1:49pm: The deal is worth $1.5MM in total, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
1:10pm: The Bears announced that they have signed veteran center Roberto Garza to a one-year extension. Garza was slated to hit the open market this offseason after playing on a one-year deal this season.
Garza told reporters, including Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter), that the extension materialized on Christmas. “When you’re my age, there’s not much negotiation,” the 35-year-old center said. Garza credited former Bears linemen Olin Kreutz, James “Big Cat” Williams, and Taylor Boggs for putting him on the right path last offseason to get stronger for 2014, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). Earlier this year, Garza said he wasn’t sure whether he’d want to return for a 15th season. But he worked with a power lifter and physical therapist in South Carolina in the offseason, and said he feels as strong as he ever has, according to Patrick Finley of the Sun-Times.
The deal in and of itself might not be earth-shattering, but it is noteworthy that GM Phil Emery is still making these decisions. From the outside, that could be a sign that Emery will continue in his role in 2015.
Next year will be Garza’s 15th in the NFL and his eleventh with the Bears.