The Bears have placed a low tender of $1.2 million on restricted free agent Caleb Hanie, according to a league source.
The Bears do have the right of first refusal if another team were to sign Hanie to an offer sheet. But if the Bears declined to match, they would receive no compensation in return, as Hanie entered the league in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State.
A second-round draft tender, valued at around $2 million, could have been placed on Hanie. But the Bears obviously feel comfortable about their chances of keeping him regardless.
Both general manager Jerry Angelo and offensive coordinator
Mike Martz said the team needed to address quarterback behind
Jay Cutler, with veteran Todd Collins no longer in the team's plans and Hanie still unproven. Martz would not commit to Hanie as the backup despite Hanie's solid play in the NFC title game in place of the injured Cutler (knee).
