The Chicago Bears finally made a move on the second day of free agency’s legal tampering period. It just wasn’t a move that’s likely to have fans excited.
The Bears are re-signing long snapper Patrick Scales to a one-year, $1,272,500 veteran benefit deal with a maximum $152,500 signing bonus and $1,047,500 total guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
In his seven-year career, Scales has appeared in 88 games as a long snapper with the Ravens (2014) and Bears (2015-21), where he recorded eight special teams tackles.
The #Bears are re-signing veteran long snapper Patrick Scales to a one-year, $1,272,500 deal veteran benefit deal with the maximum $152,500 signing bonus and $1,047,500 total guaranteed, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2022
The Bears now have four specialists under contract heading into the 2022 season, including long snapper Beau Brinkley and punter Ryan Winslow, who signed earlier this offseason. Kicker Cairo Santos is also under contract.
Now, the focus shifts to whether or not punter Pat O’Donnell will be brought back on a similar one-year deal, which would keep the Bears’ special teams in tact for the third straight season.
