Bears sign Bannister, release three players
By Larry Mayer
June 28, 2006
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Bears on Wednesday signed wide receiver and special
teams standout Alex Bannister to a one-year contract and released cornerback
Chris Thompson and wide receivers C.J. Fayton and Mark Philmore.
Bannister spent his first five NFL seasons with the Seahawks after being
selected by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2001 draft (140th overall). The 6-5,
207-pounder was voted to the Pro Bowl on special teams in 2003 after
registering a career-high and team-leading 18 tackles.
Bannister has played in 57 career NFL games with four starts. The Eastern
Kentucky product has recorded 48 special teams tackles while catching nine passes
for 121 yards and 1 TD.
Bannister appeared in all 16 games in each of his first three seasons, but he
has been limited to just nine games over the last two campaigns due to an
injured clavicle. He played in just two games in 2005 before re-injuring his
clavicle.
Thompson appeared in 12 games with one start last season with the Bears after
being claimed off waivers from Jacksonville one week before the season opener
at Washington.
Fayton and Philmore both signed with the Bears as undrafted free agents in
the spring.
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