Bears sign two more draftees
July 2, 2006
If standings were kept on how quickly teams signed their draft picks, the
Bears would be atop the heap.
The Bears agreed to terms with two more rookies Saturday, bringing five of
their seven selections from the April draft into the fold.
Second-round pick Devin Hester, a return man projected to make an immediate
impact on special teams, and linebacker Jamar Williams, a fourth-round pick,
agreed to four-year deals. Terms of Hester's contract were not available.
Williams will receive a signing bonus of $415,000.
That leaves only safety Danieal Manning, the Bears' top pick in the second
round, and defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, their third-round pick, as the only
unsigned rookies. Neither is expected to be late to training camp at Olivet
Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., where players are scheduled to report
July 26. Russell Hicks, the agent for Manning, said he has been in frequent
contact with Bears contract negotiator Cliff Stein.
It's a good step for the Bears, who didn't see first-round pick Cedric Benson
until five weeks after camp opened last summer.
Williams already has received work at both outside positions, and one scout
said he had traits similar to those of Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs, who is
entering the final year of his contract.
Brad Biggs
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Bears sign two more draftees
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