Bears sign CB Tracy Porter, former Super Bowl star

The Bears added a 14^th name to their list of one-year veteran fliers Monday, signing cornerback Tracy Porter to fill the roster vacancy created two weeks ago when the team cut disgraced defensive end Ray McDonald.

Like many of the Bears’ free agent signees, Porter has experience with the team’s new brass. He played for new coach John Fox in 2012 when both were in Denver.

The best moment of his career, though, came when he and new general manager Ryan Pace were with the Saints: Porter returned a fourth-quarter Peyton Manning pass 74 yards for a touchdown to clinch a 31-17 win in Super Bowl XLIV.

The 5-11, 188-pound Porter will compete with 10 other corners, including last year’s starters, Kyle Fuller and Tim Jennings, plus free-agent signee Alan Ball and special teams whiz Sherrick McManis.

Porter, who will turn 29 in August, is the 14^th veteran the Bears signed to a one-year deal since the start of free agency.

He started 60 of his 68 games over sev en seasons since being drafted in the second round, No. 40 overall, by the Saints in 2008. After four years in New Orleans, he spent one year apiece with the Broncos, Raiders and Redskins.

Playing for Fox in 2012, Porter started four of six games, recording one interception — which he returned for a 43-yard touchdown — and 53 tackles. He suffered a seizure in Broncos training camp and was sidelined again that October when he felt similar symptoms return.

He followed defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to Oakland, where the latter was named head coach, and started all 16 games for the Raiders in 2013. Porter recorded three tackles in only three games for the Redskins last season while fighting shoulder and hamstring problems, and was released May 27.

The Bears will complete Organized Team Activities this week and begin their mandatory veteran minicamp June 16 at Halas Hall.

This and that

• A Santa Clara (Calif.) Superior Court judge dismissed McDonald’s defamation lawsuit, which he filed in March against a woman who accused him of rape, according to her lawyer, Gloria Allred. McDonald was not charged after the alleged December incident, but was cut by the 49ers.

• The Bears signed wide receiver Ify Umodu to a three-year deal, waiving linebacker Jamil Merrell. Umodu led Northern Arizona in with 47 catches and 692 yards last season before trying out during last month’s rookie minicamp.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

Twitter: @patrickfinley