Bears acquire hunter, fisher, Packers fan: Dan Buenning
It’s official: the word bolstered is thrown around way too much. So much so that it is used by the Bears’ official Web site to describe the impact the team’s acquisition of guard Dan Buenning from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make to their offensive line.
Buenning’s career started out successfully enough. A 2005 fourth-round draft pick, he started every game at left guard as a rookie and helped enable fellow rookie Cadillac Williams’ 1,100-yard season.
But in 2006, Buenning injured his right ACL in the ninth game of the year and was placed on injured reserve. He hasn’t played since.
So, to enter back into reality: A trade for a Steve Hutchinson or an Alan Faneca can be described as bolstering. A trade for Dan Buenning can not. However, what it can do is give the team much needed insurance in case any other O-lineman decides being injured is fun, or if and when, starting left guard Josh Beekman fails epically.
Besides giving up an undisclosed 2009 draft pick to get the outdoorsy Green Bay native (see his Wikipedia page), to make room for him on the roster the Bears chose to part ways with rookie cornerback Zach Bowman.
Bowman free fell to the fifth round of the draft after his one time best-corner-in-the-country status was besetted by major injuries. The good news, at least, is that should Bowman clear waivers, he is elgible for the practice squad and the team has one more vacancy left to fill.
