Bears sign linebacker James Anderson
It didn’t take long for general manager Phil Emery to replenish a Bears linebacking corps that had become dangerously depleted after parting ways with Brian Urlacher and losing Nick Roach and Geno Hayes in free agency.
Sunday, just two days after signing former Broncos standout linebacker D.J. Williams, the Bears agreed to terms with former Panthers linebacker James Anderson on a one-year contract.
Anderson, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound, seven-year veteran has started 53 games, including 44 at strong-side linebacker, where Roach had started for the Bears most of the past five seasons before signing with the Raiders.
The 29-year-old Anderson has played his entire career for the Panthers after they drafted him in the third round (88th overall) in 2006 out of Virginia Tech.
Anderson has 432 career tackles, 8 sacks, 7 fumble recoveries, 5 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions, 20 pass breakups and 23 special teams tackles.
His 94 games played are the most by a linebacker in Carolina franchise history. He set a Panthers single-game record with 20 tackles last season, on Sept. 20, 2012, against the New York Giants.
In 2011, Anderson signed a five-year, $22 million deal that included $8.5 million guaranteed. But the Panthers released him March 12 to save money under the salary cap.
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