<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="99%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears have scheduled a press conference on Friday afternoon, at which time they are expected to introduce their newest free agent acquisitions.</TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%"> </TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%">Reports indicate the team has agreed to long-term deals with defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna.
According to ESPN, Peppers has agreed to terms on a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $40 million during the first half of the deal. The 30-year-old is coming off a season with Carolina in which he played under the franchise tender, recording 10 1/2 sacks, two interceptions, five forced fumbles and a touchdown in 16 games.
Peppers, who was the second overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Panthers. He missed only six regular season games during his stint with Carolina and has reached double-digits in sacks six times.
Widely viewed as the marquee free agent of this offseason, Peppers has totaled 81 sacks, six interceptions, 30 forced fumbles and two touchdowns in 122 regular season games.
Taylor, also 30, reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $12.5 million, with $7 million guaranteed, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Toledo product recently finished his fourth season in Minnesota and third straight as the backup to two-time All-Pro Adrian Peterson. He ran for 338 yards on 94 carries last season and caught 44 passes for 389 yards, totaling two touchdowns.
His best season came in 2006, when he was the primary back for the Vikings. In 15 games, Taylor carried the ball 303 times for 1,216 yards -- both career- highs -- and ran for six scores. Through 123 regular season games in eight seasons with Minnesota and Baltimore, the durable Taylor has totaled 4,396 rushing yards, 2,094 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns.
Manumaleuna, who turned 30 in January, has apparently agreed to terms on a five-year contract as per the Chicago Tribune. Manumaleuna spent the past four years with the San Diego Chargers after playing his first five seasons with the St. Louis Rams. His first head coach in the NFL was Mike Martz, who is the Bears' new offensive coordinator.
The Arizona product is mostly known as a run blocker. He had just five catches for 13 yards last season and has caught only 110 passes for 965 yards with 12 touchdowns in his nine-year career.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
According to ESPN, Peppers has agreed to terms on a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $40 million during the first half of the deal. The 30-year-old is coming off a season with Carolina in which he played under the franchise tender, recording 10 1/2 sacks, two interceptions, five forced fumbles and a touchdown in 16 games.
Peppers, who was the second overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Panthers. He missed only six regular season games during his stint with Carolina and has reached double-digits in sacks six times.
Widely viewed as the marquee free agent of this offseason, Peppers has totaled 81 sacks, six interceptions, 30 forced fumbles and two touchdowns in 122 regular season games.
Taylor, also 30, reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $12.5 million, with $7 million guaranteed, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Toledo product recently finished his fourth season in Minnesota and third straight as the backup to two-time All-Pro Adrian Peterson. He ran for 338 yards on 94 carries last season and caught 44 passes for 389 yards, totaling two touchdowns.
His best season came in 2006, when he was the primary back for the Vikings. In 15 games, Taylor carried the ball 303 times for 1,216 yards -- both career- highs -- and ran for six scores. Through 123 regular season games in eight seasons with Minnesota and Baltimore, the durable Taylor has totaled 4,396 rushing yards, 2,094 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns.
Manumaleuna, who turned 30 in January, has apparently agreed to terms on a five-year contract as per the Chicago Tribune. Manumaleuna spent the past four years with the San Diego Chargers after playing his first five seasons with the St. Louis Rams. His first head coach in the NFL was Mike Martz, who is the Bears' new offensive coordinator.
The Arizona product is mostly known as a run blocker. He had just five catches for 13 yards last season and has caught only 110 passes for 965 yards with 12 touchdowns in his nine-year career.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>