Chicago Bears Cut Down Day – Add Tight End Matt Spaeth to List of Cuts
Nov 25, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Matt Spaeth (89) catches a touchdown pass against Minnesota Vikings safety Jamarca Sanford (33) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Every silver lining has a dark cloud. If the additions of new free agents Jermon Bushrod and Martellus Bennett are the silver linings to the Chicago Bears Free Agency class of 2013, then the dark clouds are the inevitable cuts they had to make to clear out some salary cap room. The latest of those cuts is tight end Matt Spaeth, who is expected to be released as first reported by ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson:
Filed to ESPNChicago: #Bears release veteran TE Matt Spaeth, per a league source.
— Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) March 13, 2013
Cutting Spaeth clears out about $1.6 million in salary cap space, including a $500,000 roster bonus that he was due on Thursday. The Bears will still carry over $333k in dead money, but it’s apparently worth it to the Bears to clear the space. It’s also clear the Bears are re-shaping the tight end position, having already dropped Kellen Davis. Turnabout is fair play; he dropped plenty of passes for the Bears.
In his two seasons with the Bears, Spaeth had 13 catches for 78 yards and 3 TD’s. In fairness to Spaeth, he wasn’t brought in to be a pass catcher, but those numbers are a decent game by a top flight tight end. We’ll see if Martellus Bennett can put up those kinds of numbers.
What do you think? Are you surprised they dumped 2/3 of their tight end group? Who is next to go? Is anyone safe? Stay tuned to Bear Goggles On for all of the latest Chicago Bears free agent moves and join in the discussion on our Facebook page.