Bears Fantasy News

Matt Forte to see increased role in passing game
Thursday, May 16, 2013, 10:54am

RB Matt Forte says new HC Marc Trestman told him he’s watched a lot of film of Forte running a lot of different kinds of routes and that the Bears plan to incorporate a lot of them into their offense. That’s left Forte with “challenging” work to do to prepare himself for a return to a more versatile offensive role.

“It’s easy to learn what you do, but to actually have to learn the concepts of what the receivers are doing and why I have to run this route to get that guy open … it makes it more difficult, but also more intriguing as a player,” Forte said, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. “I have to learn more than what the ‘H’ does. I’ve got to learn what the ‘F’ does, (and) where he lines up because I may have a situation where I line up as a receiver. I have to learn the receivers’ routes as well.”

An increased role for Forte as a receiver out of the backfield fits with what we’ve heard about shorter drops and quicker throws from the Bears offense this season. It also sounds better than what the team was trying in 2012, although the talk out of Bears camp this year sounded a lot better than the offense looked in 2011. The proof will come in a few months, likely with a healthy serving of Forte as receiver in the mix.

Thursday, April 25, 2013, 2:11pm

Bears WR Brandon Marshall ran routes this week. He says he is around 80-90% recovered from hip surgery.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 10:15am

When he received an invitation to train with Brandon Marshall in South Florida, Bears second-year receiver Alshon Jeffery automatically accepted.

“I just wanted to learn from someone different and do things different,” Jeffery said. “Plus, he’s a Pro Bowl player. I want to see what it takes.”

When he arrived at Fit Speed, Jeffery weighed in at 225 pounds with a body fat percentage of 11 or 12 percent. When he checked out a few weeks ago, Jeffery weighed 219 pounds with eight percent body fat.

“Alshon made tremendous strides,” said Matt Gates, Fit Speed’s co-owner and director. “He’s a really good kid, a really hard worker. He doesn’t say much, but I like that.”

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 10:06am

The diligent side of tight end Martellus Bennett — quarterback Jay Cutler’s new big weapon — has emerged during the Bears’ voluntary minicamp, erasing any concerns about how his eccentric, outgoing personality would blend into the Bears locker room.

‘‘He’s a student,” Bears tight end coach Andy Bischoff said Thursday after the third day of minicamp. ‘‘He’s writing everything down. He’s asking questions. He wants to be coached. Really, in every possible way, he’s been a joy.’’

Jordan Cameron slated to start for Browns
Sunday, April 14, 2013, 10:13pm

Browns HC Rob Chudzinski and OC Norv Turner know tight ends, with Chud having played the position at the University of Miami and the two of them coaching Pro Bowlers Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow. They've identified Jordan Cameron as their starter for 2013, with Kellen Davis and Gary Barnidge playing reserve roles. Expect Cameron to take a big step this year and have plenty of production in this tight-end friendly offense.

Browns sign big slot receiver David Nelson
Monday, April 8, 2013, 10:48pm

Former Bills WR David Nelson reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.

TE Jordan Cameron likely to start for the Browns
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 11:41am

The Browns signed tight ends Kellen Davis and Gary Barnidge this offseason. They consider Jordan Cameron the favorite to start at tight end with Davis and Barnidge providing depth.

Friday, March 22, 2013, 6:55pm

TE Kellen Davis signs a one-year deal with the Browns, per league source.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 1:32pm

Bears HC Marc Trestman isn't sure if Devin Hester will even practice with receivers, let alone play there. Purely a returner now.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 1:31pm

New Bears HC Marc Trestman expects WR Alshon Jeffery to be a starter.

Giants sign TE Brandon Myers
Sunday, March 17, 2013, 10:56am

The Giants have a new starting tight end: Brandon Myers, who is coming off a career year with the Raiders.

Myers agreed to sign with the Giants after a visit today, a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed.

Myers replaces Martellus Bennett, who left for the Bears on the first day of free agency. The 27-year-old had 79 catches for 806 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Raiders. The Giants liked Myers (6-foot-3, 256 pounds) so much, they didn't let him end his visit without agreeing to a deal.

The Giants sounded like they might move forward at tight end with former fourth-round pick Adrien Robinson or a draft pick, but Myers is an intriguing addition to work with quarterback Eli Manning and veteran tight ends coach Mike Pope.

Bears sign Martellus Bennett for four years
Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 5:00pm

Former Giants tight end Martellus Bennett reached agreement with Bears on a four-year deal.

Thursday, February 14, 2013, 10:35am

Ex-Bears WR Johnny Knox looks like he’s in game-shape when he appears in the dimly-lit entrance of a Chicago hotel restaurant Wednesday morning.

Except the always lean receiver walks with a limp, and he struggles to sit or stand comfortably, the lingering effects of a devastating hit he endured at Soldier Field 13 ½ months ago.

Yet Knox counts his blessings and not his challenges, even as he exclusively tells the Sun-Times that his football career is over.

“As an athlete, you don’t want to give up, you want to keep on fighting. That’s how I’ve always been,” Knox says. “But it’s been on my heart for a while. I know how my body feels, and I know I’m not going to be the same and perform at the ability that I used to.

“So I’m moving on and going forward.”

Saturday, February 2, 2013, 12:00pm

Although Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall remains on crutches following arthroscopic hip surgery, he said he plans to mentor second-year wideout Alshon Jeffery this offseason and will begin training with him on Monday in South Florida.

"I'm excited because this kid has the potential to be an All-Pro one year," Marshall said of Jeffery Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "If he just changes some little things, the way he approaches the game as far as physically and mentally, he's going to be a beast. Because he has that dog in him, he has that in him, that you want in a receiver ... a guy who is going to make plays for you.

"For me, I always started training the week after the Super Bowl, and he's going into his second year so it shouldn't be a problem for him. As I'm getting a little older, I have to change the way I attack it. Starting off, our routines will be a little different, but just getting him with the right people, nutritionists, trainer, chiropractors and all that stuff. (It's about) showing him the other side of the business, showing him it's not just about coming to work and going on the field. There is so much more to the game that will allow you to be successful if you just do it. I'm excited to have this position."

Saturday, February 2, 2013, 11:14am

Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young said Friday that he hopes Bears QB Jay Cutler realizes the opportunity he has to succeed under new coach Marc Trestman.

Young was one of the biggest proponents of the Chicago Bears hiring Trestman to replace Lovie Smith. Trestman was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator for 1995 and '96 with Young at quarterback.

"I'm excited about it," Young said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I'm excited for Marc. And I stand by everything I said before. He's ready to do this.

"Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, player or coach, but I'm hopeful that Jay Cutler decides that this is a great opportunity for him and will put the time in and the effort. I think he will. I think he has in the past but he'll really get the fruits of it if he does the boring things for the next three or four months. And he'll emerge as a much more disciplined quarterback. He's already good, and he'll be great. I hope that's the biggest change you'll see."