Defensive end Ray McDonald will be playing one more year in the National Football League (NFL) as he signs with the Chicago Bears.

The team said last Tuesday McDonald and the Bears have reached a one-year agreement, but the terms of the deal have not yet been ironed out. The only thing pending is McDonald passing a medical exam.

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McDonald was recently released from the San Francisco 49ers in December. The releasing came right after law enforcement officials in San Jose, California, said that he was being investigated for suspicions of sexual assault.

While it has been several months since then, McDonald has not yet been charged with any case. However, the case still remains open.

Ryan Pace, the general manager of the Bears, commented during the owners meeting at Arizona, that since there were still character issues on the line, the Bears chairman had to weigh in on the decision before the team went through with the move.

As soon as that happened, McDonald paid for his own ticket and went to Chicago to meet with Chairman George McCaskey for two hours.

"I was impressed with how sincere he was and how motivated he is," McCaskey told reporters Tuesday night at the owners meetings in Phoenix, referring to the meeting he had with McDonald.

McCaskey also adds that McDonald understands how he could have been facing the end of his football career. The fact that he loves football and wants to continue in his career impressed McCaskey in the end.

Apart from the interview though, McCaskey also called McDonald's parents to discuss their son.

The support of the parents shone through that phone call. He found out that the parents go to all the games and are always there for him.

The close investigation of McCaskey is not unfounded though, as McDonald has also been implicated in a domestic abuse case involving his fiancée last August.  

TagsRay McDonald, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, NFL, Football, sexual assault