Bears release veteran CB Tim Jennings
By Tuesday, every team in the National Football League must be down to 75 players on the active roster, getting down from the 90 that began training camp. The Chicago Bears moved closer to that magic number on Sunday afternoon with a surprise cut, releasing veteran cornerback Tim Jennings, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
First surprise cut of the week: Bears are releasing veteran CB Tim Jennings, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2015
Jennings, 31, played his first four seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and won a Super Bowl ring in 2006 as a rookie, ironically against the Bears. Jennings joined Chicago as a free agent in 2010 and lasted five years in the Windy City before being cut by first-year general manager Ryan Pace.
Next: Ranking The 32 NFL Defenses For 2015
Perhaps part of the reason Jennings was released took place in January, when the former All-Pro was arrested for speeding, reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears are hoping that another team signs Jennings. Chicago would immediately get $4.4 million of cap relief, perhaps allowing Pace to find some other players to fill out the bottom of the roster.
With Jennings on the street, Chicago is projected to line up with second-year corner Kyle Fuller and Alan Ball, who signed this offseason after spending the past two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bears can’t get much worse on defense, checking in 30th last year in yards allowed.
Jennings’ best year came in 2012, when he recorded a career-high nine interceptions and reached his first Pro Bowl. Jennings would also make the 2013 Pro Bowl and was twice ranked in NFL Network’s show of the Top 100 Players.