Bears bolster line further with perennial Pro Bowl guard Brown

The Bears paid the most money ever for a right tackle in John Taitlast month. Now, they've got an eight-time Pro Bowl guard to playnext to him at a bargain rate.

Ruben Brown on Thursday agreed to a $4.5 million, three-yearcontract with a $1 million signing bonus and a $500,000 roster bonusdue in March. With playing-time incentives, he can earn another $1million over the final two years of the contract. He will arrive atHalas Hall this morning. Brown becomes the fourth new starter addedon offense after Tait and the new backfield of running back ThomasJones and fullback Bryan Johnson.

It is the Bears' hope that Brown, 32, has a few good seasons leftin him. The Buffalo Bills felt that despite Pro Bowl trips followingevery season since 1996, his play had eroded. That was obviously theopinion of other clubs as he generated lukewarm interest as a freeagent, also visiting the Detroit Lions. He was cut because he was tocount $5.8 million against the Bills' salary cap this season as theresult of a $32 million, seven-year contract that has three yearsremaining. Brown will count $4 million against the Bills' cap in2004.

Brown was a left guard in Buffalo and was durable, missing eightgames in the last eight seasons and none because of injury in fourseasons. He was held out of the Bills' season finale at New Englandby coach Gregg Williams, although he was not suspended. Williams'decision was the culmination of friction between the two as Brown wascritical of the team's offensive direction and coordinator KevinGilbride.

Brown's arrival means Qasim Mitchell and Mike Gandy will fight forthe left tackle position. The Bears have a wealth of experiencebacking up on the offensive line with 2002 third-round pick TerrenceMetcalf expected to become a capable second-string center. SteveEdwards played last season in place of Rex Tucker at left guard, andTait has supplanted Aaron Gibson, whom the team might look to trade.