Chicago Bears, Greg Olsen, New England Patriots, Bengals, Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals - Sam Hurd signs with the Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears, Greg Olsen, New England Patriots, Bengals, Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals - Sam Hurd signs with the Chicago Bears

Wide receiver Sam Hurd has agreed to terms on a contact to play for the Chicago Bears.

The Cowboys signed Hurd as an undrafted free agent in 2006 from Northern Illinois.

Hurd, a San Antonio native, always had a goal of being a receiver, but he made his mark with the Cowboys on special teams.

A special teams captain last year, Hurd finished second on the team with 21 tackles. In 2009, Hurd led the Cowboys with 19 special teams tackles.

"I'm excited about this, no hard feelings towards Dallas," Hurd told ESPNDallas. "It's a job and it had nothing to do with the Cowboys. I would love to play for the Cowboys but I've always loved the city of Chicago and what the Bears stood for."

Hurd brings speed and experience to the Bears receiving corps. When Hurd signed with the Cowboys he was tutored on how to run routes, catch passes and be a professional from Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn. In later years he learned how to get better from Roy Williams.

Still, Hurd couldn't surpass, Patrick Crayton and eventually Miles Austin on the depth chart. Last season when the Cowboys drafted Dez Bryant, it was the writing on the wall for several players including Crayton, who was eventually traded to San Diego. Hurd asked for a trade as well, but it didn't happen. Kevin Ogletree's emergence also complicated things for Hurd, who couldn't get enough playing time on offense.

The Cowboys did make Hurd an offer to stay, but the Bears made a commitment to make him a wide receiver.

"I hear great things about Chicago," Hurd said. "I know Lovie is a great mind and I hear great things about Mike Martz. I'm excited and my mind and heart is open and I get a chance to play receiver. That's all I can ask for. If the other guy is better than me, hey, I'm all about team and I'm happy for that guy. But if I can compete for a spot I will do that." Read More

Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Redskins, Steelers:"Bears pursuing free-agent linebacker Durant"

Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Redskins, Steelers:"Bears pursuing free-agent linebacker Durant"

With the Chicago Bears allowed to reach out to other teams' free agents Tuesday morning, it appears the team is prepared to start looking at other options at strong-side linebacker.

According to a source, the Bears already have reached out about unrestricted free agent Justin Durant from the Jaguars and the signing of Durant "could happen." The Bears are looking for another option alongside Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, with Nick Roach an unrestricted free agent set to test the market and Pisa Tinoisamoa, also a free agent, coming off major knee surgery. Tinoisamoa would be limited in training camp if re-signed by the Bears.

Durant has been high on the Detroit Lions' radar, too, so it will be interesting to see if this becomes a battle of NFC North teams.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 240-pound Durant started 10 games last season with the Jaguars and had 55 tackles.

Durant missed some time last season with ankle and groin injuries but had been an effective player for the Jaguars in four seasons.

"I felt like when I was in there that I was important to the defense, and I was contributing a lot," Durant told the Florida Times-Union. "I had a couple injuries, a couple setbacks. They were nagging all year."

The Bears can negotiate with other team's free agents Tuesday but those players can't sign until Friday. If Durant were to sign, he couldn't join the team for practice until the new league year starts, Aug. 4.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

twitter@vxmcclure23