Randle El

Will someone please explain to me why Antwaan Randle El is suddenly the best and brightest football player than money can buy?

Look, Randle El made a spectacular pass during the Super Bowl and he is great at gadget tricks since he is a multi-tool player, but he simply is not that great of a WR. To quote our friends at Random Thoughts:

Quick, somebody tell me what the following three players have in common...Brian Finneran, Kevin Curtis and Randle El's teammate Cedrick Wilson. And what do the following three players have in common...Shaun McDonald, Jabar Gaffney, and Scott Vines? Finally, how about the following three...D.J. Hackett, Devery Henderson and, yes, Justin Gage.The answers? The first group had more receiving yards last year than Antwaan's 558. The second had more catches than Antwaan's 35. And the third had more TDs than Randle El's one.

The spectacular receivers on the foregoing list do not even include Reggie Wayne, he of the Indianapolis Colts. Wayne is a terrific wide receiver who had over 80 catches last year and has emerged as a reliable and strong receiver upon whom Peyton Manning can rely. And you know what, Reggie Wayne is also a free agent this year!

Why have sportswriters in Chicago fallen in love with Randle El in favor of the more accomplished (individually) Wayne? Please tell me there is more to their infatuation than the fact that Randle El is a hometown product. We are creating a football team here, not a class reunion committee.

I know there is a chance that Reggie Wayne could become the next Peerless Price or Alvin Harper. But I think the odds of that happening with Wayne are significantly less than with Randle El. I would hate to spend a huge signing bonus and millions of dollars on a special teams standout who catches the occasional pass and is good a gadget tricks - the Bears are too vanilla to pull them off anyway.

Do the Bears need a kick returner? No. Bernard Berrian has proven that he has the focus and speed to be successful at this role. Do the Bears need a new legit wide receive? Probably. Mark Bradley was beginning to emerge as a consistent receiver before injuring his knee. The aforementioned Berrian can stretch the field as well as anyone. Muhammad is a pretty good possession receiver. Justin Gage is inconsistent.

Overall, I think the debate is silly since the Bears are in greater need of an impact tight end and depth in the secondary. Heck, I would rather spend money on more depth at offensive line than to sign Randle El for the amount he is expected to receive.

So Jerry Angelo, if you are listening out there, please show me that you have not lost your mind in a myopic dash to sign an average wide receiver. If you have to throw money at that position, Reggie Wayne would be a much better catch.