Danieal Manning signs one-year tender

Restricted free agent safety Danieal Manning signed his one-year tender offer of $1.176 million from the Bears today.

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 was originally a second-round draft choice, but the Bears would have received only a third-round pick as compensation if he left because they had already tendered defensive end Mark Anderson and linebacker Nick Roach at the "second-round level."

Manning 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 addition to his 286 tackles, 6 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks and 14 pass breakups, Manning has excelled as a kickoff returner.

He has averaged 27.9 yards on 68 kickoff returns for 1,895 yards with 1 touchdown. 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.