Bears re-sign DE Israel Idonije

With the consensus top three unrestricted free-agent defensive ends no longer on the market, the Bears went to Plan B, re-signing their own Israel Idonije to a one-year deal Thursday evening.

The Bills snapped up former Texan Mario Williams with a blockbuster deal Thursday that could be worth as much as $100 million over six years. The Jaguars re-signed Jeremy Mincey to a four-year $20 million deal Wednesday after he was on the verge of signing with the Bears, and the Seahawks re-signed Red Bryant for $35 million over five years.

Idonije had a base salary of $2.4 million last season. Before the 2009 season he signed a two-year extension that included $7 million in new money and a $2 million signing bonus.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound eight-year veteran led all Bears defensive linemen with 57 tackles and was second on the team with 9 tackles for loss. But Idonije’s sack total dropped to 5 after he picked up a career-best 8 sacks in 2010.

The Bears are still expected to try to bolster their pass rush with an additional defensive end either in free agency or through the draft.

Moving on:

Safety Brandon Meriweather, who signed an ill-advised $3.25 million, one-year deal with the Bears last year but finished the season buried on the depth chart, agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Redskins.