In a move that gives the Chicago Bears more than enough salary cap room now to either trade or release former first-round quarterback Cade McNown, the team on Wednesday night released veteran defensive tackle Mike Wells.
A starter for each of his three seasons with the Bears, the seven-year
veteran was made expendable by the offseason signings of unrestricted free
agent tackles Ted Washington and Keith Traylor. The release of Wells, 30,
means that Chicago now has neither of the two defensive tackles who started in 2000.
The Bears earlier in the offseason released veteran Jim Flanigan.
By releasing Wells, the Bears created an additional $2.2 million in salary
cap room, the amount of his scheduled 2001 base salary. Wells was also under
contract for 2003 at a base salary of $2.3 million. Chicago will have to
carry a cap charge of $550,000 each in 2001 and 2002 for prorated signing
bonus funds.
The extra salary cap room is significant, since the Bears will absorb a $3.1
million cap hit if they trade McNown, the team's first-round choice in the
1999 draft. Chicago is talking about a McNown deal with at least three
teams.
Wells began his career as a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in
1994, but he was released that summer and signed with the Detroit Lions. He
played four seasons in Detroit before signing with Chicago as an
unrestricted free agent in 1998.
For his career, Wells has appeared in 99 games and started 63 of them. He
recorded 280 tackles, 6½ sacks, one forced fumble and two recoveries.
Despite some injuries, he had been a durable performer, starting 62 of a
possible 64 games the last four seasons.
Wells said earlier this summer that he likely will require shoulder
replacement surgery when his career is over.
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