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Before joining our Access Vikings team, Dan Wiederer covered Atlantic Coast Conference basketball for the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer and was named North Carolina's top sports columnist in 2010. His previous reporting experience includes covering the Chicago Bears. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.


Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.


Taylor: 'It was very hard leaving'

Posted by: Chip Scoggins under Vikings, Bears, Ex-Vikings, Super Bowl, Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor Updated: March 5, 2010 - 6:37 PM

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Chester Taylor participated in a press conference after signing a four-year, $12.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears on Friday afternoon.

Taylor, who reportedly received $7 million in guarantees the first year, has a good chance to replace Matt Forte as the Bears starting running back. A number of teams were interested in Taylor, but he signed with the Bears about 13 hours after he hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.

"I felt like Chicago had a winning attitude," Taylor said. "Playing them every year I know how tough they can be. I just feel like we have an opportunity to get back to the Super Bowl. We just needed a couple of key players. Me and my agent sat down and looked at all the possibilities and just felt Chicago was the best fit for me."
 
Taylor said one of the big draws was a chance to play in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's offense.
 
"I see how Marshall Faulk was used in their offense [with the St. Louis Rams]," Taylor said. "I’m willing to come in and play that role and anyway I can help my team win, I’m going to do it."
 
The Vikings tried to keep Taylor, but they were not willing to spend the kind of money that he got on the open market. 
 
"It was very hard leaving," Taylor said. "Minnesota did give me the opportunity to start when I first came there [as a free agent in 2006]. It’s hard leaving them because we all came in together as one group, the coaching staff and a few other players so it was hard leaving them. But I’m pretty sure they understand what I had to do as far as for my family and the best decision I’m going to make for my future."
 
Taylor rushed for 1,216 yards on 303 carries in his first season with the Vikings but he became Adrian Peterson's backup the next season. Taylor did not have more than 157 carries in any of his final three seasons.
 
Taylor said he's excited to play a larger role in the Bears offense.
 
"I believe my first year at Minnesota I got my feet wet," he said. "I got like 1,200 yards but I never got the opportunity to see what I could do the year after that. I’m looking for another opportunity to showcase my talent and help my team win."

 

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