Bears agree to terms with Wooton, cut Arlington Hts. native Basanez
The Bears made it three draft-pick signings in four days Wednesday when fourth-round defensive end Corey Wootton agreed to a four-year contract that is expected to be worth $2.3 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus.
Wootton, the 109th overall selection, is expected to contribute in a rotation at defensive end that will have Julius Peppers starting at one end and Mark Anderson and Israel Idonije competing for the starting job at the other end. Wootton started 49 of 53 games at Northwestern, with 156 tackles, 191/2 sacks, 38 tackles for losses, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.
In 2008, he was first-team all-Big Ten when he had 10 sacks before suffering torn knee ligaments in the Alamo Bowl. He rushed his rehab to get back on the field last season but was never at 100 percent, although he is expected to be at full speed well before the start of training camp on July 30.
Wootton is the third of the Bears' five draft picks to have agreed to terms. Offensive tackle J'Marcus Webb (seventh round) signed Sunday and cornerback Joshua Moore (fifth round) on Monday. Only third-round safety Major Wright and sixth-round quarterback Dan LeFevour remain unsigned among the Bears' 2010 draft picks.
Manning signs: Restricted free-agent safety Danieal Manning signed his one-year tender offer of $1.176 million Wednesday. Manning, the last of the Bears' unrestricted free agents to agree to terms, was unhappy that he was tendered at the "original-round" level, and he skipped the first three weeks of voluntary team workouts in protest.
He has started 40 games in four years with the Bears, including 37 at free safety, but he will be competing for a starting job this season at a crowded position. In 2008, he led the NFL with a 29.7-yard kickoff-return average. Manning's 11 kickoff returns of 40-plus yards over the last two seasons (2008-09) are tops in the NFL.
Bye-bye Basanez: Backup quarterback Brett Basanez was waived Wednesday. The Arlington Heights native and St. Viator High School graduate spent the first 16 weeks of last season on the on the practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for the final contest but did not play. Basanez originally entered the NFL with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern in 2006.
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<li><a href="/story/?id=381908">Danieal Manning signs one-year tender <span class="date">[05/X19/10]</span></a></li>
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