BEARS SIGN DE JULIUS PEPPERS, RB CHESTER TAYLOR & TE BRANDON MANUMALEUNA

LAKE FOREST, IL – The Chicago Bears signed DE Julius Peppers to a six-year contract, RB Chester Taylor to a four-year contract and TE Brandon Manumaleuna to a five-year contract. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Peppers has started 120 of 122 games played over the course of eight seasons with Carolina after being drafted second overall by the Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft. During that time he ranks third in the NFL with 81 sacks. The five-time Pro Bowler (2004-06 and 2008-09 seasons) has added six interceptions, 30 forced fumbles, 41 pass break ups, seven fumble recoveries, three return touchdowns (two INT and one fumble) and eight blocked field goals. Peppers has recorded double-digit sacks in six of his previous eight NFL seasons including 10.5 in 2009.

Taylor has compiled 4,396 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 1,028 carries (4.3 ypc) in 123 career games (32 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2002-05) and Minnesota Vikings (2006-09). The versatile back also has 2,094 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 265 career receptions. Originally a sixth round selection (207th overall) of the Ravens, Taylor has at least 40 receptions in four of the last five seasons.

Manumaleuna has started 90 of 142 games played in nine NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams (2001-05) and San Diego Chargers (2006-09) hauling in 110 receptions for 965 yards and 12 touchdowns. Originally a fourth round pick (129th overall) of St. Louis in 2001, Manumaleuna spent five seasons in Mike Martz’s offense when Martz was head coach of the Rams.