[CBFF] Bears trade Griese to Tampa Bay for pick in '09 draft - Chicago Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

[Tom Shannon]

Bears trade Griese to Tampa Bay for pick in '09 draft - Chicago Bears








LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Monday traded quarterback Brian
Griese to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for an undisclosed pick
in the 2009 NFL Draft.



 Brian Griese threw 10 TD passes and 12 interceptions in seven games
in 2007. With Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton set to compete for the
starting position, the Bears recently had given Griese's agent, Ralph
Cindrich, permission to seek a trade for the 10-year veteran.

With a $300,000 roster bonus due Tuesday, the Bears were expected to
release Griese on Monday if they had been unable to trade him.

Griese appeared in seven games in 2007, compiling a 3-3 record as a
starter while completing 161 of 262 passes for 1,803 yards with 10
touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 75.6 passer rating.

Griese joined the Bears in 2006 after spending his first nine NFL
seasons with the Broncos (1998-2002), Dolphins (2003) and Buccaneers
(2004-05).  In 2005, Griese led Tampa Bay to a 5-1 record before being
lost for the season with torn knee ligaments.

In other news, the Bears have decided to move forward without special
teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo, an unrestricted free agent who is
slated to visit the New York Jets Monday.

 WIth Adrian Peterson, Rod Wilson, Israel Idonije, Nick Roach and
Jamar Williams all expected to help fill the void on the coverage and
return teams, the Bears hope to maintain their ranking as the NFL's
No. 1 special teams unit.

 Chicago claimed that crown for the second straight year in 2007 after
losing three key players in Cameron Worrell, Todd Johnson and Dante
Wesley during the offseason. Worrell tied with Ayanbadejo for the team
lead with 28 special-teams tackles in 2006, matching the team record
set by Peterson in 2004.
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