Chicago Bears defensive end Alonzo Spellman signed an offer sheet with the Jacksonville Jaguars this morning. Since Spellman was designated as a transition player by the Bears, the Bears have seven days to match the offer sheet in order to retain Spellman. Length and terms of the offer sheet are not disclosed.
The 24-year-old Spellman was the Bears' first-round draft choice out of Ohio State in 1992. The 22nd player drafted overall that year, Spellman played behind Bears defensive end Richard Dent his first two seasons before taking over as the starter the last two.
Spellman had 8.5 sacks during the 1995 season, including three in the final regular-season game against Philadelphia. He also had 66 tackles (41 solo), four forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered and five passed defensed.
He holds a Bears record with sacks in seven consecutive games (the last four in 1994 and the first three in 1995). He played left defensive end in 1995 after three seasons at right end. He has missed only one game in four seasons, with 32 consecutive starts.
Spellman started all three of his seasons at Ohio State and was named first-team All-Big Ten and the team's Most Valuable Player as a junior. He left Ohio State a year early to enter the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder was born September 27, 1971. he was a USA Today first-team All-America and New Jersey Player of the Year at Rancocas Valley High.
