Needing to clear a roster spot for newly acquired DE Gaines Adams, the Bears terminated the contract of vested veteran TE Michael Gaines Saturday.

Since entering the NFL in 2004 as a seventh-round draft pick (232nd overall) with Carolina, Gaines had 79 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns with the Panthers (2004-06), Bills (’07), Lions (’08) and Bears (’09) in 74 contests (41 starts). This season, though, Gaines was the fourth tight end on the Bears behind Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark and Kellen Davis and had appeared in only one game.