Chicago Bears will sign Tom Zbikowski

Last week, the Indianapolis Colts decided to release Tom Zbikowski due to his $1.5 million base salary and subpar 2012 campaign. The Colts had their eyes set on a big upgrade at strong safety, and they got it by signing top in-the-box man LaRon Landry from the New York Jets- Landry was one of the team’s top targets this free agent period. Zbikowski was expected to find work rather quickly, and the Notre Dame product has reportedly found a new job within eight days of his release.

Jan 6, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Indianapolis Colts special teams player Tom Zbikowski (28) during the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M

According to league sources close to the Chicago Sun-Times’s Sean Jensen, Tom Zbikowski will sign with the Chicago Bears. The deal is expected to happen, and Jensen writes that it “could be” finalized sometime later today. The Bears needed the added depth at safety, and Zbikowski fits in very nicely as a third safety who can make significant contributions on special teams.

I don’t know how much this helps, but Zbikwoski is also from Chicago as a quarterback in high school who, per Jensen, set records at. The Bears will love the veteran presence he provides at the back end of the secondary, and he is better in coverage than the average strong safety. However, he is best utilized in-the-box, even if he didn’t have his best year in run defense in 2012 with just 34 tackles.

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