The Chicago Bears and Free Agency: A Tale of Three Options

Rather than waste words on introducing the subject, we'll just get to it. The Chicago Bears had maybe the worst group of receivers in the history of the NFL last year. They have what could become a superstar running back, an above-average quarterback, and nothing outside.

Not many analysts, and fewer fans, are high on many receivers in this year's draft that aren't named Michael Crabtree.

In fact, if the Oakland Raiders bring in a free agent wide receiver (we'll get to that later), Jeremy Maclin, widely regarded as the second-ranked receiver in this year's class, might be around for the Bears at pick No. 18. There are some nice options, but nobody's jersey says "Automatic Go-To Guy."

So, if the Bears have a glaring weakness and the draft isn't the answer, then logic would lead us to free agency. As more big names come off the market, it appears that bigger names are replacing them on the eligible list.

Let's take a look at three options the Bears could have to choose from to fix their overwhelming weakness at wide receiver.

Option A

Option A is 35 years old and has 139 career receptions. He has been over 1,000 yards every year but two since 1998. He stands 6 feet 3. Last year, Option A had 69 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Option B

Option B will be 34 years old in June and has 74 career touchdowns. However, unlike Option A, this receiver has a Super Bowl ring.

2008 was the first season Option B had less than 1,000 yards receiving since 1999, totaling just 796 yards on 64 catches for only three touchdowns.

Option C

Option C has been hobbled by injuries each of the past two seasons and will be the oldest of the three Options this year, turning 37 in August.

He had just 636 yards in 2008 on 60 receptions for five touchdowns, but has 128 career touchdowns and a Super Bowl ring to his credit.

By the end of this week, each of these three future Hall of Fame receivers may have been released by their respective teams.

Two have spent their entire careers in one city, while the third might be hoping for his last. Who are these options the Bears have to choose from?

Option A is Terrell Owens. Option B is Torry Holt. And Option C is Marvin Harrison.

Each of these receivers brings something different to the game. Harrison and Holt are almost identical in size, standing 6 feet tall and weighing roughly 190 pounds.

They're both precise route runners with good hands who have been with just one team, Indianapolis and St. Louis, respectively, their entire careers.

Harrison has faced some injury issues the past couple years and seen his role in Peyton's offense be eclipsed by Reggie Wayne.

Holt, however, has asked for his release as much because of injury issues on the rest of the offense and coaching changes as he has because of his productivity; he has remained the Rams' top receiving option but Marc Bulger's health issues have cost him catches.

Meanwhile, Owens is a big, physical receiver who's a home run threat every time the ball goes in the air.

The only problem with Owens is trying to determine if there's enough room in the air around him for a football; he ranks among the best receiver of all time, but he's better known for filling the air waves with his mouth than the end zone with the ball.

So what should the Bears do?

Again, I won't waste words.

If I'm a Chicago Bear, I would rather have herpes than Owens in my locker room. He defines the term "clubhouse cancer" better than maybe any athlete not named Bonds in the last 20 years. We'll check him off the list.

So it's between Harrison and Holt. Both lack size and have played their best football in a dome, so the transition to Soldier Field in late December won't be kind.

I'm going to ask, indeed beg, Jerry Angelo to throw some coin at Torry Holt. Not only is he younger than Harrison by three years, but I think he's got more quality football left in him.

Harrison might have a better resume, but he also has some injury issues that should be reason for pause. Holt has missed two games in his entire career.

Holt has also played with quarterbacks that aren't as good as Kyle Orton, so coming to Chicago wouldn't be a shock to his ego. Harrison played with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis for a decade, while Owens has destroyed better quarterbacks than Orton.

So, ladies and gentlemen, here's my plea: get us Torry Holt to fix the Bears' issues at wide receiver.