Bears Tight End reportedly not happy. Should Bengals make a play for Greg Olsen?

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 3, 2010 1:20 PM EST in Analysis

An interesting dynamic is taking shape in Chicago. Since being hired by the Bears, PFT writes, "Mike Martz has signaled that he doesn't think tight end Greg Olsen is a good fit in his offense, noting that he believes a tight end's responsibility is to block." I know, right? Tight ends blocking first and being route-runners in the pass game as a secondary thought is a school that Bob Bratkowski knows too well. But that doesn't stop us from being glorious in our conjecturing, does it?

Because of Martz's position on tight ends, Bears tight end Greg Olsen isn't happy. Peggy Kusinski writes:

Friends of the Bears TE say he was not happy about the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike Martz and quietly sent his agent Drew Rosenhaus into "trade request" mode. Now it appears the Bears may have some takers in the Arizona Cardinals or New England Patriots.

With the idea in mind that Bengals offensive coordinator tends to approach tight ends like Mike Martz, should the Bengals make a play for Olsen? First and foremost, whatever their opinion is of Chase Coffman will dictate potential moves regarding trades or during free agency and the NFL Draft. Like Jerome Simpson, the Bengals could work with Chase and use a combination of blockers to fulfill protection schemes at h-back and the running game.

On the other hand, if Chase isn't well thought of among the coaching ranks for immediate contributions -- which we suspect is more true than not -- Olsen could be that weapon that the Bengals need since T.J. Houshmandzadeh left as an underneath route runner that occupies safeties and linebackers to free up slot receivers and even forcing single coverage on Chad Ochocinco. In his past two seasons, Olsen averaged 57 receptions for 593 yards receiving and a combined 13 touchdowns receiving.

Knowing what you know now, and forecasting what could happen through the NFL Draft, would you make a play for Olsen?

Poll

What would you trade for Greg Olsen?

A first round pick

74 votes

A second round pick

226 votes

A third round pick

225 votes

A few picks after the fourth round

66 votes

I want nothing to do with Greg Olsen

39 votes

630 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

i think he's worth more than a third rounder

but i wouldn’t give up anything more than that for him.

Sonny my pitched my wild

by GrooveLeg on Mar 3, 2010 1:38 PM EST reply actions

he's not much of a blocker

but I’d agree with GrooveLeg about not offering much more than a third rounder.

Heck, maybe Anthony Collins (since the Bears lack capable starting depth at T) and a 5th or 6th rounder.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 3, 2010 1:53 PM EST reply actions

If Whitworth goes down at LT

who do we have left to play LT who is naturally gifted to? I love the fatso but he is a G/RT type of player so i would be cautious at getting rid of the one true LT we have left in depth.

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 3, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

good point

I didn’t lay it out there, but my assumption was to basically re-draft a T for depth in rounds 3 or 4. I also figured Andre Smith would be playing somewhat to potential and have the flexibility to move to LT in the injury scenario with Dennis Roland or the hypothetical yet-to-be drafted player being able to step in a play at RT.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 3, 2010 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

i agree

www.fantasydaddy.com

by Joe Goodberry on Mar 3, 2010 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

too many mixed messages on TO

but this one from James Walker is pretty interesting considering the timing (2 days before FA):

Cincinnati also is rumored to be interested in Owens.

As for Greg Olsen, i’d say a 2nd Round Pick would be worth it. The Bengals could spend their 2nd Round Pick on USC’s Anthony McCoy. OR, they could drop a 2nd Round pick on a very young Olsen, and they can retain Foschi or Coats as their blocker.

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Mar 3, 2010 2:09 PM EST reply actions

no way for a 2nd round pick

3rd or 4th, he isn’t Dallas Clark or Jason Whitten. We can draft a better TE with our own 2nd round pick plus he would be younger and cheaper.

CB85......Collaros for Heisman

by TennBengalfan on Mar 3, 2010 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

i disagree

When has Olsen ever had a QB? Last season was the first time, and he caught 60 balls. that would be our #2 target

www.fantasydaddy.com

by Joe Goodberry on Mar 3, 2010 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

great possiblity

Anthony Collins and a late rd pick. This guy is very underrated. Tough, execellent hands and a mean streak. Hell Yes!!!!!!

by snake19 on Mar 3, 2010 2:09 PM EST reply actions

Word on Olsen

from the Bears fans is that he isn’t tough enough to go over the middle to catch in traffic (he had a few drops doing that this year) and his blocking is, though technically able, lacking effort or the willingness to. He does however run a chrisp route and can break open a game with a leaping catch near the sidelines. He is basically a WR with a TE body whose best running WR routes. I think the cost of aquiring him may be a little high and i’d rather go down the FA Watson/McMichael route.

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 3, 2010 2:17 PM EST reply actions

He is better than what we have, but I wouldnt give up to much for him.

Maybe A 3rd, but def a 4th

I heard Cromartie was on the market for a 2nd round pick

CB85......Collaros for Heisman

by TennBengalfan on Mar 3, 2010 2:28 PM EST reply actions

you would want him?

www.fantasydaddy.com

by Joe Goodberry on Mar 3, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

Chase Coffman

if we were to trade picks to get a nonblocking TE, why wouldn’t we just give Chase a chance, wasn’t the knock on him that he couldn’t block?

by whodeydoc on Mar 3, 2010 2:30 PM EST reply actions

Per Profootball talk

Marshall has only been given a 1st round tender… Do we make a play?

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 3, 2010 3:13 PM EST reply actions

RE:

Think of it this way. What first round pick would we get that would do as well, if not better, than what Marshall could do during a 3-4 year period? The only draw back is that we’d have to give him an extension/long-term contract.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 3, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

He's worth a gamble... but

money and the fact he is one mistake away from a significant suspension put marks against him.

Plus i don’t think Brown will be willing to get into a significant bidding war with the Ravens/whoever wants him more.

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 3, 2010 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

Olsen,Scheffler,Thomas,Fasano

Dave Thomas did an excellent job for the Saints. They picked him up before the season started from NE for a 5th round pick. Where were the Bengals when this was going on ? Tony Scheffler is in McDaniel’s dog house. I would think his price tag would be cheaper than Olsen’s. He’s not a great blocker,but he can catch the ball. Fasano was high on the Bengals draft list when he came out. The Cowboys pulled the trigger just ahead of the Bengals in round 2. Since been traded to Miami. He can block. He’s only 25. I think there is some upside and I would think the price tag wouldn’t be too high. With an uncap season draft choices are going to have more value.

by redberkey on Mar 3, 2010 3:54 PM EST reply actions

Fasano would fit nicely with what the Bengals have historically done with the TE position.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 3, 2010 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

and Geoff Hobson said that the Bengals were going to draft Fasano untill he was taken just before them by Dallas (though if we did that we wouldn’t have Whitworth…)

by Sheffieldbengal on Mar 3, 2010 4:28 PM EST up reply actions