LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Quarterback Jim Miller, who keyed the Chicago Bears' playoff drive in 2001, was released Wednesday, along with offensive tackle James "Big Cat" Williams.
The oft-injured Miller led the Bears to an 11-2 record as a starter in 2001, setting career highs in passes (395), completions (228), yards (2,299), and touchdowns (13).
Originally signed by Chicago for the final four games of the 1998 season, Miller posted a 15-11 record over the last four years. He was limited to eight starts in 2002 because of a series of injuries, and ended the season on injured reserve.
Three of Miller's four seasons with Chicago ended prematurely.
He also finished 2000 on IR, and was suspended for the final four games of the 1999 campaign for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, an alleged use of steroids that he denied.
Williams has spent his entire 12-year career with the Bears, starting the past nine seasons at right tackle after being signed as an undrafted defensive lineman in 1991.
The 6-7, 332-pounder, whose release had been expected, started every game in 2002, extending his string of consecutive starts to 134 and games played to 144.
Williams, who made the transition to offense midway through the 1992 season, was elected to the Pro Bowl following the 1991 campaign, when the Bears won the NFC Central Division title with a 13-3 record.
He was the longest tenured player on the Chicago roster, and was due a $500,000 bonus on March 1 as he entered the final year of a four-year, $17 million contract.
"It's unfortunate that these types of decisions have to be made," said General Manager Jerry Angelo. "Both players are highly regarded and well respected by our fans and obviously by our organization. We wish them well and have nothing but positive feelings. Both professionally and personally they've been great contributors to our football team and our community. We've agonized over these things really the last couple of months. We made sure that we talked through them thoroughly, gave ourselves some time to think about it. We had to make a decision and (Wednesday) was the day to act."
