Bears cut veterans Slauson, Rolle
Not surprisingly, after they drafted three players who played safety in college, the Bears released veteran safety Antrel Rolle, who missed nine games last season with injuries.
Only slightly less predictable was the release of seven-year veteran guard Matt Slauson, because he started all 16 games last season, 12 at left guard and four at center when injuries shelved other players. Slauson also started all 16 games in 2013, after which he signed a four-year, $12.8 million deal with $4.9 million guaranteed, including a $1.67 million signing bonus. Injuries limited him to five games in 2014, though.
But the Bears signed two veteran interior offensive linemen in free agency with starting experience, Ted Larsen and Manny Ramirez, and they used a second-round pick (56th overall) on guard Cody Whitehair.
The Bears will save Slauson's $2.85 million base salary under the 2016 salary cap minus the prorated portion of his signing bonus ($417,500). He would have been due $2.94 million in 2017, the last year of his deal.
Rolle signed a three-year $11.25 million deal last off-season that included a guaranteed $4.9 million in guaranteed money, which has already been paid. His release will save the Bears his $2.4 million in base salary this year and $2.65 million in 2017 plus another $918,000 in roster and workout bonuses.
Despite having missed just one game in the previous nine years, Rolle ended last season on injured reserve with a sprained knee. He also missed two games earlier in the season with an ankle injury and was unimpressive when he was on the field. Despite starting seven games he had no interceptions and just 1 pass breakup.
The Bears drafted Miami safety Deon Bush with their first fourth-round pick (124th overall) on Saturday, then added Deiondre Hall three picks later, who played cornerback and safety at Northern Iowa.
In the sixth round (185th overall), the Bears added William & Mary's DeAndre Houston-Carson, a three-year starter at cornerback who converted to safety last season.
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