There’s been a lot of talk about picking up actual NFL receivers to complete the most insanely unBears offseason in team history. And where normally this conversation would be treated with all due skepticism on the part of David Haugh, Brad Biggs, et al,* this year it has seemed to take on fantasy football proportions. There are all sorts of sign-Plax-now-while-he’s-still-possibly-not-in-jail columns flying around, and at the first sign that Brandon Marshall had a meeting with the Broncos owner, there’s talk of the Bears trading for him. Nevermind that we don’t have any draft-pick ammo left. Nevermind that Burress shot himself in the leg at a nightclub, or that Marshall’s been convicted of countless crimes himself, or that the Bears released Tank Johnson for merely owning guns, or that they released Benson for drinking beers on a boat. This is all a nonissue in the post-Cutler-for-Orton Bears era.
That’s why when I read statements from Lovie saying “Hester is a #1″ or from Cutler saying he’s “100 percent happy with what we have,” I can only assume they’ve been told by His Holiness Jerry Angelo that wideout help is likely not coming. That doesn’t necessarily mean Hester is in fact a bonfide #1, or that Cutler really does thank his lucky stars for pro bowl talents Earl Bennett and Rashied Davis.
As things stand, there will be at least a 4 week sussing-out process for Bears receivers. And that’s not counting the preseason. When the dust settles, Earl Bennett will not be a top option. And if Rashied Davis is, the Bears are in trouble. Without further ado, I unleash the Official 2009 Smilin’ Hank Wide Receiver Depth Chart . . .
2. Devin Hester
3. Brandon Rideau
4. Johnny Knox
5. Bennett/Davis/Juaquin Iglesias
Granted, #3 is based on seeing Rideau dominate third-stringers in preseason last year. But, he did dominate them. And #4 is based on the OTA videos available through the utterly unbiased source, chicagobears.com. But, he looks unbelievable in those videos. And where, you ask, is our #1? Well, when he’s not in a three-point stance, apparently he’s at Kenny Chesney concerts with Cutler. That’s right, G-Reg Olsen. I’m looking for big things out of him this year, and possibly even some three-tight-end formations, with Kellen Davis stepping in. It’ll be like having that big, hulking receiver presence out there, only without the firearms or domestic battery.
That’s all I got for now—some nice conservative assessments of the free agent market, and overly optimistic projections for unproven guys on the current roster. Ah, it’s good to be back to normal Bears blogging.
*Does not include Jay Mariotti. Hoorah.
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