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Signing away talent from a division rival is a tradition as old as free agency itself. So it's not surprising that the Chicago Bears picked up a former Packer off the open market this year. What is surprising is the player Chicago chose.
According to multiple reports, the Bears have signed safety M.D. Jennings to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Jennings will likely make around the veteran minimum.
Rarely does a player entering restricted free agency fail to be tendered after starting all 16 games of the prior year, yet that is exactly what happened with the Packers and Jennings. While it's unclear whether Green Bay intended to retain him, the fact they declined to commit even $1.431 million (the price of the lowest tender) reveals how little the team thought of the safety.
For Chicago, Jennings will compete for a backup role behind Major Wright and the newly signed Ryan Mundy. Should Jennings fail to beat out the likes of Chris Conte, Anthony Walters, or Sean Cattouse, the Bears could walk away with little to no penalty.