Bears release longtime center Garza, sign center Montgomery

The Bears announced Thursday they released longtime center Roberto Garza. The team also announced they signed center Will Montgomery to a one-year contract.

Garza, who was a fourth-round pick of the Falcons in 2001, has been with the Bears since 2005. He has appeared in 206 games in his 14-year career and has started 176 times. He has only missed six starts the last nine seasons, including four in 2014 due to an ankle injury.

The Bears will be Montgomery's fifth team since being selected in the seventh round in 2006 by the Panthers. He has also played for the Jets, Redskins and Broncos, where he played in 2014 under new Bears coach John Fox. Montgomery has appeared in 106 games (71 starts).