[CBFF] ST: Watts enters picture at receiver

[Victor Waldron]

(um, ok, so the guy was cut by Denver because he has problems catching
the ball. Don't we already have enough guys like that?)

Watts enters picture at receiver

September 5, 2006

BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter

It could be the Bears kept six wide receivers because of the fear they
don't have five.

Only four practiced Monday at Halas Hall as Justin Gage (side) and
Airese Currie (left knee) were sidelined, and general manager Jerry
Angelo admitted Sunday the group's consistent absences have given him
reason for concern.

Now, the Bears are investigating an outside option with Darius Watts,
a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2004 (54th overall),
scheduled to work out for the team today, according to a league
source.

Watts was released over the weekend after falling from the No. 3
position on the Denver depth chart to not being on it. He has good
size at 6-2, 190 pounds, and possesses speed that is difficult to
contain, but has shown questionable hands. Angelo liked him when he
came out of Marshall.

Perhaps the bigger question is whether the team has interest in
Charles Rogers, the No. 2 pick in the '03 draft by Detroit. His agent,
Kevin Poston, declined to talk specifically about his client's
options, but it is believed Rogers will first visit Miami. Dolphins
coach Nick Saban recruited him to Michigan State.

Watts is believed to have other visits in the works if he does not
sign a contract with the Bears today.

''Obviously, the Bears are a good situation,'' said Todd France,
Watts' agent. ''And Darius is very interested in Chicago. We were OK
with what happened in Denver. He needed a fresh start because there
were a lot of things there that didn't make sense. I know the Bears
have very big interest in Darius.''

Watts played in all 16 games as a rookie, catching 31 passes for 385
yards and one touchdown. But he dropped one sure touchdown pass that
would have been the winner in a home loss to Oakland, and had a case
of the drops last summer in training camp that led to him being
inactive for 10 regular-season games and both playoff contests. He
caught just two passes last season, but was listed third behind Rod
Smith and Javon Walker as recently as three weeks ago. Instead, he and
former Bear David Terrell were cut with the Broncos opting to keep
Brandon Marshall, David Kircus, Todd Devoe and Charlie Adams.

Watts is a strong route runner and gets open easily. He doesn't have
an injury history and that would be a sure boost for the Bears, who at
least had Bernard Berrian and Mark Bradley back on the field. Berrian
(right knee) missed last week and the final preseason game and Bradley
was knocked out at Cleveland with a bruised right hip.

Coach Lovie Smith, who won't name his No. 2, said it will be receiver
by committee. The saying is if you have two running backs sharing
time, often you don't have one. Having multiple No. 2 receivers is
open for interpretation.

''I think every position is kind of like by committee,'' Smith said.
''You want to feel good about everybody in the position, and most of
the time you're going to need them all. We have a few guys with a few
bumps right now. We should have enough to be successful this week.''

HEALTHY AGAIN: Cedric Benson said his left shoulder, partially
dislocated more than a month ago, is fully healed and he's ready to
face Green Bay for the first time.

''I don't know how much, or what they've got planned, but I'm going to
expect to go,'' Benson said.

''I accept [Thomas Jones being the starter]. I'm sure in time it'll
work itself out. I'm not mad about nothing or upset about anything,
nothing like that. I'm just really happy that my shoulder feels a lot
better and I can get back into playing.''

EXTRA POINTS: Three players were added to the practice squad:
defensive end Copeland Bryan, safety Tyler Everett and wide receiver
Mike Hass.

•Missing practice were defensive lineman Israel Idonije (left ankle),
tight end Gabe Reid (right hip) and fullback J.D. Runnels (right
ankle).