Bears added DE Peppers to roster with a six-year contract

Just as many have expected, the Chicago Bears are the very team who picked free agent defensive end Julius Peppers from the free-agent market. They really made fast decision and signed a six-year deal worth potentially $91.5 million with Peppers on the first day of free agency.

According to agent Carl Carey, the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end was offered a record $42 million of guaranteed money and $20 million of salary for his first year in Bears jersey. The deal includes incentives for sacks, making the Pro Bowl and winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Seemingly with the determination to contend for the NFC title after missing the playoffs the past three years, the Bears were also reported to have lured running back Chester Taylor from NFC North champion the Minnesota Vikings with a four-year contract and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from the San Diego Chargers with a five-year contract.

Bears DT Dvoracek was put on IR with knee injury

Unfortunate Dusty Dvoracek will miss another season with injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on Friday. He hurt the right knee on Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Giants, and initial tests were inconclusive.

The fourth-round draft pick in 2006 tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the 2007 season opener and went on IR as a San Diego Chargers rookie. Last year he also missed games with a torn biceps.

“Right off the top of my head, I haven’t seen a lot of players go through that,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Guys deal with injuries always. As much as anything, with Dusty, though, it’s one thing to have injuries and they continue to linger. These are different things.”

Dvoracek will be able to play in 10 months. That means the Bears need to find a new competitor for the starting nose tackle position with second-year player Marcus Harrison. It is likely to be third-year player Matt Toeaina, who was previously backup for Dvoracek and Harrison.