The Bears have demoted wide receiver Johnny Knox from his starting job to be replaced by the freshly acquired ex-Cowboy Roy Williams. Why? Apparently, Knox never earned the starting job in the first place.
The move is extremely puzzling after Knox played on 88.2 percent of the snaps last season. The speedy receiver was a prime target of quarterback Jay Cutler. Knox finished forty yards shy of a 1,000-yard receiving season. He would have been the first Bear since Marty Booker in 2002 to accomplish the feat. Additionally, Knox averaged 18.8 yards per catch, fifth of all receivers in the NFL.
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz told the Chicago Tribune, “He just has to get better. He has to play better. That's all. It's just like when Johnny came in, Earl [Bennett] was the starter. We pushed Earl aside for Johnny because of the speed. We kind of gave that job to Johnny. That wasn't really earned. And once you get in this league, you should earn.”
In other words, because the Bears had a weak receiving core, Knox never had to properly earn his starting spot according to Martz.
But why discount Knox’s performance on the field? Well, just because according to Martz. The coordinator said, “He just was not ready, not because he can't do it or he's not talented. The preparation, the consistency that's required … he does a lot of good things, but they have to be good all the time. That's what Roy is.”
Ah, that is the real reason Knox is being demoted. He is not a Martz guy. However, Roy Williams is. Why else would a guy with a few good seasons early in his career, but steadily mediocre statistics since be given the starting job?
Brad Biggs of the Tribune reports that Knox may push for a trade if, by the season opener, he is not returned to a starting role. Who can blame him for wanting a trade? It is not as if he was demoted because he was an off field distraction or on field bust. He was just demoted for not being part of the Mike Martz Alumni Club.
Filed under: Chicagoland, Sports
Tags: Chicago Bears, Johnny Knox, Mike Martz, Roy Williams
