Sports

UPDATED: A Steeler No More, St. Michael's Spaeth Headed to Windy City

Get ready to see big Matt Speath, a former Gopher and St. Michael standout, back in Minneapolis during the football season.

UPDATE (4:15 p.m): Matt Spaeth has confirmed his move to Chicago via a message to friends and Pittsburgh fans on his Facebook account. 

"Excited for a new beginning in Chicago. Sad to leave Pittsburgh: the Team, the City, and the FANS! Thanks for everything!" Spaeth wrote. 

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Find out what's happening in St. Michaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Multiple sources are reporting that big tight end Matt Spaeth, a former standout with the Minnesota Gophers and a graduate of St. Michael-Albertville High School, is headed to the Chicago Bears. 

The Chicago Tribune, local Chicago football bloggers and other sources are stating the Bears released veteran tight end Brandon Manumaleuna and signed Spaeth to a deal. 

Find out what's happening in St. Michaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Spaeth, who spent a large amount of time in St. Michael during the NFL lockout, told Patch back in June he wasn't sure where he'd end up after playing out his contract with the Steelers. 

"It's a great organization [Pittsburgh] and I've been given great opportunity," he said. "But I really have no idea what's going to happen when this [lockout] is all done. No idea," Speath said. 

If the deal is done, Spaeth will be back in the Metrodome at least once this season, where he played his way to the Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end his senior year with the Minnesota Gophers. 

Spaeth still holds records at the U of M and here in St. Michael for his productivity on the field. 

A list of reports:

Report: Bears acquire former Steelers TE Spaeth
Chicago Tribune - Dan Pompei - 2 hours ago

- No one suspected the Chicago Bears were in the market for a tight end, ...Local: Bears agree with Spaeth, release Manumaleuna‎ CSNChicago.com

- Blog: Scramble'11: Soap opera starring Bears TEs‎ ESPN (blog)

Bears Continue Odd Free Agent Signings by Grabbing TE Spaeth‎ BearGoggles

Bears sign tight end Spaeth: Chicago Sun-Times (blog) - Neil Hayes

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