Tribune article about WR's available

November 29, 200817 yr

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...,3668024.column

Many teams hunting for prized receivers, though list is short on talent

Bears are among many teams with a pressing need

Dan Pompei | On the NFL

9:10 PM CST, November 27, 2008

If there were a wide-receiver store, NFL teams would line up around the block waiting to get in like shoppers at dawn on Black Friday.

And no one would be offering discounts, coupons or all-day savings passes.

It will be a seller's market for wide receivers this off-season. Joining the Bears going shopping could be the Eagles, Jaguars, Raiders, Titans, Redskins, Bucs, 49ers, Lions and others.

They will find a group that has been picked over before the stores open. Roy Williams already was traded to the Cowboys. Marques Colston and Michael Jenkins signed contract extensions with the Saints and Falcons, respectively. And more players undoubtedly will be taken off the market by the start of free agency in March.

Here is a look at what could be available to the Bears.

Unrestricted free agents

The best way to get a wide receiver typically is through unrestricted free agency. You may overpay, but at least you get a good feel for what you are purchasing.

This is a fairly weak group, with only one star: T.J. Houshmandzadeh of the Bengals. Among the other players scheduled to be unrestricted are Jacksonville's Reggie Williams, Tampa Bay's Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton, Tennessee's Brandon Jones and Justin McCareins, New Orleans' Devery Henderson, Pittsburgh's Nate Washington, Oakland's Drew Carter and Ashley Lelie, Detroit's Shaun McDonald, San Francisco's Bryant Johnson and Seattle's Bobby Engram.

Houshmandzadeh is third in the NFL in receptions even though Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer has been injured most of the year. Last year Houshmandzadeh led the NFL in catches and was named to the Pro Bowl.

The 31-year-old is peaking late in his career. In some ways, he is a lot like Muhsin Muhammad when the Bears signed him to a rich free-agent deal in 2005. Houshmandzadeh isn't the fastest or most gifted receiver, but he is a savvy veteran who knows how to get open.

Assuming the Bengals don't re-sign or tag Houshmandzadeh, signing him would be a good move for the Bears — though they undoubtedly would have to overpay.

Bryant and Jones are their teams' leading wide receivers this season. But given their spotty histories, teams should be cautious with them. Williams and Clayton are former first-round picks who have not played like first-round picks.

Restricted free agents

This is an interesting group. Of course, there is a good chance none of them will change teams, because doing so would require compensating the player's original team with a draft pick — and probably a first-round pick if the player is valued by his original team.

Among those scheduled to be restricted free agents are:

• Lance Moore, who has 57 catches for 724 yards with Drew Brees throwing to him in New Orleans.

• Ruvell Martin, a talented player who is buried on the Packers' depth chart.

• Hank Baskett, who stands 6 feet 4 inches, averages 16 yards per catch for the Eagles and dates former Playboy bunny Kendra Wilkinson.

• Demetrius Williams, an explosive player who never has hit his stride in Baltimore.

• And the Cowboys' promising duo of Miles Austin and Sam Hurd.

Trade

Two big-name wide receivers could be traded in the off-season. The most attractive is Anquan Boldin. He has asked for a new contract or a new home, but the Cardinals have indicated they are not inclined to oblige him with either anytime soon.

But the development of Steve Breaston could make it logical for Arizona to deal Boldin for a first-round pick. And Boldin unquestionably would be worth a first-round pick.

The Bengals are believed to have turned down a first-round pick for Chad Ocho Cinco last off-season. Perhaps next off-season, they would be more receptive to such an offer. Then again, maybe they will give another team their first-round pick just to take him off their hands.

Ocho Cinco is a special talent, but he is a very high-maintenance player who causes headaches on both sidelines.

Players who get cut

Among those who could fall into this category are Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Javon Walker of the Raiders, Jerry Porter of the Jaguars and Ernest Wilford of the Dolphins.

You wouldn't want to give big money to any of them.

First round of the draft

The way it looks now, no seniors are worth taking in the first round. But four underclassmen who are considering leaving school early should be first-round picks: Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, Missouri's Jeremy Maclin, Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey and Florida's Percy Harvin.

Selecting a wide receiver high in the draft is risky. There typically are more misses on wide receivers than there are on players at any other position, particularly among underclassmen.

And even if these players become good pros, it might take a couple of years for them to develop.

Taking a wide receiver in the first round probably should be a last option. Unless, of course, you are looking for the next David Terrell.

Quote

Report

November 29, 200817 yr

Read that one yesterday. Have to say it made me feel a bit queezy. I can see JA signing another Moose wannabe and us being no better than before. Hopefully we can get the young WRs we already have into some action. How the hell else can we decide whether they should be taking up space on the roster/PS or just cut them and bring in another batch?

Quote