Antrel Rolle asked for a sign about where to play football.
At 4:33 a.m. Monday, he got an email from travel web site Orbitz, offering him a discounts on a trip to Chicago. Late Wednesday night, it proved prescient, as the three-time Pro Bowl safety signed a three-year deal worth $11.25 million, with $5 million guaranteed, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said.
The 32-year-old provides at least a start to the Bears’ attempt to solve their black hole at safety. The Miami alum was selected eighth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2005 draft before signing a five-year, $37 million deal with the Giants in 2010.
The Bears were seeking at least one safety to replace the departing Chris Conte and to shore up a unit that struggled the past two seasons.
“It’s official,” Rolle wrote on Instagram. “Today was a long, painful, and exhausting day! But in the end we both get what we want…… A Team that wants to win and a player that would give them everything he got to win! Thank you to the Chicago organization for making this day possible once again.”
He totaled 14 interceptions in his five-year Giants career, including six in 2013, tops among NFL safeties. He likely won’t solve the Bears’ safety concerns on his own; the team is interested in Chiefs safety Ron Parker, who had scheduled a visit to Halas Hall on Wednesday.
Rolle, who signed his contract there Wednesday night, struggled in his last season with the Giants. Among safeties to play at least 60 percent of their team’s snaps, only six graded out worst by Pro Football Focus’ ratings system. The year before, though, he finished eighth in the league.
Bears GM Ryan Pace said earlier Wednesday the team was interested in a safety.
“We talked about safeties at the combine — I think it’s a difficult position to evaluate because instincts are such a high priority with the safety position,” he said. “So, instincts, ball skills, ability to tackle in space, those are things that jump out to me. But we want passionate football players. Guys that are physical, passionate football players.”
Email: pfinley@suntimes.com
Twitter: @patrickfinley
