Antrel Rolle to Bears: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Free-agent safety Antrel Rolle has reached an agreement with the Chicago Bears on a three-year deal, per the team.Rolle's agent Drew Rosenhaus toldPro Football Talkthe deal isworth $11.25 million with $5 million guaranteed.Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News believes Rolle's new city will welcome him with open arms:Rolle entered the NFL as a cornerback in 2005 with the Arizona Cardinals. He was the eighth overall pick out of Miami (Fla.) and faced high expectations coming from a high-profile college program. Rolle experienced some struggles in his first few seasons, but a conversion to safety in 2008 ignited his career.Rolle signed with the New York Giants after the 2009 season, agreeing to the richest deal ever given to a safety at the time, worth $15 million guaranteed and $37 million total. He has been one of the most durable players in the league, missing one game since 2006.In a December radio interview on WFAN, Rolle indicated that he's still ready to compete at a high level, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post:I just know I still have a lot in the tank. This game, for me, gets easier by the week. I see things happen before they happen. We all have responsibilities, we all have jobs that we have to do. You must play within the defense no matter what you may see. I'm not worried about my situationthat's gonna handle itself, that's gonna take care of itself.The only negative for Rolle is his age. Being 32 years old might've scared off some teams, though there's no denying how well the veteran continues to play and how reliable his presence in the lineup has been every week.Rolle is no longer the kind of safety who warrants being among the league's highest paid, but he's a solid investment because of his ability to play the pass and defend the run. He still has the talent to be a strong starter on a championship-level defense, and the Bears desperately need a presence on the back end of a defense that struggled against the pass at times last season.Rolle's versatility will be something the Bears welcome. His ability to line up all over the defensive backfield will give them more flexibility, allowing them to scheme toward different offensive sets without sacrificing talent on the field.
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