How Chicago Bears’ Signing of Brandon Manumaleuna Affects Olsen, Clark
Published by Bob Warja on March 5, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Bears have signed former San Diego Chargers tight end Brandon Manumaleuna to a five-year contract.
So, does this signal the end of Desmond Clark’s time with the team? Does it indicate a trade of Greg Olsen is in the works?
Probably not.
Manumaleuna was acquired to be the blocking tight end that new offensive coordinator Mike Martz covets in his five and seven step drop packages.
Instead of Greg Olsen allowing Jay Cutler to get killed, Manumaleuna will do what a tight end is actually supposed to do—protect in passing downs.
We all know that Olsen is not a blocking tight end. But, he has value in this offense. In fact, this signing frees Olsen up to go out as a fourth receiver in passing situations.
When Martz first came on board, there was rampant speculation that Olsen didn’t fit the teams plans because Martz prefers to line up three true wide receivers.
But, this signing may not mean the end of Olsen as an offensive weapon. Freed of blocking assignments, and with him no longer serving as Cutler’s primary option, he should be open more than he was last season.
For his part, he has indicated he wants the team to explore a trade. But would it be worth it?
Consider how little Arizona received for Anquan Boldin. A third and fourth round pick plus they had to surrender their own fifth round pick? And Olsen is not going to demand what Boldin did.
But what about Dez Clark? Well, apparently he’s going to stay too.
Clark picked up a $475,000 bonus for being on the 80-man roster Friday, so if the Bears were going to release him, you figure that would have happened before today.
In fact, Clark’s deal was structured to avoid a hefty payout this season, thus avoiding the temptation to cut him.
So, the Bears really will have Manumaleuna and Olsen and Clark. At least that’s the way it appears right now.
Meanwhile, this free agency period should be exciting. The Bears have Julius Peppers coming to Chicago, so talks to sign the monster defensive end appear to be very serious.
Stay tuned, Bears fans…
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