The Chicago Bears have hired Mitchell Tanney as director of analytics.

Tanney will help advance the team’s analytical capabilities by developing additional techniques to identify, extract and analyze data to support decisions throughout the football operations department. His two primary research areas to enhance the Bears analytical capacities will be in player evaluation concepts and game situation principles.

Tanney has been manager of football products and manager of sports analytics for STATS LLC for the past two years, helping create and manage many of the company’s advanced football statistics for NFL and collegiate football analysis.

Devin Hester is no longer entrenched as the Chicago Bears' returner with Earl Bennett and others also fielding kicks.

With a new coaching staff in place, Hester is competing for his job.

Due to Hester's $1.85 million base salary for 2013 and the Bears cap limitations, he could be cut if he doesn't become the explosive returner he was before also being worked into the offense at receiver.

The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with DT Sedrick Ellis on a one-year contract.

Ellis started all 70 games played over five seasons (2008-12) in New Orleans after being selected by the Saints in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft out of USC.

The Chicago Bears have traded Gabe Carimi to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a sixth round pick in 2014.

Carimi was a first round pick by the Bears in 2011.

Carimi had not participated in the Bears' offseason program since the conclusion of the club's voluntary minicamp in April, but did plan to attend next week's mandatory minicamp and avoid a potential $66,150 fine if he skipped all three days.

Carimi started the first 10 games of 2012 at right guard before losing his job to Jonathan Scott.

JaMarcus Russell was impressive in his tryout for the Chicago Bears on Friday, but he is unlikely to be offered a contract.

Russell reported weighing approximately 265 pounds and displayed a "big arm" and "good, positive demeanor", but also exhibited some rust in regards to timing.

Russell was joined in the workout by Jordan Palmer and Trent Edwards.

Russell has lost 50 pounds in recent months.

The Chicago Bears will work out JaMarcus Russell, Trent Richardson and Jordan Palmer.

The Bears are believed to be happy with Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard as backup quarterbacks and are not looking to sign a fourth, but they are evaluating options in case an emergency backup is needed in the future.

Russell has been out of the league since the Oakland Raiders released him in May of 2010, but he has been working diligently on a comeback.