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The door was open to Israel Idonije coming back to the Chicago Bears, but apparently not enough.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Lions sign DL Israel Idonije to one-year deal, per league source.</p>— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/statuses/349564342880043010">June 25, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The Detroit Lions were never mentioned as a potential destination for Izzy, but they must have come through with the best offer. The reported one year deal is probably more than whet the Bears offer was. He was mostly linked to San Francisco 49ers the last month or so.
If Izzy was looking to join a ready for the Super Bowl roster, he would have joined the Niners. Perhaps the Izzy to San Fran rumors were just that, and there was never a concrete offer on the table.
If Idonije is staying at defensive end, he'll be joining a team that runs the Wide 9 scheme, and he was never thought of as a speed rusher. He does have the size and experience to join the defensive tackle rotation, but either way the Lions are getting a very good football player.
More From Windy City Gridiron:
A closer look at the Wide 9 defense
Bears Select DE Cornelius Washington With 188th Overall Pick