Bears bring back veteran offensive tackle Fred Miller

Needing dependable offensive line insurance, the Bears turned to a familiar face.

Thirteen-year veteran offensive tackle Fred Miller signed a one-year contract Wednesday for $781,000, the prorated portion, 16/17ths, of the veteran minimum, including a $40,000 signing bonus.

To clear room on the 53-man roster, the Bears waived rookie offensive tackle Kirk Barton, a seventh-round draft pick (247th overall) out of Ohio State who was the only backup last week behind starters John St. Clair and John Tait.

"To get another veteran offensive lineman into the mix is good," coach Lovie Smith said. "It's an easy transition for him as far as knowing what we do."

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Miller played in 186 NFL games with 164 starts, including 46 with the Bears over the previous three seasons before he was waived in the off-season.

His re-signing underscores the Bears' lack of depth at offensive tackle. First-round pick Chris Williams, a projected starter at left tackle on draft day, is not expected back on the field until at least midseason after undergoing back surgery in early August for a herniated disc.

Miller remained in the Chicago area after he was let go but has not played any football. He did work out for the Bucs in Tampa and also had interest from the Baltimore Ravens. He might be a couple of weeks away from being in football shape, but he won't have to struggle with the mental part of learning the Bears' offense.

"It was like he didn't miss a beat mentally," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "Obviously, he has to get reps and do all that and get back in football condition, but mentally he's got a good feel for what we're doing.

"(Offensive line coach) Harry (Hiestand) is talking to him about plays and adjustments, protections and runs, and he knows exactly what he's talking about."

Miller chose the Bears because of his familiarity with the personnel and to avoid uprooting his family. He had been helping coach his sons Grant and Evan in Pop Warner football, as he weighed offers to return to the playing field.

"You miss it to an extent," Miller said. "I had a lot of time to spend with my family, with my kids and coach their football teams and things of that nature. I'm going to miss that, and that was really a tough decision for me.

"I thought about it until the last minute. I was like, 'Do I really want to come back out and play and miss my kids growing up and playing football? Or do I want to come out and play?

"I figured I can be a little selfish one more year and then I have the rest of my life to go out and spend time with them."

Although the Bears and Miller parted ways Feb. 18, they remained on good terms.

"No animosity at all," Miller said. "I know this is a business. They've got to do what they think is best for the team, and I have to do things I think are best for me, and you just kind of leave it at that.

"When I was waived, coach Smith gave me a call. I said, 'I have all the respect for you, and I totally understand. I know this is football and that's a part of it and I wish you guys the best of luck,' and we parted ways."

Now they're back together, but it may take some time before Miller is comfortable playing in a game.

"I haven't really done a whole lot football-wise and don't know what type of football shape I'm in," he said, "so we're just going to take it day by day and see how it goes."

Miller struggled last season, along with the entire offensive line, but he says he's much healthier now after undergoing ankle surgery in the off-season.

"I was probably playing at about 40 or 50 percent," he said. "Once I had my surgery, taking out the bone spurs and the cartilage that was floating around, it's back to 90 percent. It's never going to be at 100 percent anymore, but right now it feels pretty good."

Miller said he doesn't regret playing through the injury, even though his performance was diminished.

"As a football player you don't want to stop playing," he said. "I wanted to play no matter what, and if I needed to take (time) off then, I would do that. But until then I would play.

"That's just my mentality. That's how I play. So I played."