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Greg Olsen News & Rumors

Mom's illness fuels Panthers tight end Greg Olsen
April 5
Charlotte Observer
 columnist Scott Fowler
"In late 2001, when Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen was 16 years old, his mother Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. Olsen was being heavily recruited at the time. His father was his high school football coach in Wayne, N.J. The house was full of football talk. Susan – the only woman in a home with a father and three boys – kept it running like so many moms in so many sports-centric households across America. And suddenly, all that was threatened. Olsen started to understand how much Susan, then a high school teacher for 20 years, did to let everyone else in the house pursue their dreams. His mother underwent a lumpectomy. Chemotherapy. Radiation."
Olsen happy with Panthers
September 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Greg Olsen has had more success playing against the Bears defense than any other defense. Fortunately for the Bears, all of that success has come in practices. But Sunday at Soldier Field, the former Bears tight end will get his first real crack at that defense in a game that means a little more than most to Olsen after the club traded him to the Panthers just before the start of training camp. "To say this game doesn't light your fire a little more with everything that happened would be a lie," Olsen said. "I'm excited. It's a game we've been looking forward to. I'm excited to come back to play in Soldier Field again. I have a lot of respect for Chicago with the players they have there"
Former Bears tight end Olsen adds punch to Panthers' offense
August 15
Charlotte Observer
 
"Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton shared a common denominator on their biggest throws in the Panthers' first exhibition: tight end Greg Olsen was on the receiving end of both. Olsen, who came to the Panthers last month in a trade with Chicago, pulled down three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown Saturday in Carolina's 20-10 win against the New York Giants. The Panthers hope Olsen's performance was a preview of what is to come this fall in the first season of Extreme Makeover, Tight End Edition. At his introductory news conference in January, first-year coach Ron Rivera identified the tight end spot as an area that needed to be addressed. The Panthers signed free agents Jeremy Shockey and Ben"
Olsen denies he wanted trade
August 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"Greg Olsen is happy to be a Panther, but he claims it was not his idea to become a former Bear. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo recently said the tight end "came at me hard last year" for a trade. Olsen's recollection is different. "I'm the last one to go to the media and make big spectacles, but sometimes when things aren't right, it's hard to keep your mouth shut," Olsen said in the lunch hall at Wofford College during a break from practice at the Panthers' training camp. "(Angelo) put the perception out that I forced my way out of there, which wasn't true at all. "He called me into his office before the draft last year to talk about things that were going on, what they were thinking."
Tight end Olsen brings needed element
August 1
Charlotte Observer
 columnist Scott Fowler
"The Carolina Panthers have had exactly one consistent pass-catching threat at tight end during their 16-year history. Wesley Walls used to make the Pro Bowl every year, catching balls he had no business catching. It's very early, but new Panthers tight end Greg Olsen reminds me a little of Walls. Olsen might not even start regularly this season. Jeremy Shockey and Ben Hartsock also are in the mix as Carolina has totally overhauled a position John Fox never set too much stock in during his tenure. But I'd wager Olsen is about to make a major impact for Carolina, and that its trade for him last week (giving Chicago a reported third-round pick) will end up being one of the most significant"
Greg Olsen embraces fresh start as Bears deal him to Panthers
July 29
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Greg Olsen just wanted some clarity, to know where he stood with the Bears. The 31st pick in the 2007 NFL draft, he had improved his catches, yards and touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, and some projected him as a breakout player in 2010. Many speculated Olsen wouldn't be an ideal fit under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who traditionally hadn't used a tight end much. But everyone played nice through a 2010 season in which the Bears won the NFC North and reached the conference title game, even though Olsen's production dipped across the board. Heading into the final year of his rookie deal and slated to make $900,000, Olsen needed to feel good about his future. On"
Panthers trade player, pick for Chicago tight end Greg Olsen
July 29
Charlotte Observer
 
"Panthers acquire another tight end The Panthers made a trade Thursday. But it wasn't the one many expected. Hours after Steve Smith backed off his trade demands and decided to stay in Charlotte, the Panthers traded for Chicago tight end Greg Olsen, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune reported the Panthers will give up a player and draft pick to acquire Olsen, but did not identify the player other than it is not believed to be Smith. A Panthers' spokesman said general manager Marty Hurney does not comment on trades until they are official. Like Jeremy Shockey, who signed with the Panthers before the lockout, Olsen played at the University of Miami. Both played for Panthers"
Bears contact Chargers about Malcolm Floyd
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"With the Chicago Bears seeking to trade Greg Olsen, the offense could have a significantly different look this season without the veteran tight end. Typically, the tight end has been used more as a pass blocker in Mike Martz offenses, not a pass receiver. Replacing Olsen could be another wide receiver. Yes, we're getting ahead of ourselves here because the Bears haven't moved Olsen, but there are several prominent wide receivers that could be available. Malcolm Floyd is a 6-5, 225-pound target who can run. The San Diego Chargers would like him back because they don't have much opposite Vincent Jackson and Jackson could depart after this season. Floyd might be a nice fit in Minnesota where"
NFL sources confirm Bears are shopping Olsen
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Drew Rosenhaus did not jump the gun: Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olson is very much in play, according to NFL personnel sources. The timing may seem curious, but trading was not permitted until the league opened the doors for business Tuesday morning. The Bears must have made the determination during the four-month lockout that they can improve their offense by moving in a different direction. As the Tribune reported Thursday, Rosenhaus sent an email Wednesday night to all 32 teams, including the Bears, announcing that he had permission to seek a trade. "The Bears have granted me permission to seek a trade for Greg Olsen," Rosenhaus wrote in the email the Tribune received from an NFL"
Agent says Bears offering Olsen in trade
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Bears had a deal in place to trade Greg Olsen during the second round of the 2010 draft that didn't materialize when the Patriots drafted their own tight end. Now, two nights before the beginning of training camp, the team may be considering trading Olsen again. His agent Drew Rosenhaus sent a mass email to the league's general managers and personnel people at 7:56 p.m. Wednesday night announcing the Bears were making Olsen available for trade. The email went to scores of people, including Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and contract negotiator Cliff Stein. "The Bears have granted me permission to seek a trade for Greg Olsen," Rosenhaus wrote. "Please let me know if interested."
Bears' cap room could be good news for Matt Forte, Greg Olsen
July 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Sidelined and muzzled for months, NFL executives and scouts burned up the phone lines Monday night, hours after owners and players announced a 10-year labor agreement. The first permissible order of business was undrafted rookie free agents. But lessons were learned during that process, and discussions between teams and agents about veteran free agents that officially started at 9 a.m. Tuesday weren't as fast-paced as some had expected. There were plenty of rumored dalliances Tuesday, but there wasn't much traction because veterans can't sign contracts until Friday. So the most significant players who agreed to deals remained with their teams or committed to mid-level contracts. Defensive"
Bears' Forte, Olsen on the lockout and fans calling players greedy
July 10
Chicago Tribune
 columnist
"Talk of the lockout has been monotonous to any Chicago Bear willing to address the matter, so Greg Olsen and Matt Forte took a different approach Saturday. During a break at Olsen's celebrity kickball event for breast cancer at Grant Park -- an event that also featured Brian Urlacher and former Bear and ESPN 1000 radio personality Tom Waddle -- Forte asked Olsen about a variety of topics. And both players had an interesting take on fans that call players "greedy" on Twitter."
Greg Olsen: Bears offense looks in fine shape
July 8
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It has been anything but a typical NFL offseason, but tight end Greg Olsen believes the Bears' offense is in good shape. ''I don't think we're behind the eight-ball,'' Olsen said Wednesday. ''I feel guys have prepared themselves individually, and when we get together four times a week, everyone showed up, and we looked good running around. We got a lot of work in. ''Did we get as much quality fieldwork as a normal offseason? No. You can only do so much without the coaches. But guys didn't miss a beat in the other ways.'' Olsen's schedule has been hectic all offseason. He and his wife, Kara, welcomed a baby boy last month, and he also has been busy preparing for Kicks for a Cure, a charity"
High school kicks Greg Olsen off field
April 15
ESPN.com
 
"Being locked out by the NFL is one thing, but Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen had to deal with another rejection recently when he was kicked off a high school field while trying to work out. "The other day I got kicked off a high school field trying to go out and do some field work, so it's not easy," Olsen said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "You have to find your spots and find someone that will let you use their field. "[Players] already have done some research on some different places, and maybe as it gets a little closer [to training camp] if it looks like that's what we're going to have to do not being able to go over to Halas, then we'll have to continue to"
Olsen hopeful of long-term deal with Bears
March 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"During the NFL owners' meetings, Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo implied that tight end Greg Olsen would be one of the young guys in line for a contract extension. Angelo noted, however, that it depended on whether there's enough money to go around once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Olsen, whose contract is up after the 2011 season, has no desire to go elsewhere despite what people continue to say about his role in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's scheme. This past season, Olsen finished fourth on the team in receptions with 41 and tied Johnny Knox for the team lead with five touchdown catches. And Martz envisions a bigger role for Olsen moving forward."
Olsen prefers the route that keeps him with Bears
February 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Toward the end of the 2010 season, when it was clear his statistics would be down in every key category, Bears tight end Greg Olsen provided a glimpse into his character. During a three-game stretch, he hauled in just three passes for 20 yards. But the fourth-year player didn't complain about his limited opportunities or question his role. Instead, he highlighted his growth in other areas and the challenges of becoming a more complete tight end. ''I've had a lot of fun growing into the offense,'' Olsen told me then. ''When you have so many roles, it makes it a lot of fun. Each week in practice, it's a challenge to try and learn it all.'' Olsen and I chatted alone for a while just outside"
Olsen plays big role as Bears roll
January 17
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Mike Martz first took over as offensive coordinator last spring, it was hard to imagine Greg Olsen would be the Bears' postseason go-to guy. There was talk that Olsen did not fit into Martz's system, that he might be traded, that he wanted to be traded. All of that conjecture wound up being just talk. Olsen was targeted nine times by quarterback Jay Cutler on Sunday, catching three passes for 113 yards. Most significantly, Cutler and Olsen hooked up on a 58-yard touchdown on the Bears' opening drive. "It was nice to be that big a part of the offense in the passing game," Olsen said following the Bears' 35-24 NFC divisional playoff win over the Seahawks. "I'm not going to lie. It did"
Numbers don't tell story of Olsen's versatility
January 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"As he talked about his role in late November, Bears tight end Greg Olsen explained how all catches are not created equal. ''There are a lot of guys who get a ton of catches a game, and, granted, everyone wants that,'' Olsen told the Sun-Times. ''But there's a difference between getting a lot of balls and catching balls that are meaningful. ''Guys around here understand that. It's not how many but the ones that you get.'' During the offseason, Olsen endured speculation that he was on the trade block because new offensive coordinator Mike Martz previously hadn't had much use for tight ends. But Olsen plays a lot of snaps, and he lines up all over the field, showcasing his versatility."
Bears' Olsen having fine year
January 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"Greg Olsen's statistics certainly back up the concern he had last offseason after Mike Martz was hired as offensive coordinator. Olsen knew tight ends had not played big roles for Martz and he shared concerns with management when talk of a trade first surfaced. Now, after he has caught 41 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns, Olsen feels better even though 20 tight ends put up more impressive receiving numbers this season. "I didn't have as many catches but I had as many impact plays if not more key catches, third downs, touchdowns, whatever the case," Olsen said. "I contribute in the running game, pass protection in the backfield, blitz pickup, so it's not always about stats. "This"
TE Olsen really new kid on block
December 5
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Bears tight end Greg Olsen, who is tied for fourth in the NFL with five receiving touchdowns, has been the central character on some highlight-reel catches. But Olsen also has been a secondary part of some explosive runs and catches by running back Matt Forte. ''I'm still a work in progress, and there's still plays I'd like to have back,'' said Olsen, who is fifth on the team in catches (29) and receiving yardage (331). ''But, for the most part, I feel [my blocking has] been a step up from where it's been. And each year I'll just continue to get better at that phase, and I'll catch it up to the passing game. ''By no means am I the best blocker in the league, but it's something I do take"
Olsen bringing added dimension to Bears' offense
November 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"Coach Lovie Smith remarked on Monday that it seems like Greg Olsen has become more a part of the offense since the open week. That will happen when the coaches deem it necessary to have the tight end on the field more. The Bears can't justify why Olsen went catchless in consecutive games in October for the first time in his career. He was on the field for only 64 percent of the snaps in the Oct. 17 loss to the Seahawks and, more surprisingly, he saw action for only 4 of 12 third-down plays. That has been rectified and he has a touchdown reception in three of the last four games, including his 9-yard score in Sunday's 31-26 win over the Eagles. While Olsen has only 14 catches over the last"
Bears TE Olsen has played key role in Martz's offense
November 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Early in the offseason after the Bears hired Mike Martz, tight end Greg Olsen listened to all the chatter. That Martz didn't use tight ends in his offense and that Olsen, a first-round pick in 2007, was on the trade block. But shortly after Martz arrived at Halas Hall, Olsen visited with his new coordinator as well as the Bears' brass. ''All along, everyone was real honest about the situation,'' Olsen said. ''I made it clear that I wanted to be here; I've enjoyed my time here; I love playing here. I spoke early with coach Martz, and we've had a great relationship since the very beginning. ''I was optimistic, and the results have shown that the tight ends have been a big part of the"
Former Miami players love to visit old haunts at 'The U'
November 18
Chicago Tribune
 
"Greg Olsen was stumped for a moment as he tried to remember his favorite hangout at the University of Miami. "Coconut Grove was a cool place,'' the Bears tight end said. "But we never really went down to South Beach. Maybe you would go down on your birthday. That was a different scene and we didn't really have the money to do it.'' Surely Olsen and the other 40 former Hurricanes on NFL rosters have enough pocket change to frequent the posh South Beach atmosphere these days. Bears receiver/kicker returner Devin Hester, Olsen's college teammate, roamed South Beach during the Bears' off week with a group that included Miami alums Edgerrin James, Antrel Rolle and Willis McGahee. "Everybody who"
Return to Miami brings back memories for Bears
November 16
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Greg Olsen entered the NFL draft in 2007, he figured to be selected somewhere in the second half of the first round. At the time, the upside of not going until the 31st pick to the Bears was pretty obvious to the tight end. He had to wait until the second-to-last selection of the round to hear his name called, but he was headed to the defending NFC champions, and playoffs and future Super Bowl trips were to follow. Olsen wasn't alone in his thinking. The Bears liked what they had and left virtually their entire starting team from Super Bowl XLI intact, losing only one starter, running back Thomas Jones, who was hastily traded away. Continuity and a few small moves were supposed to"
Running behind tight end at tackle — huh?
October 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"Mike Martz's high-volume playbook makes a phone book look skinny because he's looking for the ultimate way to expose the defense on every down with a matchup problem. While it's not puzzling the Bears came out of halftime in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks and set up an unbalanced line on their first play, it's downright confounding why they chose to run behind the left tackle on the play — tight end Greg Olsen. With first-and-10 on their own 10-yard line, the Bears showed the Seahawks an unbalanced line in which left tackle Frank Omiyale lined up on the right side of the formation, leaving Olsen next to left guard Chris Williams as the left tackle. Quarterback Jay Cutler handed the ball off"
Bears Olsen, Clark and Idonije deck their autos with 'bells and whistles'
September 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"In high school, Bears tight end Greg Olsen tooled around his New Jersey town in what he described as a ''basic'' two-door Jeep Wrangler. So a couple of years ago, he decided to have some fun with his new Wrangler. ''I pretty much took everything off that came with it,'' Olsen said. Over the course of a few weeks, Olsen communicated by phone and e-mail with a custom shop in Florida and hand-picked everything from the tires to the grill, the interior fabric and the audio system. ''I pretty much took a basic car and was able to do what I wanted to it,'' he said. Two older veterans had a completely different mind-set, purchasing high-end luxury sedans that, as tight end Desmond Clark said,"
Olsen says Cutler friendship pays off on the field
September 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"We often tell you where Bears Jay Cutler and Greg Olsen are hanging out together for dinner or nightlife. Apparently their best-buddy relationship is also paying off on the field. "I think it can't do anything but help," Olsen said Wednesday. "At times you can get to talk about things and get used to each other. You kind of can adjust on the fly a little bit and make some things (happen) that aren't exactly how they are scripted. … At certain times, that is definitely an advantage." Olsen, who has caught 10 passes for 140 yards and two TDs in the first three games, grew up in Wayne, N.J., where he played for his father, Chris Olsen Sr. "I'm looking forward to (Sunday's game in New"
Trade rumors rile Bears' Olsen
September 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Greg Olsen bit his tongue, for the most part, all offseason as he was bombarded with questions about his projected role in Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz's scheme. The tight end finally had enough after a recent report suggested the Bears remain willing to trade him. "You mean the story that was made up? It doesn't bother me because I know there is no truth behind it," Olsen snapped. "But it does bother me that people take the liberty to just make up stories for their own personal benefit. "There was no substance behind it. If there was, tell us. It's easy to say an unnamed source. That could be anybody." Bears general manager Jerry Angelo told the Tribune there was nothing to the"
Olsen stays in the plans
September 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"One could almost feel Bears general manager Jerry Angelo beaming in the press box Thursday night after tight end Greg Olsen shook a defender and hauled in a 15-yard touchdown toss from Todd Collins. As offensive coordinator Mike Martz has insisted all preseason, Olsen appears to be a big part of the offensive plans — even if rumors persist about the former first-round pick being trade bait. "Nothing to it,'' Angelo said, referring to a recent report that Olsen remained on the market. "(The rumor) doesn't bother me. It doesn't bother him. "Have we talked to people? There have been people that have called us, not just about him but about other players. And we always listen. But that's the"
Athleticism of tight ends thrills Martz
August 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"There was skepticism about how new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz would use tight ends, since he didn't highlight the position in the past, particularly with the St.Louis Rams. But through two weeks of training camp, the Bears' tight ends have been a prominent part of Martz's offense, most notably deep post routes to Greg Olsen. Has he ever had a tight end as athletic as Olsen? ''No, never,'' Martz said. ''So this is a whole new banana for me.'' In fact, Martz said Desmond Clark also is more athletic than the tight ends he had in St. Louis. ''Both of them,'' Martz said, ''so to have those guys ... it's thrilling because we've created a lot of things for just him and Dez. To have"
TE Olsen is the big star in Sunday night football
August 9
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"There were no bobblehead dolls or cardboard cutouts bearing his likeness, but Sunday sure looked like Greg Olsen Night at Olivet Nazarene University. The Bears' starters -- sans defensive and offensive linemen -- looked dominant again running the red-zone offense, with Olsen catching five touchdowns from Jay Cutler's 12 passes. ''That's just the way the balls end up going,'' Olsen said after practice. ''It's whoever is open. He's not dropping back and picking his guys. He's following the progressions and throwing it where it has to go, and tonight was my turn.'' Olsen and Desmond Clark have had dominant days, showing that tight ends can become a part of Mike Martz's offense. ''I see you"
Bears' tight ends targets in passing game … for now
June 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Midway through Wednesday's first day of organized team activities, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler called a screen for tight end Desmond Clark, and a perplexed Clark glanced behind hoping to catch the attention of an offensive coach. "I actually had to double check to make sure they were calling the right play,'' said Clark, who was lined up in the backfield. "I mean, it's a play we've run many times, but I've never been in that position. The coaches all looked back at me and said, 'Yeah, you.' "I thought it probably was a thing where they were checking to see if I knew what I was doing. Plays like that tell you that you never know where the ball is going to go in this offense.'' So much talk"
Bears' Olsen making his mother proud
May 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Sue Olsen may not be able to fight back tears when Grammy Award-winning singer Darius Rucker performs tonight at Joe's Bar on West Weed Street. Not only is she a country music fan -- even though she lives in New Jersey -- Olsen is touched that her son Greg organized the ''Shake the Lake'' concert to raise money for his foundation, which supports multiple organizations committed to fighting breast cancer. ''We all do things in our own little ways,'' Sue said. ''But then when Greg was given this unbelievable opportunity to play pro football, it was just the next step for Greg and what he was able to do. ''He certainly could have chosen other things. I'm touched by it.'' Greg immediately"
Bears' Olsen said he didn't talk football with T.O.
May 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Bears tight end Greg Olsen says there's nothing to read into his meeting with Terrell Owens at a Chicago nightspot and that they didn't talk about football. Olsen and quarterback Jay Cutler ran into Owens on Sunday when the two went out after minicamp wrapped and then made plans to meet up with the free-agent wide receiver later that night. Owens then tweeted: "@ underground!! Waiting on jay cutler 2 come n here 2 explain how I wouldn't fit n their system!! Where u @ Jay?""
T.O. hanging out with Bears' Cutler, Olsen
May 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"Could Terrell Owens be headed to the Bears? Well, he got the opportunity to discuss the matter with quarterback Jay Cutler and tight end Greg Olsen when they crossed paths late Sunday night at Underground. Owens used his personal Twitter account to announce that he was at the popular nightclub and that he'd run into Cutler and Olsen. The free-agent wide receiver is 36 and to this point there haven't been many teams showing interest in him. Seattle recently has been mentioned as a possible destination. Owens made 55 receptions for 829 yards and five touchdowns last season in Buffalo."
For the record, Olsen doesn't want to be traded
May 21
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Greg Olsen admittedly was alarmed when the Bears hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator in February. But Olsen told the Sun-Times on Thursday that he never asked to be traded, and he insisted he's confident that he'll remain a prominent part of the offense. ''The question that immediately arose was, 'Where do tight ends fit in?' I was right there; I wasn't naive,'' Olsen said. ''I know he's one of the best coordinators [in the NFL]. For me, the track record wasn't there. But I feel positive and optimistic, after conversations with him and what we've done on the field, that I'll continue to have a big role in our offense like I have had the last couple of years.'' Olsen hadn't"
Bears' plan is to keep Olsen
April 21
Chicago Tribune
 
"Even Jay Cutler was traded, Lovie Smith said, so by all means anything could happen with Greg Olsen during the NFL draft. But the Bears coach did his best to downplay speculation Tuesday that the organization could dangle the tight end, a first-round pick in 2007, in efforts to move into the second round of the draft. "Greg Olsen working hard, doing a great job for us," Smith said. "I know our offensive guys are excited about working with him. I guess there could be speculation that we are going to trade Lance Briggs and Jay was traded last year so maybe he could get traded this year too. I can't get into speculation." Maybe that's not the best example. The Bears thought they had a trade"
Olsen says he has no desire to leave Bears
April 10
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Bears tight end Greg Olsen broke his monthslong silence in a trendy way. How? In more than two dozen ''tweets'' on Friday. Olsen delivered a clear message about everything from his desire to be traded to his concern about new offensive coordinator Mike Martz and new tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. I've made repeated requests through the Bears and Olsen's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to speak with him for a range of stories, including one I wrote days after the season ended about the complexity of his contract situation. I've consistently reported that the Bears have not been proactively shopping Olsen, but neither Olsen nor Rosenhaus had done anything to quiet that storm. At the NFL owners"
Four's (too big) a tight end crowd for Bears
April 10
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Bears have a crowded house at tight end. It's so full, in fact, there is one too many to play Mike Martz and the Three Bears' Tight Ends. That's what happened when the team signed Brandon Manumaleuna on the first day of free agency, the same day veteran Desmond Clark earned a $475,000 roster bonus. Put those two in the mix with former first-round draft pick Greg Olsen and Kellen Davis and, from the outside looking in, the Bears have one too many. There has been speculation Olsen will be used as trade bait, but with the draft 12 days away that looks unlikely, even though Olsen expressed concerns about his role in the offense shortly after Martz was hired. Olsen had a personal public"
Forget about Greg Olsen
April 10
Boston Globe
 
"Trade speculation surrounding Bears tight end Greg Olsen has swirled through the offseason. And early on, with the hole at tight end on their roster, the Patriots were at the center of it. It's died down since and maybe now we can put it to bed. Yes, New England could still use a pass-catching threat like Olsen at the position to complement third-tackle-type Alge Crumpler. Problem is, it looks like whatever problems the tight end and the Bears had (which could have something to do with Mike Martz's scheme) either a) never existed or b) have subsided."
Smith doesn't see diminished role for Hester or Olsen
March 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"As the Bears' hibernation is coming to an end, coach Lovie Smith is anxious to see his team regroup for offseason workouts that begin Monday. He gave a "state of the Bears" address over a plate of fruit, eggs and bacon during a breakfast with writers at the NFL meetings Wednesday. His most interesting revelation was, contrary to popular perception, Devin Hester's role on offense is not being reduced. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz had suggested Hester would make an ideal slot receiver shortly after his hiring. "I don't know whose plan that was," Smith said. "Mike had been here a few days, you kind of hit him with questions. He likes the potential of Devin as a full-time receiver. I don't"
Does Manumaleuna spell the end for Olsen?
March 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Neil Hayes
"The debate shouldn't be centered on whether the Bears should or shouldn't trade Greg Olsen. The bigger question, now that bruising tight end Brandon Manumaleuna is coming to Chicago, is whether general manager Jerry Angelo can get a player of equal or greater value in return. The Bears reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with the 6-2, 295-pound Manumaleuna. General managers never want to be in a position where they are trading a player for the sake of trading him just like they don't want to keep a player for the sake of keeping him. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz's schemes don't emphasize a pass-catching tight end. His playbook requires a lot of five-and seven-step drops, which is"
Bears foolish if they dump Olsen
March 4
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Dan Pompei
"Explain how the Bears are better without Greg Olsen. Or do something easier. Explain how the human brain works. Or if you prefer, where the Taos Hum comes from. Rumors have been rumbling for a week or so that Olsen has asked the Bears to trade him. It's no secret the tight end is concerned about the prospect of his role in the passing game being reduced significantly in Mike Martz's offense. And many people think the Bears should trade Olsen because he doesn't fit the new coordinator's scheme as well as some (read blocking) tight ends do. But the Bears aren't going to get better by trading one of their best players. No team is. Anyone who thinks a team can improve by getting rid of a"
Source: Bears aren't trying to deal Olsen
March 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Contrary to an Internet report Tuesday, the Bears are not shopping Greg Olsen. Citing friends of Olsen, nbcchicago.com reported that the Bears tight end was not happy about the hire of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz and that he ''quietly sent his agent Drew Rosenhaus into 'trade request' mode.'' That's not the case, a league source said. The Bears are not actively trying to trade Olsen, although that could change if another club makes an overwhelming offer."
Bears should lock tight end Olsen into a long term deal
January 10
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Sean Jensen
"Sketchy selections in recent drafts have provided one fewer complication for the Bears this offseason. They won't have to hand out any record-breaking contracts to players who have completed their rookie pacts. The best player from the Bears' 2006 draft class -- receiver Devin Hester -- already has been locked up with a long-term deal, and the remaining players from that class -- safety Danieal Manning, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, linebacker Jamar Williams and defensive end Mark Anderson -- won't become unrestricted free agents, as scheduled, unless the NFL and the NFL Players Association agree on a new collective bargaining agreement by March 5. Given the pessimism about a new CBA,"
Cutler likes receiving corps' future
January 4
Chicago Tribune
 
"So this is what the plan was all along for the Bears' young receiving corps. Devin Aromashodu providing a big target going deep or a fade route. Greg Olsen battling for catches over the middle and finding openings in the end zone. Devin Hester making plays in space after quick passes. Aromashodu had his second straight outstanding game Sunday in the 37-23 season-finale win over the Lions. He caught five passes and scored two touchdowns. Olsen also had five receptions for 94 yards and a TD. Hester caught three passes, including a key 48-yarder from quarterback Jay Cutler. "Cutler has been playing well lately, so he has been making it easy for all of us," said Aromashodu, who caught the"
Bears' loss microcosm of season
December 14
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"Lovie Smith technically was right. The strange fourth-quarter sequence that wasted two timeouts didn't make the Bears lose 21-14 Sunday to the Packers at Soldier Field. But it exhibited the type of indecision and illogical thinking that often leads to the loss of confidence -- and unemployment. It wasn't so much that the Bears were swept by the Packers for the first time under Smith and officially eliminated from playoff contention for a third straight season. It was that they committed a season high in penalties (13), watched Jay Cutler self-destruct again and saw Smith make decisions that make it impossible to argue against wholesale changes at Halas Hall. It was that this game packed"
Olsen has big challenge against Green Bay Packers
December 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"No one needs to remind Greg Olsen what happened the last time he faced the Packers. Olsen was harassed all night and limited to one catch in the Bears' 21-15 loss at Lambeau Field. He faced constant double teams plus his share of one-on-one battles with defensive player of the year candidate Charles Woodson. Olsen anticipates much of the same blanketing coverage Sunday against Woodson and the league's top-ranked defense at Soldier Field. The possibility of playing without Devin Hester (calf strain) might make the tight end even more of a factor. "It's a great challenge," Olsen said of the Packers. "Woodson's probably one of the top all-around players in the league. He's one of the top"
Bears tight end Greg Olsen unable to enjoy 3-TD day
November 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"If every Bear were as productive as Greg Olsen on Sunday, there would have been high-fives and cigars all around in the postgame locker room. The tight end who has been mysteriously unproductive for most of the season had three touchdown catches against the Cardinals. No Bears tight end had done that since Greg Latta in 1975. No Bear at any position had caught three touchdown passes in a game since 2001, when Marty Booker accomplished the feat. Olsen had never had two touchdown catches in a game, let alone three. But the accomplishment was not enjoyed the way it should have been. "Obviously nothing we did was good enough to win the game, so none of our performances were too special or else"