Bears fans know exactly where they were on Thursday, April 2nd, when they heard that their normally conservative Chicago Bears franchise acquired quarterback Jay Cutler via an improbable, blockbuster trade.
As I came down from my initial Jay Cutler high, I arrived at the sobering realization that the 26 year old Pro Bowler has nobody to throw to this upcoming season. Yet, upon closer inspection, all of the subpar quarterbacks that donned a Bears jersey before him never really had any true game breakers at the wide receiver position either.
After a bit of researching, I have created a list of the Top Ten Chicago Bears wide receivers of the last 25 years, and it isn't pretty. Plax or Marshall would look great in a Bears uniform, wouldn't they?
10. Tommy Waddle
(1989-1994)
Though he spent the majority of his Bears career in a concussed state, Tommy Waddle is one of the most popular wide receivers in the franchise's history.
Due to his soft hands and willingness to go across the middle, Waddle quickly became a fan favorite (even though the Bears released and resigned him six times). The undrafted free agent from Boston College never compiled jaw dropping stats throughout his time in Chicago, but you could always count on him to exhibit his toughness on Sundays.
It was his admirable work ethic, grit, and determination that got him elected to the 1991 All-Madden Team. See...even John Madden loves him some T-Wizzle.
9. Bernard Berrian
(2004-2007)
There is no question that Bernard has game breaker potential, but I still think that Minnesota overpaid for his services when they inked him to a 6 year $42 million deal ($16 million guaranteed) last offseason.
Throughout his five seasons in the NFL, he has never exceeded 1000 yards receiving. But then I think to myself, what would happen if he actually had a quarterback that could further expose his big play capability? Maybe a quarterback like Jay Cutler?
How good could he be then?
8. Muhsin Muhammad
(2005-2007)
Muhammad never really met the high expectations that were set by Bears fans during his three season stint in the Windy City. Coming off a 1,400 yard receiving season in 2004 with Carolina, Moose was the free agent signing that was going to be the answer to our prayers even though he was heading into his 10th NFL season.
Today, more fans would probably remember all of Moose's dropped balls rather than the ones he caught in a Bears uniform. Yet, it wasn't all bad. As a Bear, Moose averaged nearly 55 receptions and 728 yards a season. That isn't horrible for a guy playing in "the place where receivers go to die."
7. Wendell Davis
(1988-1993)
Davis played all 81 of his career games sporting the navy blue and burnt orange. The former LSU Tiger amassed 3,000 yards receiving on 207 catches as a Bear (ranking him 13th all-time in receptions). Often times playing alongside Tommy Waddle, Davis led the team in receptions in both 1991 and 1992.
Unfortunately, he is probably best remembered for how his career ended in 1993 when he blew out both of his knees on the infamous turf of Philadelphia's old Veterans Stadium while running a simple pass pattern.
6. Bobby Engram
(1996-2000)
Perhaps one of the most under appreciated NFL players of the past decade is Bobby Engram.
During his time in Chicago, Engram was the definition of a reliable possession receiver. It seemed like anytime that the Bears needed a big catch to pick up a first down, Bobby was there. Bobby's greatest season as a Bear came in 1999 when he caught 88 balls, which is the 4th highest single season reception total in team history.
5. Dennis McKinnon
(1983-1989)
Over the past 25 years, there haven't been too many wide receivers to spend an "extended" period of time with the Chicago Bears, but Dennis McKinnon was one of them.
Even though McKinnon never had more than 45 catches in a season, he was half of the wide receiver tandem that won Super Bowl XX. And that is why he climbed up so far onto this list, but this shouldn't surprise you.
The 1985 Bears always get all the perks.
4. Marcus Robinson
(1998-2002)
The sky was the limit for Marcus Robinson when he first came onto the Chicago scene in the late 1990's. With his long strides, freakish jumping ability, and knack for finding the end zone, Robinson appeared to be the gift that was going to keep on giving for years to come.
In just his second season, Robinson accrued 1,400 yards and set a single season Bears record that still holds strong today.
3. Willie Gault
(1983-1987)
Besides Walter, Willie Gault was arguably the most electrifying player to come from the dominating 1985 Chicago Bears championship season. He is one of the only "big play" receivers that our beloved organization has ever had, averaging almost 20 yards per catch.
A former track star, Gault's explosive speed allowed him to blow past cornerbacks at will, and once he put on the after burners you could forget about it. In his five seasons with the Bears, Gault was never a receiver that pulled down 70 or 80 balls in a year, but we didn't care. It was his unpredictability that we came to know and love.
2. Marty Booker
(1999-2003, 2008)
Despite Marcus Robinson being selected as an alternate, Marty Booker is the only Chicago Bears wide receiver to be named to the Pro Bowl over the past quarter century.
A third round pick from Louisiana-Monroe in the 1999 NFL draft, Booker is the only Bear in the organization's entire history to have 100 catches in a single season.Yeah, it's sad, but true.
I'm not 100 % sure, but I think he also has the record for the longest fingers in Bears history too....
1. Curtis Conway
(1993-1999)
With the 7th pick in the 1993 draft....the Bears select Curtis Conway, WR, USC.
Though he had a few injury riddled seasons, Conway was the most consistent wide receiver that the Bears have had in recent history. Conway had 329 catches, 31 touchdowns, and accumulated nearly 4,500 yards during his time as a Bear.
At the same time, Conway would drive ya bonkers as a fan.
There were occasions where you wanted to strangle him as he dropped another wide open pass. Then, there were times when you wanted to hug him through your T.V. after he broke three tackles and dove into the end zone.
I loved Curtis Conway, but if he is the best wide receiver we've had in the past 25 years.....we've got a serious problem.
7 Comments
Matty Southside said:
First!!
Matty Southside said:
I just don't see how you can put Booker and Conway in front of Willie Gault. I'm sure Gault's numbers weren't as good, but he's the most recongizable receiver that the organization has ever had, and he's a member of the '85 team.
I also rank Waddle higher because he's tough as nails.
Swap Moose and Waddle, and go Booker #3, Conway #2 and Gault at #1 and you're good.
That's all I got.
Al In WI said:
Interesting list, brings back some good memories. Or at least some of them do. But I have to be captain obvious and state that there is an major name left off this list. Namely Jeff Graham. He was the number one target on the '95 offense that set all the passing records. Graham needs to be in the top three. So here's my list:
10. Bobby Engram
9. Tom Waddle
8. Dennis Gentry
7. Wendell Davis
6. Bernard Berrian
5. Curtis Conway
4. Dennis McKinnon
3. Willie Gault
2. Jeff Graham
1. Marty Booker
I'd have to place Ron Morris in the "honarable mention" bracket. I had to put Gentry on there 'cause of the clutch catches he made in the late Ditka era.
Mike Jacobsen said:
The reason why I left Jeff Graham off the list is that he was only with the Bears for 2 seasons.....though they were impressive seasons. The body of work just wasn't there. I mulled over putting him on the list for like an hour, but decieded against it. Dennis gentry wasn't a "true" wide receiver....he was a wr/rb hybrid type of player. So, that's why I left him off of the list. Morris should be an honorary mention, I agree...he is arguably the best WR in Bears history, but just not of the past 25 years.
Max said:
Moose is useless.
I am not sure bout number one, but Tom Waddle could fit the bill. Then Marty Booker, then Willie Gault, then Dennis gentry and the rest is to complicated for me, but Moose does not go on this list, Berrian does, and Jeff Graham needs some love.
BDG said:
I'd have to put Booker over Conway. It's a tough list though. Two players that had a good shot to be #1 were Wendell Davis and Marcus Robinson. I remember Davis blowing out both his knee's on one play against the Eagles and their shitty turf. Tom Waddle will always be one of my favorites. Jeff Graham was a great wr while he was here and I have better memories of him than I ever will of Moose.
Mike Jacobsen said:
Like I told Al In WI, I really had a tough time keeping Graham off the list, but he only played 2 seasons. I wanted all the receivers on the list to play for the Bears for 3 seasons or more. I wasn't a big fan of Moose either, but his numbers over a three season span were somewhat impressive in "Bears terms."
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