On Thursday morning the Chicago Bears placed special teams contributor and backup safety Winston Venable on waivers, according to NFL reporter Adam Kaplan. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound safety was an undrafted free agent from the 2011 NFL Draft class out of Boise State that signed with Chicago last season and played in 12 games on special teams. Known as a hard-hitter, he received a $20,000 fine from the NFL for a aerial hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Demetrius Williams in the team's final preseason game of the 2011-12 NFL season.

The Bears added an intriguing safety prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft with their third pick -- Oregon State defensive back Brandon Hardin (pick No. 79 overall) -- and they also brought in several players via the draft that GM Phil Emery expects to contribute on special teams, so Venable apparently became expandable.

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