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In a move that surprised no one, the Chicago Bears will release quarterback Mike Glennon, general manager Ryan Pace announced in a press conference at the NFL Combine.
Glennon, 28, was signed to a three-year, $45 million contract in March of 2017. The Bears signed him with intent of making him their stop-gap quarterback until a younger option, who would later turn out to be Mitchell Trubisky, was ready to step in.
The veteran ended up starting the season off as Chicago’s starting quarterback. He played in four games for the team, leading them to a 1-3 record. In that span, he completed 66.4 percent of his passes, was sacked eight times and threw for 833 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Bears will save $14 million by releasing Glennon, according to Spotrac. This move, in addition to the other cuts general manager Ryan Pace has made, clears the way for the Bears to spend a lot of money in free agency.
This move also means that Chicago will likely be on the lookout for a new backup quarterback. If Mark Sanchez is to be re-signed once free agency kicks off, then he will likely just stay on in a mentor role. Look for the Bears to target another insurance option at quarterback in free agency or in the draft.