Bears Qb Stays Put, Signs One-Year Deal Worth $1.5 Million

Steve Walsh, who guided the Chicago Bears to the playoffs after replacing Erik Kramer at quarterback, agreed Monday to a one-year contract for $1.5 million.

Last year, Walsh started 11 games - winning eight - in the regular season and led the Bears to a first-round playoff win over Minnesota before falling to San Francisco. He completed 208 of 343 passes for 2,078 yards and eight touchdowns.

Walsh started his pro career as a firstround pick by Dallas in 1989. He was traded to New Orleans in 1990 and came to Chicago last April as an unrestricted free agent.

In six seasons, Walsh has completed 55 percent of his 1,191 passes for 7,368 yards and 39 TDs. He is 19-16 as a starter.

Erik Williams of the Dallas Cowboys will face charges of sexual assault for allegedly raping a 17-year-old nightclub dancer in his home.

Sgt. Jim Chandler said the paperwork was to be mailed to the district attorney late Monday or early today.

“We have, in effect, filed charges,” Chandler said. “They just haven’t received them.”

The Cleveland Browns signed former New England Patriots nose tackle Tim Goad and former Washington Redskins special team member Johnny Thomas.

The Browns also announced the resigning of defensive tackle Pio Sagapolutele, offensive guard Mike Schad and defensive lineman Mario Johnson.

The Carolina Panthers signed Indianapolis Colts safety Jason Belser, 24, to an offer sheet.

Belser, who would be the first restricted free agent to sign with the Panthers, started six games at strong safety and six games at free safety for the Colts in 1994 and finished the season as the team’s top free safety.

The San Francisco 49ers acquired Derrick Moore, a restricted free agent, from Detroit for a fifth-round draft choice in a trade engineered Friday but not completed until Moore signed a one-year contract for $328,000.