April 01--The Chicago Bears signed outside linebacker Sam Acho to a one-year contract Tuesday.
The four-year veteran is looking to recapture the eye-catching form he demonstrated with the Arizona Cardinals as a fourth-round rookie in 2011. He had seven sacks that year coming out of Texas, but he has totaled only six since.
He was a starter for most of his first two seasons with the Cardinals, but he suffered a season-ending broken left fibula on Sep. 22, 2013 and started only four games last season. The 6-foot-3, 257-pound linebacker is known more for his run-stopping ability. League statisticians credited him with 31 tackles in 2014.
Acho, 26, was a defensive end at Texas and made the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, something several Bears players are doing as the team changes its base front from a 4-3. The Bears are stocking up on edge rushers with the idea that there's no such thing as a surplus at that position.
The Bears made outside linebacker Pernell McPhee their top free-agent priority, signing him to a five-year, $38.8 million. They also plan to convert defensive ends Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen, Willie Young and David Bass to outside linebackers. And they are well-positioned to draft an elite prospect with the seventh-overall pick on April 30.
McManis sticking around: The Bears also announced a one-year deal for cornerback Sherrick McManis. The 27-year-old defensive back has been with the team since 2012 and has developed into a solid core special teams contributor. A native of Peoria, McManis has 38 special teams tackles in his three seasons with the Bears. He also provides added depth at cornerback.
