Greg Olsen Trade: Why the Chicago Bears Never Should Have Dealt the TE

Chicago has a funny way of dealing with needs.

One of the biggest perceived needs for the Bears in the offseason has been that of a receiver who can take some pressure off Jay Cutler by going up to get the ball.  A big, physical receiver with good hands.

Of course, the Bears roster already contained a big physical receiver with great hands—TE Greg Olsen.  Unfortunately, Mike Martz was stuck in the outdated belief that tight ends are for blocking.  Unable to adapt, Martz squandered the Bears former first-round pick, who happens to be the Bears leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns over the last four years, as well as being second in receiving yards.

Now, as the team is in great need of upgrades to the receiving corps, Martz pushes his best receiving threat out of Chicago, trading Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers for an undisclosed draft pick and an undisclosed player.

I posted a piece two days ago that brought up the biggest in-house questions that the Bears had to deal with in 2011 (you can check out the article here).  The final slide asked whether Mike Martz could adapt or if the game had passed him by.  

While this trade is not a definitive answer to that question, it doesn't point to good things.  Rather than adapting to his best receiver being at a position that typically doesn't get a lot of targets in his offense, Martz chose to end the debate by dumping the player.

Some will undoubtedly point to Bears GM Jerry Angelo, but it should be known that—according to Zach Zeigman of Chicago's 670 The Score—Martz and Tice have all of the all the personnel power over the offense.  That lands this, and whatever other moves the Bears make offensively, squarely in Martz's lap.

If not for a rigid inability to adapt his offense, what reason is there for the Bears to trade away their top receiver?  Olsen showed in the NFC Divisional Round game against the Seahawks that he still can contribute in Martz's offense.  And while he's not the best blocking tight end in the league, he showed the determination to his craft to spend last offseason significantly improving at that aspect of his game, outperforming TE Brandon Manumaleuna,—who was signed specifically at Martz's request to be a blocking TE last offseason, but was released earlier today after failing his physical, not to mention failing at his assigned duties last season—as a blocker.

So what sense did it make to trade Olsen?

Of course, we don't know what the Bears received in return, yet.  But can it be that much?  Why would the Bears shroud it in secrecy if they didn't expect criticism?

Over the past four years, Olsen has posted 194 receptions for 1984 yards and 20 touchdowns.  He led the team in receptions in 2009 and was second to RB Matt Forte in receptions in 2008.  He has led the team in receiving TDs for the past three seasons.

Olsen has also built a valuable relationship with Jay Cutler on the field, earning the franchise quarterback's trust immediately upon Jay's arrival.

Trading Olsen when the Bears are already shallow at receiver seems like a poor decision,  Even if the Bears bring in a top receiver, they end up at the same spot they started in.  

Maybe the trade ends up being inconsequential.  Maybe Ohio State undrafted free agent Dane Sanzenbacher ends up being a stud wideout, Roy Williams returns to 2006 form after his inevitable signing and the Bears never miss a beat without Olsen.  But even then, wouldn't the team have been better with Olsen on the field with them?  How does the loss of a high-quality receiving tight end make for a net gain?  

Olsen's contract wasn't prohibitive, considering that the Bears are $37M under the salary cap and Olsen was only set to make $1.025M in salary and reporting bonus this season.

So why unload Olsen now?  

Martz has repeatedly shown a rigid adherence to his own cemented ideology that has cost the Bears—as well as the 49ers, Lions and Rams—dearly, and this move doesn't appear to be an exception to the rule.  

From refusing to use the most talented receiver he had, to ignoring the run until being forced to utilize it, from the dog-housing of Devin Aromashodu for refusing to adjust his scheme to utilize shorter, faster routes, and the use of roll-outs to protect his franchise quarterback behind a line clearly not capable of protecting him long enough for Martz's elaborate plays to develop—Martz is painting himself into a corner, just as he did in San Francisco, Detroit and St Louis.  The Olsen trade is just another bucket of high-gloss, and Martz continues to stroke away with the brush.....

Trading Greg Olsen was a mistake.  How big of a mistake remains to be seen.

Next on "Mad" Mike's adaptation-free agenda?  Bring in former Lions and Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams.  After all, he already knows Martz's system.

Isn't this how the Bears and the franchise's fans got fed Todd Collins?