LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- In less than two years, the Chicago Bears have gone from the NFL's oldest roster to one of the youngest.
Only two players on the Bears offseason 90-man roster have 10-plus years of professional experience -- Robbie Gould (12) and Jay Cutler (11) -- and just six guys are in their 30s -- Jerrell Freeman (30), Manny Ramirez (33), Zach Miller (31), Willie Young (30), Gould (34) and Cutler (33).
For Bears management to orchestrate such dramatic roster turnover, the club had to sever ties with a large group of veterans, including Chicago's second all-time leading rusher, Matt Forte, and locker room leader Matt Slauson.