Chicago Bears Release Free Agent QB Nick Hill

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Du Quoin High School and Southern Illinois University record-setting quarterback Nick Hill-for the time being-is no longer a member of the Chicago Bears.

Tuesday afternoon, the Bears waived the free agent signee in order to free roster space. In Hill's slot, Chicago re-signed tight end Marcus Stone.

After releasing Stone last week when Devin Hester's holdout ended, the Bears returned the fourth-stringer for added depth in its tight end corps.

Hill, who was competing with fellow rookie Caleb Hanie for the third string quarterback, said there's a definite possibility he could return to the Bears as a practice squad player.

In recent days, Hanie had received the majority of work as the #3 signal-caller and Hill admitted to seeing "the writing on the wall."

The early release gives him a better chance to catch on with another team as most teams are just 10 days or less into training camp.

Minutes after the NFL Draft ended April 27, Hill signed a three-year free agent contract with Chicago.

Buffalo nearly drafted Hill with the next-to-last pick (#251) that day, but opted to select a defensive back instead.

Once that happened-and after declining late offers from Indianapolis, Houston and Washington-Hill and agent Andy Simms verbally agreed to a deal with Chicago and were faxing back the signed contract about 30 minutes later.

A three-year letter winner at SIU, Hill led the Salukis to the national semifinals as a senior while earning All-American honors.

Originally a Division I basketball player at Western Kentucky, Hill is third on Du Quoin's career scoring list in hoops and twice earned all-state honors.

Also a two-year all-stater in football, he threw for nearly 4,000 yards after becoming a starter midway through his sophomore season.

Du Quoin finished as state runner-up in 2002 and made the final four in '01.