Bears Blitz

Published by Ed Leiser on June 8, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Too many times in the NFL and sports in general, we hear about players fussing and feuding with their general managers, coaches, teammates, etc. about being appreciated or, “feeling the love” that they think they warrant.

You know about Brandon Marshall, the former Broncos’ superstar wide receiver now with the Miami Dolphins, who didn’t feel wanted or loved in Denver?

Marshall made it very clear he wanted out, and Denver complied.

Another ex-Bronco, Jay Cutler, felt the same way a year ago in Denver, and demanded to be traded to a team that wanted him.

One of Cutler’s current teammates, Greg Olsen, has reason to feel just as bitter as Marshall and Cutler were before him—but Olsen has taken a different approach this offseason.

Get this: he’s kept his mouth shut and focused on football.

Shocking, isn’t it?

We as fans are so accustomed to hearing about disgruntled players seeking new destinations that we tend to overlook a player like Olsen who does the good thing, the noble thing.

Olsen has been a topic of trade discussion for much of the offseason, as new offensive coordinator Mike Martz has begun to install his system into the Halas Hall playbooks.

Many thought (or, think) that Olsen will be the odd man out, and that his skills don’t gel with what Martz wants to do.

Maybe that’s the case—we won’t know until Week One what Martz has in store for Olsen and the Bears’ offense.

The addition of tight end Brandon Manumaleuna only fueled speculation that Olsen’s days in a Bears uniform were numbered.

But the NFL draft came and went, and voluntary offseason workouts have also expired, yet Olsen remains a Chicago Bear.

And at no point among this time frame did anyone hear a peep out of Olsen that would suggest he was unhappy with his situation.

The Bears’ tight end rotation is now especially crowded as newcomer Manumaleuna joins holdovers Olsen, Desmond Clark, and Kellen Davis, yet Olsen dismissed reports that he would be dealt and that he was unhappy.

Why do we focus only on disgruntled, spoiled players, and not give a player like Olsen the respect and admiration he deserves?

Maybe it’s because Olsen didn’t necessarily do anything—which is exactly what he is supposed to do, rather than stir the pot of controversy.

Olsen electing to focus his time on improving his game and body should be followed by all players, but sadly, we know it won’t be.

Olsen lets his play on the field do the talking and last year it did plenty.

He finished in the top 10 among all NFL tight ends in receptions and tied for fourth in touchdowns with eight.

He has 114 receptions over the last two seasons, finding the end zone 13 times.

You have to go all the way back to Mike Ditka to find a more productive Bears’ tight end in his first three NFL seasons.

But people seem to want more out of Olsen, prompting the rumors that he’d be traded.

As a former first-round draft pick, it’s understandable to think Olsen could do more, but the numbers so far have been far above average.

You almost wonder if people want Olsen to speak up and say he wants out—that would certainly make it easier for management to get rid of him.

Olsen won’t take the bait, however.

He keeps things in perspective and knows he’s lucky to be playing in the NFL.

The Bears, in return, are lucky to have him.

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