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Chalk Talk

Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans every day on ChicagoBears.com.

There’s been a lot of talk about the Bears needing to improve their receiving corps, but I never hear Brandon Rideau’s name mentioned when discussing the current receivers. I thought he performed well last preseason and he should have a firm grasp of the offense. Is he a viable option at receiver this year?

Aaron
Peoria, Illinois

You bring up an excellent point. Brandon Rideau is having a very good offseason. He’s made some nice catches in the workouts I’ve watched, including a nifty grab along the sideline in an OTA practice last week. Given his knowledge of the system coupled with the lack of experience at the receiver position, Rideau should have a golden opportunity to earn a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster and possibly contribute on offense. As a receiver, Rideau has excellent hands but lacks top-end speed. One big thing in Rideau's favor is that he's a solid four-phase performer on special teams, something that's a requirement for the fourth and fifth receivers.

I know that Kyle Orton was voted a team captain last year. Do you see new quarterback Jay Cutler receiving the same honor this year?

Brian M.
Chicago

I’d be very surprised if Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler isn’t voted one of the two Bears captains on offense this season. (Olin Kreutz is a lock for the other spot.) Cutler has already shown leadership qualities in his brief time with the Bears. He leads by example—he’s a hard worker who hasn’t missed a day of the offseason program—and can be a vocal leader as well.

In recent years, lead negotiator Cliff Stein and the Bears have done a very good job of signing rookies in time for training camp. Can you give some insight to the progress of negotiations between the Bears and their rookies?

Bjarke H.
Copenhagen, Denmark

The Bears don’t discuss the status of contract negotiations publicly. But given their track record with Cliff Stein, I’m totally confident that they’ll have all nine of their draft picks under contract well before training camp, several perhaps even before July 4. It figures to be an easier process this year due to the fact that the Bears don’t have any first- or second-round draft picks.

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