LAKE FOREST, Ill., March 12 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears Wednesday matched the offer sheet placekicker Paul Edinger, who had signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
He is the most accurate kicker in Bears' history.
Edinger signed a five-year, $7 million offer sheet with the Vikings on Saturday, giving the Bears a week to match or the option of receiving a sixth-round draft pick as compensation.
He had received a one-year tender offer on Feb. 28.
In three seasons with the Bears, Edinger has made 69-of-86 field goal attempts. Last year, he tied a team record by making 5-of-8 kicks of at least 50 yards, and led the NFL with a yard-per-attempt average of 41.9 yards.
Edinger, who begins a kick with his back to the end zone, has kicked 35 field goals of 40 yards or more in his career, the most in the NFL over the last three seasons.
In 2001, Edinger led the team in scoring, and ranked fifth in the NFC after becoming just the sixth player in team history to eclipse 100 points in a season.
With Chicago matching the offer, the Vikings still need a kicker to replace 43-year-old Gary Anderson, who is accurate but can no longer kick for distance, and is weak on kickoffs.
