Thread: No QB Controversy, We Have a WR Controversy................................

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Interesting sound bite played this morning

Reporter: how do you think that came out

Knox: not the way I wanted it to


Hmmmmm

Benji I was a little harsh yesterday when I accused you of being pigheaded about your opinions. That was wrong of me and I apologize for it. Opinions are just that and they're not wrong, they're just an opinion and mine differ from your that's all. You are one stubborn SOB though, I'll give you that. LOL

I think his comments this AM mean that whatever he said was misinterpreted. Look, here's what he's quoted as saying as posted on the Official Site today. I think this should clear it up. As he says, "he didn't say anything about being traded and he doesn't want to be traded".

ChicagoBears.com senior writer Larry Mayer is blogging live from training camp in Bourbonnais, IL.
August 11, 2011 View today's Daily Blog

Knox refutes trade report


Posted: 8/11/2011 6:57:00 PM
Bears receiver Johnny Knox on Thursday refuted a Chicago Tribune report indicating that he may want to be traded if he isn’t able to beat out veteran Roy Williams for a starting position.

“I’m a Bear and I want to stay a Bear,” Knox said after practice. “I didn’t say anything about wanting to be traded. I got drafted here. I want to finish here and I do not want to be traded.”

The article, which cited an unnamed source, came after Knox was listed behind Williams on the first unofficial depth chart the Bears released Wednesday. Knox insisted that he’s not frustrated and realizes that he’ll have to continually prove himself to earn playing time.
“It’s always going to be like that every year,” Knox said. “They bring new guys in; they’ll get somebody better than you. I understand that. This is the NFL. You have to keep playing and use it as motivation to get better.”

Regardless of whether Knox starts, he’ll most likely still be given plenty of opportunities to contribute in coordinator Mike Martz’s offense, which is known for its multi-receiver sets.

“I think it’s fairly obvious how we feel about Johnny. Johnny is a big part of what we’re going to do,” coach Lovie Smith told reporters. “You guys are making a story out of [Knox being listed as a second-stringer]. That’s no story.

“We have a starting rotation. We have to put out a depth chart. We brought Roy Williams in here; Roy’s a good football player. All guys will get reps and prove where they belong; whether they’re going to dress on game day, whether they’re going to be in the starting lineup. It’s that way for Johnny and everyone else.

“You have to start off somewhere. It’s no more than that. We’re a little early to start running somebody out of town or putting someone up top or anything like that. We’re not there yet. This is just a part of the evaluation process.”

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

Didn't Olsen's agent, the day before no less, send an email to every GM that Olsen was to be traded, only to recant?

They never recanted, they were told to hold up until permission was given. Apparently JA didn't believe that he'd given them official permission to seek a trade and we all know how Rosenhaus works. I think it was little more than a power game between the two.

My point was that Olsen did ask for a trade when Martz was hired but was denied. That was never confirmed by anyone until JA brought it up after the Olsen trade and Olsen did not deny it then. Besides this has nothing to do with whatever Knox said or didn't say. I think he made his position pretty clear in the post I made above.

Benji, Henry, seems we're not the only ones whose opinions differ relative to Olsen and his request for a trade. Even Olsen and Angelo don't see it the same way. Personally I tend not to believe "Slick" and to believe Olsen but what's said and what's heard are often pretty far apart. That may well be the case here but what Olsen says still makes sense about JA trying to dodge the heat after an unpopular move.


Olsen denies he wanted trade


Greg Olsen during training camp with the Panthers at Wofford College. (Streeter Lecka, Getty Images / August 3, 2011)

By Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune reporter 12:22 a.m. CDT, August 12, 2011


SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Greg Olsen is happy to be a Panther, but he claims it was not his idea to become a former Bear.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo recently said the tight end "came at me hard last year" for a trade.

Olsen's recollection is different.

"I'm the last one to go to the media and make big spectacles, but sometimes when things aren't right, it's hard to keep your mouth shut," Olsen said in the lunch hall at Wofford College during a break from practice at the Panthers' training camp. "(Angelo) put the perception out that I forced my way out of there, which wasn't true at all.

"He called me into his office before the draft last year to talk about things that were going on, what they were thinking. He straight up told me, 'I understand this offense is not a good fit for you.' I said, 'I understand that Jerry, I agree.' He said, 'But we are not going to trade you, we are keeping you.'

"I never asked for a trade. If he had said, 'We are going to try to get rid of you,' I would have said, 'That's fine.' I did not go in his office and ask for a trade. I think a little bit of that is him trying to make it look like I tried to force my way out because they took so much heat about it. It's just not true."

Angelo on Thursday maintained his version.

"Greg and I had numerous conversations prior to the 2010 season about his status with the Bears, both over the phone and in person," Angelo said. "I spoke with his agent as well. In everybody's best interests, we made a decision that benefited both parties. I stand by what I said."

Olsen said he went to Halas Hall to talk with Angelo and coach Lovie Smith after offensive coordinator Mike Martz was hired to see what his role would be. After that, Olsen tried to make the best of the situation.

"I played 90 percent of the snaps, did everything they asked," Olsen said. "If they threw me the ball, I caught it. If they asked me to pass block, I did it, run block at fullback. After the season they told me how good a job I did and how much of a team guy I was. They said they understood it wasn't easy and they were going to reward me as things progressed. They didn't."

Olsen was entering the final year of his contract and wanted an extension, but he said if he wanted to force a trade he wouldn't have shown up at camp. Olsen reported two days before to take his physical.

The former first-round draft pick doesn't dispute the notion he wasn't thrilled with his role in Martz's offense.

"There's no question I wasn't happy catching only 40 passes after the previous two years," he said. "It was pretty clear when Mike was hired it was going to be a different role. But I embraced that and was the bigger man. I tried to do the best I could and think I played well."

In fact, Olsen understands the philosophy of Martz's offense.

"It's a great offense, and he's a very good offensive mind," he said. "It's just not an offense that prioritizes the tight end in the passing game. That's just a fact. With what he does with receivers and running backs, those guys should die to play for him. He does a great job, he knows football. But it's not a place where a tight end is ever going to go to a Pro Bowl."

Olsen's departure was felt in the Bears locker room. In Bourbonnais, Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher acknowledged it bothered him and he didn't see it coming.

"They'll use him," Urlacher said. "They'll spread him out. They'll move him around. I understand about guys fitting systems. I'm no offensive guy, but we have a system and I guess we use tight ends in a certain way. And I guess he didn't fit that role."

Tribune reporter Vaughn McClure contributed.

danpompei@tribune.com

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