Chicago Bears Release Mark Anderson, Sign DE Charles Grant

The Bears released disappointing defensive end Mark Anderson on Tuesday after signing former Saints DE Charles Grant.

Anderson burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2006 with 12 sacks. But he was only asked to come in and rush the passer. Once he played more downs and was forced to do other things such as drop back in coverage, the warts started to show.

Anderson has been a bust since that rookie season, posting a combined nine sacks since 2006. The Bears finally had enough and let him go.

Meanwhile, with a rush only being generated by Julius Peppers, the Bears desperately needed to find a guy capable of pressuring the QB from the other side. That guy could have been Alex Brown, but they released him before the season and chose to pay Tommie Harris instead.

Grant played eight seasons in New Orleans before being released in March. He was a first-round pick of the Saints in 2002, and he contributed 505 tackles and 47 sacks in 118 career games.

After being released, Grant was picked up by the Dolphins who also cut him despite a solid preseason. He went on to play two games for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL before signing with the Bears.

Grant was going to be suspended by the league after testing positive for a diuretic, but that penalty is pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by players who also tested positive.

Not sure how much he has left in the tank, but he will offer some depth at the position while the Bears hope to catch lightening in a bottle.

By the way, any decent offensive lineman in the UFL? Just askin'...