Martz And Bears Will Stay Away From 'Diva' Receivers
CHICAGO (WSCR) With reports that the NFL and NFL Players Associations are making progress towards a new collective bargaining agreement, teams may soon be able to address needs via free agency. For the Chicago Bears, there's a big need at receiver.
Back in February, the Bears signed Canadian receiver Andy Fantuz from the Canadian Football League, not exactly the big-name addition fans were hoping for.
"I don't want to discount the possibility that this guy could be a player," Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com, said on the Danny Mac Show. "Look at Cameron Wake, picked up from Canada and he's become a great pass rusher."
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Fantuz spent five years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and led the CFL with 1,380 yards receiving on 87 catches and six touchdowns this past season. Overall, he had 276 receptions for 4,136 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Bears fans want a proven No. 1 receiver, and there will be some available once free agency opens: Vincent Jackson, Sidney Rice, Terrell Owens and Mike Williams among them. But with those players comes plenty of baggage.
"I just don't think the Bears want to get caught up in that hype," Florio said. "And I think that Mike Martz prefers to have four or five deep of guys who can do the job, who aren't necessarily out there seeking the limelight.
"You know, even when Martz was in St. Louis and had Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce, those guys weren't the diva-type. And I think that's the problem: So many of the receivers today, especially the ones who are available in free agency and they want big money, they can come in and they can complicate the chemistry. And that may be what Martz and the Bears, primarily, are concerned about."
