honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 6, 2009

Bears sign center Donovan Raiola to practice squad


Advertiser Staff

The Chicago Bears signed center Donovan Raiola, a Kamehameha alum, to the practice squad today.

Raiola, who was waived Saturday and cleared waivers, will play behind another Hawaii center, Olin Kreutz.

Raiola, who was signed during training camp, has spent time with the Rams, Steelers, Seahawks and Cardinals.

Six other players who were waived by the Bears during final cuts Saturday where placed on the team’s eight-man practice squad today.

The group includes quarterback Brett Basanez, defensive end Ervin Baldwin, defensive end Joe Clermond, guard Johan Asiata, fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou and cornerback Woodny Turenne.

Basanez completed 15 of 26 passes for 221 yards with two touchdowns, three interceptions and a 71.6 passer rating in the preseason. The former Northwestern star spent the previous three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, appearing in one game.

Baldwin joined the Bears in 2008 as a seventh-round draft pick. On the practice squad for the first 10 weeks of his rookie season, Baldwin spent the final seven weeks on the active roster, but did not appear in a game. He registered two sacks in Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Browns.

Clermond spent the final month of the 2008 season on the Bears practice squad. Asiata, Ta’ufo’ou and Turenne all joined the Bears this year as undrafted rookie free agents.

The Bears still have one spot open on their practice squad.