NFL Free Agents 2012: Spurned by Williams and Mincey, Bears Re-Up Idonije

After not being able to get defensive end Mario Williams to even leave the City of Buffalo and watching Jeremy Mincey decide to remain with the Jacksonville Jaguars the Chicago Bears shifted into free-agency plan B Thursday, bringing back eight-year veteran Israel Idonije on a one-year contract according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.

"

Idonije, 31, said all season long that he hoped to return, although he received a short-term deal that might not have realized his goals in terms of a pay day. Idonije had five sacks last season and said while the statistical production didn’t meet his levels in 2010, he felt he played better.

The Bears attempted to sign Jeremy Mincey on Tuesday but just before he accepted an offer from them he re-signed with the Jaguars for four years. Some speculated the team would monitor the situation with Kamerion Wimbley, who could be released by the Raiders. But now it looks more likely the team will look to select a defensive end near with one of their first picks and work a rookie into a rotation with Idonije and Julius Peppers.

"

Idonije also chipped in 52 tackles last season, and while he may not may be the dynamic complement to Julius Peppers that Williams would have been—the acquisition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall made that all but fiscally impossible—and Mincey's decision to stay in Florida made bringing back a familiar face in Idonije a smart and relatively safe play given the one-year deal.

The return of Idonije and the tenure of his new contract also makes it increasingly likely that the Bears will address the defensive end position early in the 2012 NFL Draft, as Idonije could represent an excellent transitional end for a young stud such as Whitney Mercilus (of, coincidentally, Illinois) as part of a rotation.

The Chicago Bears made their big splash this year on offense with the Marshall gambit, but by retaining a veteran presence in Israel Idonije, who is adept at playing both the run and pass, the Bears at least insured that the defensive line doesn't backslide, with plenty of room still left for improvement come April.

Follow @IDPManor