The biggest not-so-well kept secret in the NFL is that the Bears’ receiving core is problematic. After an off season that saw them lose their number one and number two receivers, the Bears are left to fill the void with a pair of so-so free agent acquisitions, impending draft picks and two talented, yet still very raw and unproven, leftovers from the March raiding — Devin Hester and Mark Bradley.

Bradley, the Bears’ second-round pick in 2005, has shown flashes of brilliance only to be superseded by injuries and under utilization, something that even the coaching staff has admitted to. You can bet now, however, that Bradley will be given every opportunity imaginable to succeed as he is thrust into the thick of the starting receiver position battle.

In three seasons with the Bears, Bradley has played in 32 games, made 38 receptions for 583 yards and scored four touchdowns. Let us be honest. These statistics are not going to bestow much hope into the hearts of Bears’ fans, let alone strike fear into the minds of NFL defensive coordinators. Nevertheless, a case could be made that Bradley’s god-awful numbers are connected to the limited opportunities he has received when he is actually on the field. (more…)

Now that the NFL Draft is only one month away, I felt it was time to deliver my first Bears only mock draft. I am not about to guess what other teams might do this April because put simply, I do not care — and neither should you. So here we go:

Round 1, # 14 (14 overall) - Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt 

6-6 1/2, 317 LBS., 40 TIME: 5.15E

Losing veteran linemen Ruben Brown (LG) and Fred Miller (RT) only further decimates a line that wasn’t too impressive last season to begin with. The good news is that this year’s draft is loaded with talent at tackle. A lot of talk has been made to suggest current left tackle John Tait would benefit from a move to the right side. In that case, the Bears would be wise to select the player who could start at left tackle right away. Outside of Boise State’s Ryan Clady, who projects to be gone by pick 14, the best left tackle on the board is Vanderbilt’s Chris Williams. Williams is athletic, can handle edge speed, shows solid anchor strength and plays with great balance. In the last two seasons he has only allowed two sacks. (more…)

I almost don’t want to ask it. Really, I don’t — mainly out of fear that I might jinx him myself. Yet, like his extensive injury history, the question lingers. It lingers in the back of the minds of the entire Chicago Bears organization, their many fans and undoubtedly now, in the back of the mind of Mike Brown. Is Mike Brown going to stay healthy this year?

The last four years have been a nightmare for the 2000 second-round pick from Nebraska. In 2004, he played in almost two entire games before injurying his achilles. In 2005, a calf injury caused him to miss the final four games of the regular season and the home playoff loss to Carolina. 2006 wasn’t any better. He suffered a lisfranc fracture that sat him out for the remaining 10 regular season games and the postseason. And last year. How can we forget last year’s season opener against San Diego? Thanks to fullback Lorenzo Neal’s uncalled, and uncalled for, horsecollar takedown, Brown would see action in just three and a half quarters before being placed on injured reserve.

It is a sad story. It really is. It is sad because Mike Brown is a beast. When he is healthy, he is the leader of the defense, not Brian Urlacher. He plays with a careless intensity, a style succeded by the likes of Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu and Indianapolis’ Bob Sanders. At 30 years old, he should be in his prime, not contemplating retirement. (more…)

Why haven’t the Chicago Bears done anything to address their offensive line issues thus far in free agency? Maybe, it has something to do with the projected talent available in this year’s draft. There are as many as six offensive linemen that could go in the first round alone. Yet, with the Bears having many holes elsewhere, it would be smart to limit the number of picks spent to address each concern.

One way to do this would be to take one need, right tackle, off the table via free agency. Recently released ex-Charger Shane Olivea could fill the spot vacanted by Fred Miller. Olivea’s only 26 years old and has started all but 7 games in his four-year career. Olivea fell out out favor with Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith this season and subsequently, lost his job to Jeromy Clary. Some say there had been questions about Olivea’s desire after signing a six-year, $20 million extension in 2006; a deal that made him the sixth highest-paid right tackle in the NFL at the time. However, Olivea’s ability has never been put in question and a change of scenery and a chance to start over might suit him well.

Signing Olivea would mean that the Bears first priority in the draft would be to find a replacement for nine-time Pro Bowler Ruben Brown. With the 14th pick, the Bears would undoubtedly, then, pursue Virgina guard Branden Albert.

Furthermore, with three more picks in the first three rounds, the Bears could afford to look at other needs like wideout, running back, quarterback or defensive tackle.

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Continuing their wide receiver overhaul, the Chicago Bears have signed wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to a one-year deal. The addition is the second of its kind so far for Chicago, who inked wide receiver Marty Booker to a two-year deal on Tuesday. The Bears are obviously seeking to bolster a position that was left significantly weaker with the losses of both Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian this offseason.

The move will reunite Lloyd with former Illinois head coach, and current Bears offensive coordinator, Ron Turner. Lloyd was a standout on the Turner-led Illinois team from 1999-2002. Lloyd spent the last two seasons with the Washington Redskins after serving a three-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers. The ‘Niners selected Lloyd in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft.

The one-year deal insinuates the Bears would first like to see how well Lloyd performs in the offseason before making any long-term commitments to the talented, yet underachieving receiver.

The signing might also push back the urgency to draft a wideout for the Bears, who own four picks in the first three rounds of this year’s NFL draft.

The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with wide receiver Marty Booker. The move is expected to strengthen a receiving core that was left suddenly thin by the release of veteran Muhsin Muhammad and the subsequent loss of Bernard Berrian to free agency.

Booker comes from the Miami Dolphins where he spent the last four seasons. Originally a third round draft pick by the Bears in 1999, Booker was traded to the Dolphins in 2004 for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

The Bears are still expected to target a wide receiver in one of the first three rounds of this April’s draft. Booker joins Devin Hester, Mark Bradley, Mike Hass and Brandon Rideau as the only wideouts on the Bears’ current roster.