Thread: Lovie wouldn't mind a bigger WR

No. 1 receiver not Angelo's No. 1 priority

Bears GM says they are hard to find and team is happy with receiver corps

By Brad Biggs, Tribune Reporter 6:48 p.m. CDT, April 21, 2011


The Bears' search for a No. 1 wide receiver continues, but Jerry Angelo doesn't see any solutions in the draft.

The general manager didn't rule out the possibility of finding a bigger target, the kind that has been missing on the roster.

"We'd like to get the big receiver like everybody," Angelo said. "So much has been made about the No. 1 receiver. Hard to find a No. 1 receiver. We've looked at the position hard. I don't anticipate that we see anybody that is going to fit that definition, but we do like the receiver group given how they complement what we have.

"I don't think the Giants have had a Pro Bowl receiver, at least in the last 20 years. They have always had a pretty good offense. When we were in Tampa, our offense wasn't stellar, but I just don't want to overrate the position and we certainly like our receiver corps and we certainly want to build on it, but that's not the end all."


It's hard to overrate the position, though, when it's a passing league and the team has put so much of its future in the performance of quarterback Jay Cutler.

Getting under the hood: North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin has been linked to the Bears in some mock drafts, and coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli both went in for a close look at him. There are character concerns as Austin missed all of last season because of an inappropriate relationship with an agent.

"We feel real good about how we feel about him and knowing him," Angelo said. "We're not looking for halo players. We're in a business to win football games. But we have to know what's underneath the hood. He's a great player, but there were concerns. We're satisfied we know them."

Angelo said Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod has longer arms than Bears 2008 first-round pick Chris Williams but is not as athletic, hinting that potentially he would be a right tackle. Another possibility on the line with the 29th pick is Baylor guard Danny Watkins. But the former firefighter from Canada turns 27 in November.

"Players play into their 30s at that position," Angelo said. "You could even say into their mid-30s and still play good football. I don't think it's a red flag."

Looking at London: Angelo said the Oct. 23 game with the Buccaneers at London's Wembley Stadium shouldn't be disruptive because the team is off the following week.

"We'll obviously do a lot of homework on it," he said. "The good news is I can speak the language. I'm looking for the positives right now and that was the first one on my list. I talked to (Patriots coach Bill) Belichick at the owners meeting. They went (in 2009). He said logistically it's a little challenging."

Originally Posted by Dagan81

[I][B]

Wide receiver is realistically our number three priority, but there are certainly players out on the market to be had if things shape up the way you hope they will, DB. I would prefer Sidney Rice, who is like 6'4" and, when healthy, is as good as any wide receiver in the business. What I'm hoping is to get him at, believe it or not, a reduced price from what he will ask for because of his injury-plagued 2010 season. He may come off his high-horse a little bit if teams aren't willing to fork out huge sums of cash out for his services right away.

However, I have to say that something Jerry Angelo said - that wide receiver is not a position of particular worry and that he didn't want to "overrate" the position of a number one WR - worries me. You treat all problems with great care, and I think he is haphazardly going about all of this with a wide receiver. We have a golden opportunity in free agency to get one of two sizable receivers (Rice and Floyd), so I sincerely hope he doesn't screw this up by not pursuing this opportunity.

I completely agree with this. WR is a major priority just below OT & DT. The only difference is that it is best met in FA rather than the draft as we are nowhere near high enough to be able to pick a WR who is gonna make an impact in 2011. Floyd or Rice is a must pickup in FA.

I can see going after a developmental big-WR in the back half of the draft...and players like Pettis, Little, Tolliver, etc., would be potential candidates. Hankerson & Baldwin are gonna be gone by the end of #2.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

[I][B]

Wide receiver is realistically our number three priority, but there are certainly players out on the market to be had if things shape up the way you hope they will, DB. I would prefer Sidney Rice, who is like 6'4" and, when healthy, is as good as any wide receiver in the business. What I'm hoping is to get him at, believe it or not, a reduced price from what he will ask for because of his injury-plagued 2010 season. He may come off his high-horse a little bit if teams aren't willing to fork out huge sums of cash out for his services right away.

However, I have to say that something Jerry Angelo said - that wide receiver is not a position of particular worry and that he didn't want to "overrate" the position of a number one WR - worries me. You treat all problems with great care, and I think he is haphazardly going about all of this with a wide receiver. We have a golden opportunity in free agency to get one of two sizable receivers (Rice and Floyd), so I sincerely hope he doesn't screw this up by not pursuing this opportunity.

Angelo is is "gm draft mode", here i'd not take anythign said as serious.. he may have someone like little targeted, but the LAST THING , you want to hear from him, is that WR is important.. so that other teams 'thinking" WR, don't either jump in front of bears, or think can wait to later, becuase a team like bears, isnt taking a WR..like a game of poker.. you keep cards close to vest and do not want any 'tells" this time of year

Originally Posted by MPBears68

I completely agree with this. WR is a major priority just below OT & DT. The only difference is that it is best met in FA rather than the draft as we are nowhere near high enough to be able to pick a WR who is gonna make an impact in 2011. Floyd or Rice is a must pickup in FA.

I can see going after a developmental big-WR in the back half of the draft...and players like Pettis, Little, Tolliver, etc., would be potential candidates. Hankerson & Baldwin are gonna be gone by the end of #2.

If they treat the 2011 season under 2010 rules Rice will still be restricted but Floyd will be there and much like we did with Peppers you earmark him for a hot fast pursuit. Now that we have a top flight QB I think WR will be less hesitant to come to the Bears especially if they know they'll compete for the #1 slot.

Depending on how the draft goes I still might be looking at CB's before wideouts because I think we can get a guy like Knox (only bigger) in the 4th or 5th round. Pettis' name has come up often.

Originally Posted by soulman

If they treat the 2011 season under 2010 rules Rice will still be restricted but Floyd will be there and much like we did with Peppers you earmark him for a hot fast pursuit. Now that we have a top flight QB I think WR will be less hesitant to come to the Bears especially if they know they'll compete for the #1 slot.

Depending on how the draft goes I still might be looking at CB's before wideouts because I think we can get a guy like Knox (only bigger) in the 4th or 5th round. Pettis' name has come up often.

more and more warning up to the flyod in F/A nd pettis in draft scenerio

Originally Posted by dabears54

more and more warning up to the flyod in F/A nd pettis in draft scenerio

I'm thinking that as long as the offer is competitive Floyd would be glad to come to a Super Bowl contender and play catch with Cutler. The fact that we have a QB like him should make a big difference in how FA wideouts like Floyd perceive the opportunity to become a Bear. And for some reason I just have a good feeling about Pettis, although not like WRJ feeling good about how I feel about Austin.

We have yet to have any real success with the BSU guys we've drafted but this may be the time when we break that mold. He seems to be a perfect fit for the team and for Culter. If he can play behind Floyd for a couple of years that should be a big plus as well.

Originally Posted by soulman

I'm thinking that as long as the offer is competitive Floyd would be glad to come to a Super Bowl contender and play catch with Cutler. The fact that we have a QB like him should make a big difference in how FA wideouts like Floyd perceive the opportunity to become a Bear. And for some reason I just have a good feeling about Pettis, although not like WRJ feeling good about how I feel about Austin.

We have yet to have any real success with the BSU guys we've drafted but this may be the time when we break that mold. He seems to be a perfect fit for the team and for Culter. If he can play behind Floyd for a couple of years that should be a big plus as well.

agree 100%!.. and its one of the "side benefits' of having a Cutler here , instead of the usual bear drek of grossman, orton, crmbles etc.. that WR actually want to play with him and not run from the team..