Josh Bullocks is excited about the opportunity to get right to work with the Bears. He’ll be able to do that starting Monday when players report for minicamp orientation, which is basically to take physicals. Then three days of practices start the next day. He’ll be in the mix immediately at free safety.
“If you’ve got a great defense and the guys upfront are applying pressure to the quarterback like the Chicago Bears have been doing, and you’ve got good corners, it allows the free safety to go in and make plays and get interceptions,” Bullocks said this afternoon. “That just makes my job as the free safety easier when you’ve got great defense around you.”
Bullocks had three other opportunities but chose the Bears because he wanted to be a part of a top defense, one that will have to be on the rebound. Fixing the hole at free safety is obviously one of the team’s top concerns, and his addition will not rule out the team selecting one in the draft.
Bullocks’ one-year deal contains $525,000 guaranteed and is worth a total value of $1.2 million.
Terrence Metcalf, who remained under contract through 2011, requested and was granted his release, a source close to the player said. The veteran saw the writing on the wall following the addition of Frank Omiyale, and wanted an opportunity to find a job elsewhere now as opposed to some time in August or after the preseason. The Bears, who also have veteran Dan Buenning and Josh Beekman as well as starting right guard Roberto Garza, had hoped to at least carry him through the summer because teams can never have too much depth on the line in camp, but deferred to his request out of respect for the veteran.
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