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Things ended badly in New Orleans for defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. The Saints traded him to the Patriots early in the 2015 season Will Grier Jersey , and he played 13 games for New England before becoming a free agent.Hicks chose the Bears in the 2016 free agency period partly because General Manager Ryan Pace was in the Saints’ front office in New Orleans in 2012 when the team made Hicks a third-round pick. In three seasons in Chicago, Hicks has started every game, and he earned his first Pro Bowl in 2018.He has never felt more at home.“I’m appreciated here for everything I am,�? Hicks said Christian Miller Jersey , via Dan Pompei of TheAthletic.com.. “I’ve never been expected to be anyone but myself here, and when I’m myself, I’m at my best.”Pace calls Hicks a “catalyst” for what the Bears have built and are building on defense. Adding Khalil Mack in a trade last year gave the Bears one of the best defenses in the league. “We already had this dominant defense, and then you add Jordan Scarlett Jersey , let’s call it what it is, one of the best defensive players in the league, top five for sure, top three to me David Montgomery Jersey ,�? Hicks said. “It was lagniappe, as they say in the south.”Former Bears defensive linemen Dan Hampton, Tommie Harris, Ed O’Bradovich and Chris Zorich recently were on a panel discussion with Hicks Riley Ridley Jersey , who accepted the old-timers’ challenge to live up to the team’s great defenses of yesteryear.“We all want to leave our mark somewhere,�? Hicks said. “This is our opportunity to leave our mark. We have everything it takes. It’s just a matter of if we want it enough.�? Center Max Unger‘s retirement became public knowledge over the weekend, but the Saints were not caught off guard by the news.Unger said on a Monday conference call that he made the decision to stop playing within the last month and that the Saints knew his plan before free agency got underway. The Saints signed Nick Easton to take over at center on Sunday.Unger said health concerns were what caused him to call it a career. He said, via Luke Johnson of NOLA.com Greedy Williams Jersey , that he’s been dealing with a lower-body injury for some time and didn’t think that he would be able to hold up physically this year.“I’m retiring because I wasn’t sure I could make it through another season,” Unger said.Unger spent the last four seasons with the Saints after a trade that sent him to New Orleans and tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle. He made one All-Pro first-team and two Pro Bowls with Seattle and one Pro Bowl as a member of the Saints.