There was some surprise around the league when the 2007 first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) was shown the door, but Meriweather took it in stride.

“This is a business,” he said. “Nothing surprises me anymore. I have a lot of respect for that organization and I have a lot of respect for (coach) Bill (Belichick) and the rest of the staff there. But that's behind me and now I'm focused on being a Bear.”

Asked to describe his strengths as a player, Meriweather said: “I think I'm a smart safety. I think I'm aggressive. But as to what is my strength, I don't know.”

Meriweather's presence diminishes the job security of Harris and especially free safety Major Wright, but Harris isn't concerned.

“One thing you (should) learn about me, I'm a very confident person,” said Harris, who tied cornerback Charles Tillman for the team lead in interceptions last season with 5. I think adding a guy of that caliber is excellent for our defense.

“Competition raises everybody's level of play. Anytime you bring a guy in at your position, competition is great. It only makes your level of play better and therefore it's going to make the team's play better.”

For now, Wright remains the starter — but his preseason was inconsistent at best.

“The only thing I can control is Major Wright, just me going out and getting better every day,” the 2010 third-round pick said. “I feel I've progressed, (but) there's still room to improve.”

Smith couldn't say on Monday if Meriweather would be ready for Sunday's season opener against the Falcons at Soldier Field.

“We started (Sunday), meeting with him and trying to get him ready to go,” Smith said. “That will all play out in time. He's getting better each day. When you have a veteran like that they normally pick it up pretty quick.”

Second-year cornerback Joshua Moore, a fifth-round draft pick in 2010, was waived to make room on the roster for Meriweather.

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