Quarterback Josh McCown, signed to a one-year deal worth $875,000 including bonuses, was cut after he finished last year as the starter. Also, the Bears had intended to cut FB Tyler Clutts, but found a willing taker at the last minute in Houston.
Traded: Tyler Clutts (2nd year, Fresno State) -- The Bears got former Northwestern CB Sherrick McManis (3rd year, 5th round in 2010 draft) in return for Clutts. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice wants to go with four tight ends instead of three tight ends and a fullback, and the winner was former Purdue TE Kyle Adams, a second-year player who last year wound up on injured reserve due to a hamstring problem after playing half a season. He'll join rookie fourth-rounder Evan Rodriguez and veterans Matt Spaeth and Kellen Davis at tight end. The thinking is that a tight end is a more versatile player, but Clutts was big as a blocker in the running game last year as they gained 2,015 yards, the most since they had 2,346 in 1990 during the Mike Ditka era. McManis has played in 23 NFL games, has a tackle, a fumble recovery and INT.
Notable cuts: QB Josh McCown (10th year, 3rd round in 2002 draft, SMU/Sam Houston St.) -- A curious cut for a team with an offensive line that has shown an inability to protect the passer and has two quarterbacks (Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell) who finished last year on IR. Unless the plan is to use the roster spot to keep extra punter Ryan Quigley until Adam Podlesh heals from a hip-flexor injury, the move makes little sense. What happens if they lose both QBs in the opener? McCown had a good preseason finale and hit on 63 percent of his passes last regular season. ... RB Armando Allen (2nd year, undrafted, Notre Dame) played in two games at season's end and is available for the practice squad. He had made 26 rushes for 97 yards with 10 catches for 81 yards in preseason but was regarded as less valuable all around than Lorenzo Booker, who had comparable stats to go with a 105-yard kick return TD and has been in the league five years. ... DE Chauncey Davis (8th year, Florida State) and CB Jonathan Wilhite (5th year, Auburn) were the other bigger names cut. Davis was with the team last year but lost out to DE Cheta Ozougwu. Wilhite signed as a free agent after four seasons and 53 games for New England and Denver.
Cut list
WR Brittan Golden (rookie, undrafted, W. Texas A&M); CB Greg McCoy (rookie, 7th round, TCU); CB Cornelius Brown (2nd year, undrafted, UTEP); S Mark LeGree (2nd year, 5th round in 2011 draft, Appalachian St.); LB Xavier Adibi (5th year, 4th round in 2008 draft, Va. Tech); LB Jabara Williams (2nd year, undrafted, Stephen F. Austin); WR Joe Anderson (rookie, undrafted, Texas Southern); OT Cory Brandon (1st year, undrafted, Oklahoma); G Ricky Henry (2nd year, undrafted, Nebraska); DT Jordan Miller (1st year, undrafted, Southern); G A.J. Green (rookie, undrafted, Auburn); TE Brandon Venson (rookie, undrafted, Illinois State); DT Jordan Miller (1st year, undrafted, Southern); G A.J. Green (rookie, undrafted, Auburn); TE Brandon Venson (rookie, undrafted, Illinois State); OT James Brown (rookie, undrafted, Troy); WR Terriun Crump (rookie, undrafted, Western Illinois); CB Isaiah Frey (rookie, 6th round, Nevada); DE Aston Whiteside (rookie, undrafted, Abilene Christian).
Other moves: DT Nate Collins (3rd year, NY College) was put on the reserve/suspended list. He was suspended one game by the league before training camp for a substance abuse violation.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.