During this football offseason the Chicago Bears have been linked to quite a few different wide receivers. Immediately after the NFL season ended there was word that the Arizona Cardinals were open to trading Anquan Boldin. The Bears were involved in these talks, though we don't know how involved, but nothing came of it. Then they shocked the world by trading for Jay Cutler, and talks about Boldin disappeared because the team had nothing left to trade for him.
As the NFL draft approached last month, word once again came out of Arizona that the Cardinals were looking to trade Boldin, and had lowered the asking price. Again, Jerry Angelo made some calls but nothing could be worked out. There was also talk of signing Torry Holt, a standout with the Rams who had recently been cut due to salary cap problems.
The Bears had just signed another Rams cap casualty in left tackle Orlando Pace, and despite all of his lobbying efforts to get his friend to Chicago, Holt eventually signed with the Jaguars.
Now it's been a few weeks since the Bears were linked to a possible receiver, so we were due for some more rumors, and like clock work, they're here. Apparently there's some interest in former New York Giant and Michigan Wolverine Amani Toomer.
Steve Wyche reported Thursday night on NFL Network's Total Access that the Bears recently placed a call about former Giants receiver Amani Toomer. Wyche was careful to say that "nothing is imminent," but that interest in Toomer has picked up around the league.
A source close to the player [Friday] morning also described the Bears' interest level as "nothing substantial," but it certainly is worth keeping a close eye on. Toomer spent 13 years with the Giants, catching 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns in 2008.
Now much like Holt, Toomer is not a long-term solution at receiver. He's 34 years old and obviously on the downside of his career. Still, he could be a nice addition to the roster and help mentor the Bears very young receiving corps. After all, after spending his entire career playing with the Giants, we know he can handle the cold weather conditions so common at Soldier Field.
He also may not be as polished as another free agent, Marvin Harrison, but Toomer's price tag is a lot lower than the older Harrison. So while he's not a difference-maker on the field, Toomer could supply Jay Cutler with a big target and help the other receivers adapt to the NFL game a lot quicker.
Along with writing for NBCCHICAGO.com, Tom Fornelli can also be found contributing at FanHouse, SPORTSbyBROOKS, and his own Chicago sports blog Foul Balls.
