The NFL’s second-youngest team became younger Monday by making some old news official.
As expected, the Bears released defensive end Phillip Daniels and quarterback Kordell Stewart, both 31, in a move general manager Jerry Angelo called best for both sides.
Sources warned not to read anything into the fact that the salary-cap ax spared outside linebacker Warrick Holdman, and that Holdman also would be gone before a $2 million roster bonus kicks in Wednesday.
BUILDING BLOCKS: The Bears made some other moves Monday to secure the nucleus of the team.
– Versatile offensive lineman Mike Gandy all but came off the open market when the Bears tendered him a midlevel qualifying offer worth $1.4 million. The team can match any offer or receive a first-round pick from the team that signs him.
Gandy gives the Bears options at left tackle, right tackle and right guard.
– Defensive lineman Joe Tafoya provides as much flexibility on the other side of the ball, a big reason the Bears tendered him a low-level offer of $628,000. Tafoya gives the Bears depth at defensive tackle and both end positions.
– The Bears also locked up offensive lineman Steve Edwards and wide receiver Ahmad Merritt by tendering the exclusive free agents and making it impossible for other teams to make them offers.
Edwards, a converted tackle, started all 16 games at left guard and has been instructed to lose 10 pounds to maintain his quickness.
Merritt, a special-teams standout, enters mini-camp later this month as the fifth wide receiver.
– The Bears have taken a pass on 12-year veteran left tackle Derrick Deese, who hasn’t given up a sack in two seasons while starting for the 49ers. Instead, the Bears have their sights set on shrewdly spending the $16 million or so they have under the salary cap.
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
