Bears Blitz

Published by Jacob Nitzberg on July 1, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler says he is happy with the wide receivers currently on the Bears’ roster. 

“I’m 100 percent comfortable [with the wide receivers], I think we added some depth with some younger guys and then some of the older veterans are stepping up and playing well. So I think we’ve got more than enough to compete.”

That was the diplomatic, team-oriented, appropriate comment to make in that situation. The problem is, it’s not the truth.

As I’ve mentioned previously here, here and here, the Bears do not have the depth at WR necessary to be a championship contender.

Only two wide receivers on the current roster have caught a pass in their NFL careers, and one of those two, Rashied Davis, is not even assured of making the roster. 

What the Bears are missing from the roster is a big wideout, as their tallest receiver is 6’3″ (Brandon Rideau), and their biggest weighs in at 205 pounds (rookie Juaquin Iglesias).

While there has been discussion that the Bears are looking at former Giants WR Plaxico Burress, his pending legal issues are a large problem that the Bears do not want to deal with; and the front office has said they are not interested.

One other option is a 28-year-old, former No. 2 overall pick, who measures up at 6’3″ and 207 pounds. Sounds great until you hear his name: Charles Rogers.

After being drafted second overall by the Lions in 2003, Rogers played five games before missing the remainder of the season with a collarbone injury suffered in practice. Rogers missed the 2004 season after suffering a similar injury on the third play of the year.

In 2005, Rogers was suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and only started three games upon his return. In September, 2006, he was released by Detroit and hasn’t played in another NFL game.

Since being released, Rogers has had his off-field troubles, and was arrested in 2008 and served jail time earlier in 2009. After completing his sentence, Rogers claims he’s had a change of attitude and is in better shape than ever, ready for a tryout with an NFL team:

“If a team gives me a tryout, I know I’m going to be ready. I’m in better shape now than I was before.”

While words don’t put numbers on the field, there’s no denying what Rogers accomplished during his time at Michigan State. 

Rogers set the NCAA record for consecutive regular season games with a touchdown reception and was Michigan State’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (27) and 100-yard receiving games (12). In his junior and final season, Rogers had 68 receptions for 1,351 yards, 13 TD, and was named both an All-Conference and All-American selection.

Clearly, there is at least one reason that no NFL team has even called him looking for a tryout. He is undoubtedly a step or two slower than the 4.28 40-yard dash he ran back at the NFL Combine, but seeing as how he would have the third-most career receptions on the current Bears’ roster, it might make sense to at least give him a look.

I’m not trying to say that the Bears should offer him a contract, but it couldn’t hurt to at least bring him in for a workout to see what he’s got left in the tank.

Quotes from chicagosuntimes.com and mlive.com