LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Bears on Thursday signed two of their seven draft picks, fifth-round defensive end Mark Anderson of Alabama and sixth-round guard Tyler Reed of Penn State, to four-year contracts. Terms were not disclosed.
The Bears selected Mark Anderson with the 159th overall pick in the draft.
Anderson is an athletic pass-rusher who plays with great effort. The 6-4, 254-pounder started all 12 games for Alabama last season, registering 40 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7½ sacks.
Reed was selected with the draft choice the Bears obtained in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for safety Mike Green. The 6-4, 315-pounder was a three-year starter at Penn State.
The five Bears draft picks who remain unsigned include second-round safety Danieal Manning, second-round cornerback Devin Hester, third-round defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, fourth-round linebacker Jamar Williams and sixth-round fullback J.D. Runnels.
In other news Thursday, the Bears released undrafted rookie free agent Ricky Williams.
The cornerback and return specialist from Bethune Cookman had been signed May 23 after trying out at the rookie minicamp earlier in the month.[/b]
Not that Ricky Williams. Continue to live in fear, nerds.