Veteran offensive lineman Larsen signs with Bears
For the second straight day, the Bears added some much-needed veteran depth to their interior offensive line while also elevating the competition level at that position.
The Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Arizona Cardinals center-guard Ted Larsen. A day earlier they signed eight-year veteran center-guard Manny Ramirez to a one-year deal.
Larsen, like the 33-year-old Ramirez, has started games at center and at both guard positions. The 29-year-old Larsen started 26 games over the past two seasons in Arizona. He started 10 games last season, the first three at left guard and the last seven, plus two playoff games, at right guard.
The Bears now have veteran insurance at center in the event that 2015 third-round pick Hroniss Grasu doesn't play up to expectations after an uneven rookie season that included eight starts. And they finally have quality depth behind starting guards Kyle Long and Matt Slauson.
In 2014, Larsen started all 16 games for the Cardinals at right guard, where he played next to right tackle Bobby Massie, who was signed by the Bears to an $18 million, three-year deal on March 9.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Larsen, a six-year veteran, played his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he started 31 games. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 2010 out of North Carolina State but was waived just before the start of the regular season. He was claimed by the Bucs and wound up starting 11 games at right guard as a rookie.
• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.