5 Recently Released Players the Chicago Bears Should Consider Signing

NFL rosters were pared down to 80 on Tuesday, but that is still 27 players away from the final cuts due on September 3, cuts that will reduce the final rosters to 53. 

But it does mean that there are some players out there to be signed if teams like the Bears are interested.

Now, there is usually a good reason why these players are cut, with many of them either no longer performing well or guys who never showed much and teams finally gave up on them.

But in a few cases the players may still be useful, but either the system didn't fit with their specific skill set, they were a victim of a team having a lot of depth at a position or they were due roster bonuses that the teams didn't want to pay.

So let's do our due diligence and took a look at some players who might be of interest to the Bears.

Andre Gurode, Center, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys cut veteran Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode, news that should be familiar to the Bears, since they also let their longtime center Olin Kreutz walk this preseason.

But the man they brought in to replace Kreutz, Chris Spencer, hasn't impressed and will not be the team's starting center. There is talk of having him play guard.

Meanwhile, the Bears seem happy with Roberto Garza under center. But let's face it, how much better off would the team be with a real center who can still play in Gurode?

This would allow Garza to roll back to guard and they could either release Spencer or use him as depth.

I am fairly certain the Bears won't do this, but I would take a look at Andre Gurode. He can still play, even at age 33. He's made the Pro Bowl the last five seasons and has started every game the last three years.

This move came down to money on the part of Dallas.

James Sanders, Safety, New England Patriots

The Bears secondary hasn't looked good in preseason, and with the loss of Danieal Manning they could use a veteran like Sanders.

Rookie Chris Conte could be moved to the practice squad to make room for Sanders, who started nine games for the Pats last season. 

The move may have been somewhat surprising, but it did save cap room for New England. Yet the Bears, who still have money to spend, could easily fit Sanders into the payroll picture.

Na'il Diggs, LB, St. Louis Rams

The Bears are thin at linebacker and could take a look at this veteran, who, at 33, might be worth a one year deal.

Diggs signed with the Rams as a free agent before the 2010 season and finished with 37 tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He started 12 games but his season ended on injured reserve.

But he is healthy now, and the former Packer could add depth to the Bears linebacker corps. He is considered a professional on and off the field.

Alex Brown, DE, New Orleans Saints

Brown knows the Bears system, since it hasn't really changed much since his days in Chicago. So his release by the Saints could be an opportunity for the Bears to add some depth at the DE position.

Brown won't start, and perhaps wouldn't even get significant playing time unless someone gets injured, but he could fill in depth, especially in case Corey Wootton isn't ready to start the season on the active roster.

Brown did not impress in his time in New Orleans, but he can get to the QB occasionally, and would give the Bears a life in some situations during the season.

Duke Robinson, G, Carolina Panthers

Robinson was a fifth round draft pick that some scouts felt would go much higher at the time. It is not  surprising that the Panthers would give up on him, considering all of his troubles, and they do have a fairly well set rotation on the line.

The Bears won't look to Robinson as a starter, but he could provide some depth as he develops.

Robinson is 6'5" and 330, and had been dealing with the after-affects of a concussion. Unless it was more serious that originally thought, and led to his release, the Bears should at least take a look at him.

He is also facing a four game suspension to start the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. But if he has cleaned up his act, perhaps he could once again be the mauler in the ground game that the Panthers thought he was going to be.

This one would be risky and I highly doubt the Bears will even consider him. But it wouldn't hurt to give him a look. Once he returns, they could hide him away on the practice squad, if nothing else, and he could help later in the season or next year.