Hester | Cutler | Burress
...............Forte...............
Superbowl.
If Angelo adds WR, Bears see no trouble from Burress
June 4, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS [email protected]
Jerry Angelo's door remains open when it comes to adding a veteran wide receiver. Bears players would like to say ''come on in'' to Plaxico Burress.
The general manager has not ruled out anything, and in an offseason like none the franchise has seen, everything is in play eight weeks before training camp. That includes Burress, the former New York Giants receiver who remains without a team while the NFL waits to see how his gun charge proceeds in New York courts.
Burress could be the final piece in a vast reshaping of the roster over the last two months, keyed by the April 2 trade for quarterback Jay Cutler. It was shortly after the deal that Burress told Bears' radio sideline reporter Zach Zaidman that Cutler had made what amounted to a recruiting call. Why not? He's a big wide receiver with big-play credentials and he would instantly take pressure off Devin Hester and the unproven first- and second-year players Cutler otherwise will count on.
''I feel pretty comfortable with what we have here right now," Hester said. ''If we added Plaxico Burress, that's only going to build confidence even more. Why wouldn't he help us?''
On Wednesday, Angelo kept open the possibility of fortifying the position.
''I can't say that it's 50-50 or anything like that,'' he told the team's Web site. ''We plan on going into training camp with what we have right now.''
Just like the Bears planned on going with Kyle Orton as their quarterback. Things happened.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus did not return a phone call seeking comment, but he announced last week that three teams have inquired about Burress. They are believed to be the Bears, Jets and Buccaneers. If Angelo is going to make a late addition to the position, Burress is the most talented player available. He has averaged 15.5 yards per catch in his career.
His ability at 31 isn't the issue, it's whether he will be available. He faces up to 3½ years in jail for carrying an unlicensed handgun in Manhattan last November, the one that he accidentally put a hole in his leg with at a nightclub. Burress' next court date is June 15, and Giants play-by-play man Bob Papa reported he already has turned down a plea that would have put him behind bars for two months. It's not inconceivable that his legal situation will be resolved by the start of the season.
While the court side of this issue is the biggest hurdle, Burress also could face a suspension from commissioner Roger Goodell. But even if Burress is out till midseason, he could help in the stretch.
There have been reports that Burress was constantly at odds with Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Bears players in leadership roles don't foresee that as an issue.
''I have played here all my career so I don't know the standard anywhere else but the standard here is set and it's not going to change for anybody,'' defensive end Alex Brown said. ''If he comes here, then he'll have to do what we do and live up to those standards. Plax, hey, who wouldn't want that guy on their team? He's a great player.''
Tight end Desmond Clark said word is there aren't any problems with Burress.
''Talent is talent,'' Clark said. ''But the one thing you don't want are bad guys. Just from people I talk to, everybody says he is a really, really good guy.''
The Giants' offense wasn't the same last season minus Burress down the stretch, and teammates bemoaned his absence.
''If a guy like that gets in trouble and he's not around the team, if people didn't like him, they would take their shots at him right there,'' Clark said. ''Nobody took a shot at Plaxico. He's going to sign with somebody, no doubt, because he is a great talent.
''From everything I know, he just made a couple stupid mistakes. That doesn't make him a bad guy. If he was to come here, we would welcome him. Why wouldn't we?''
For now, Earl Bennett is projected to start opposite Hester. The Bears are banking on contributions from rookie Juaquin Iglesias and slot receiver Rashied Davis. Brandon Rideau and Johnny Knox are in the mix. Remember, Angelo acknowledged the Bears would have drafted a wide receiver in the first round had they not traded for Cutler. He wanted to upgrade the position.
''So far they have been making the right decisions on the guys they have been picking, so I am hopeful whatever they do works,'' Hester said. ''It's been a heck of an offseason so far. We're shooting for the Super Bowl.''
...............Forte...............
Superbowl.
If Angelo adds WR, Bears see no trouble from Burress
June 4, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS [email protected]
Jerry Angelo's door remains open when it comes to adding a veteran wide receiver. Bears players would like to say ''come on in'' to Plaxico Burress.
The general manager has not ruled out anything, and in an offseason like none the franchise has seen, everything is in play eight weeks before training camp. That includes Burress, the former New York Giants receiver who remains without a team while the NFL waits to see how his gun charge proceeds in New York courts.
Burress could be the final piece in a vast reshaping of the roster over the last two months, keyed by the April 2 trade for quarterback Jay Cutler. It was shortly after the deal that Burress told Bears' radio sideline reporter Zach Zaidman that Cutler had made what amounted to a recruiting call. Why not? He's a big wide receiver with big-play credentials and he would instantly take pressure off Devin Hester and the unproven first- and second-year players Cutler otherwise will count on.
''I feel pretty comfortable with what we have here right now," Hester said. ''If we added Plaxico Burress, that's only going to build confidence even more. Why wouldn't he help us?''
On Wednesday, Angelo kept open the possibility of fortifying the position.
''I can't say that it's 50-50 or anything like that,'' he told the team's Web site. ''We plan on going into training camp with what we have right now.''
Just like the Bears planned on going with Kyle Orton as their quarterback. Things happened.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus did not return a phone call seeking comment, but he announced last week that three teams have inquired about Burress. They are believed to be the Bears, Jets and Buccaneers. If Angelo is going to make a late addition to the position, Burress is the most talented player available. He has averaged 15.5 yards per catch in his career.
His ability at 31 isn't the issue, it's whether he will be available. He faces up to 3½ years in jail for carrying an unlicensed handgun in Manhattan last November, the one that he accidentally put a hole in his leg with at a nightclub. Burress' next court date is June 15, and Giants play-by-play man Bob Papa reported he already has turned down a plea that would have put him behind bars for two months. It's not inconceivable that his legal situation will be resolved by the start of the season.
While the court side of this issue is the biggest hurdle, Burress also could face a suspension from commissioner Roger Goodell. But even if Burress is out till midseason, he could help in the stretch.
There have been reports that Burress was constantly at odds with Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Bears players in leadership roles don't foresee that as an issue.
''I have played here all my career so I don't know the standard anywhere else but the standard here is set and it's not going to change for anybody,'' defensive end Alex Brown said. ''If he comes here, then he'll have to do what we do and live up to those standards. Plax, hey, who wouldn't want that guy on their team? He's a great player.''
Tight end Desmond Clark said word is there aren't any problems with Burress.
''Talent is talent,'' Clark said. ''But the one thing you don't want are bad guys. Just from people I talk to, everybody says he is a really, really good guy.''
The Giants' offense wasn't the same last season minus Burress down the stretch, and teammates bemoaned his absence.
''If a guy like that gets in trouble and he's not around the team, if people didn't like him, they would take their shots at him right there,'' Clark said. ''Nobody took a shot at Plaxico. He's going to sign with somebody, no doubt, because he is a great talent.
''From everything I know, he just made a couple stupid mistakes. That doesn't make him a bad guy. If he was to come here, we would welcome him. Why wouldn't we?''
For now, Earl Bennett is projected to start opposite Hester. The Bears are banking on contributions from rookie Juaquin Iglesias and slot receiver Rashied Davis. Brandon Rideau and Johnny Knox are in the mix. Remember, Angelo acknowledged the Bears would have drafted a wide receiver in the first round had they not traded for Cutler. He wanted to upgrade the position.
''So far they have been making the right decisions on the guys they have been picking, so I am hopeful whatever they do works,'' Hester said. ''It's been a heck of an offseason so far. We're shooting for the Super Bowl.''
