"Roy Williams? Why not?

Rolling the dice on the finicky nature of talented wide receivers is about the only thing the Bears haven't tried in their never-ending search for a big-play pass catcher. But Williams makes sense to the Bears — he needs them as much as they need him.

For the Bears, it's a low-risk gamble on a gifted athlete with size (6-3, 215 pounds) and credentials. For Williams, it's a chance to restart his once-promising career by reuniting with the only offensive coordinator he has had success with in the NFL. He had a Pro Bowl season in Mike Martz's offense with the Detroit Lions in 2006, when he had 82 receptions for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns. He also is reunited with Darryl Drake, the Bears' wide receivers coach who recruited Williams to Texas, coached him for four years with the Longhorns and has been a mentor of sorts throughout his NFL career.

''To be back with Martz and coach Drake is a blessing for me,'' said Williams, 29, who signed a one-year contract with the Bears after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. ''To go to a system that I already know, that I've had success in — it was a pretty easy decision.''

Williams was unable to take part in the Bears' first practice Saturday at Olivet Nazarene University because of an NFL rule that prohibits free agents from participating until Aug. 4. But he's in such a comfort zone with Martz and Drake that he doesn't anticipate a problem catching up quickly.

''I think I have a head start, just knowing the offense and coach Martz knowing me, knowing my strengths,'' said Williams, the seventh pick of the 2004 draft. ''He knows how to play to my strengths.''

Williams' career is a testament to how fickle and unpredictable the success and failure of NFL wide receivers can be. In his first three seasons with the Lions, he had 181 ­receptions for 2,814 yards (15.5 per catch) and 23 touchdowns in 43 games.

He was traded to the Cowboys five games into the 2007 season for three draft picks (first-, third- and sixth-rounders). But he never lived up to expectations in Dallas after signing a six-year, $54 million contract."