Bears bring back one of the team's longest tenured players before the start of free agency
The Chicago Bears have kicked off the free agency signings by bringing back one of their own before the free agency period even starts next week. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Bears will be re-signing long snapper Patrick Scales to a one-year contract that will include over $1 million in total guarantees and […]
The Chicago Bears have kicked off the free agency signings by bringing back one of their own before the free agency period even starts next week.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Bears will be re-signing long snapper Patrick Scales to a one-year contract that will include over $1 million in total guarantees and the deal was confirmed by Scales’ agent Kevin Gold.
Scales is the longest tenured player on the Bears' roster and bringing him back is perhaps a sign that maybe general manager Ryan Poles isn’t looking to turn over the entire roster from the previous regime.
The return of Scales to the Bears' special teams unit is a significant addition to have back in the fold in terms of keeping the consistency on that area of the game.
The Bears already have other key specialists under contract for the 2024 NFL season including kicker Cairo Santos and punter Trenton Gill. Now, Scales is back in the fold and back in the locker room with the rest of the core special teamers.
Scales has bounced around the league with a number of teams throughout his career since signing with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2011. However, he's found a long-term home in Chicago and has now signed seven consecutive one-year deals with the team.
The team's veteran long snapper has been with the team since 2015 and has played in every single game for Chicago dating back to 2016. It's great to see such a tenured player return to the locker room before hitting the open market.
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