CORAL GABLES— The Miami Hurricanes landed one of the nation's best high school quarterbacks on Friday as Wayne Hills (N.J.) High's Kevin Olsen, the younger brother of former 'Canes tight end Greg Olsen, orally committed to join the 2013 signing class.

Olsen (6-3, 196) is the nation's seventh-ranked quarterback prospect according to Rivals.com, the 77th best prospect according to ESPN.com and the fifth-best pro style quarterback and 51st overall prospect according to 247Sports.

His other finalists were Auburn and Wisconsin.

"It was a combination of things. It was a combination of liking the coaches a lot and liking the offense they run," Olsen told MSGVarsity.com. "And I think Miami is going to be back. I think they can get to where they were years ago. I think I can help them get back there."

Olsen said his brother's ties to UM didn't determine his decision.

"Contrary to what many people think, he didn't push me here. That wasn't the case," Olsen said. "He told me that at the end of the day, it's up to you and it's your decision."

Olsen has a 22-2 record in two years as a starter, and as a junior last season led Wayne Hills to its second straight state championship. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,686 yards and 20 touchdowns. He threw six interceptions.

The Hurricanes now have seven commitments for the 2013 class, including Palm Beach Central athlete Angelo Jean-Louis, who signed with the 'Canes in February, but for academic reasons will attend Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy this fall.

Should Olsen sign in February and two-sport star David Thompson, one of three quarterbacks in UM's 2012 signing class, choose not to pursue a pro baseball career after the MLB Draft next month, the 'Canes are set to have six quarterbacks for 2013. They had just two under scholarship when Al Golden took over as head coach in December 2010.


(sun-sentinel.com)

Deciding Miami led all FBS programs in producing quality NFL running backs was a tough call.

Picking Miami as the top school to find future pro receivers and tight ends wasn't nearly as difficult.

Miami's contingent of NFL wide receivers includes Houston Texans star Andre Johnson and Indianapolis Colts standout Reggie Wayne, who have each earned five Pro Bowl appearances while combining for 125 touchdown catches and over 21,000 receiving yards.

Other Miami receivers on NFL rosters last season included Devin Hester (Chicago Bears), Leonard Hankerson (Washington Redskins), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins) and Roscoe Parrish (Buffalo Bills, now with San Diego Chargers). Moss is a former 1,000-yard receiver, while Hester arguably is the greatest kick returner in NFL history.

Miami was an even more obvious pick at tight end. In fact, tight end may have been the easiest pick of any position for this entire project. Miami's tradition of sending tight ends to the NFL has even caught the attention of high school prospects.

"I felt like this is where I'm going to be the best and I'm going to reach my full potential," New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr junior tight end Standish Dobard told CaneSport.com after committing to the Hurricanes this month. "They have a history of really good tight ends here."

Former Miami tight ends now in the NFL include Dedrick Epps (New York Jets), Richard Gordon (Oakland Raiders), Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints), Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers), Jeremy Shockey (Carolina Panthers) and Kellen Winslow (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Shockey is a four-time Pro Bowl pick and Winslow has earned one Pro Bowl invitation.

But the biggest success story of all is Graham, who actually came to Miami on a basketball scholarship. He switched to football in 2009 and showed enough in that one season to get drafted in the third round.

All he did last season was catch 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns. The only tight end to ever accumulate more receiving yards in a season was New England's Rob Gronkowski, who compiled 1,327 yards last year.

Although no other schools can approach Miami's success at developing NFL tight ends, a few other programs also deserve mention. Former Iowa tight ends Dallas Clark and Tony Moeaki have enjoyed solid NFL careers. Arizona State produced NFL veterans Todd Heap and Zach Miller. Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez joins Cameron Morrah and Craig Stevens as former California tight ends in the NFL. Wisconsin has sent Travis Beckum, Owen Daniels, Garrett Graham and Lance Kendricks to the NFL in recent seasons.

LSU was worth considering at the wide receiver spot. Dwayne Bowe has developed into a star for the Kansas City Chiefs. Early Doucet (Arizona Cardinals), Brandon LaFell (Carolina Panthers) and Devery Henderson (New Orleans Saints) each collected over 500 receiving yards last season.
But nobody compared to Miami at either position.

Even though Miami has enjoyed similar success at the wide receiver and tight end spots, the Hurricanes have relied on different strategies at each of those positions.

Most of the NFL receivers to come from Miami were South Florida products. Johnson and Parrish both played at Miami Senior High. Moss went to Miami Carol City. Hankerson graduated from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas and Hester came from Riviera Beach (Fla.) Suncoast. A notable exception is Wayne, who went to Marrero (La.) John Ehret.

But most of its star tight ends didn't play for Florida high schools.

Olsen comes from New Jersey. Miami landed Shockey from Oklahoma. Winslow made the coast-to-coast move from San Diego to Miami. Graham's from North Carolina. Dobard looks to continue that tradition when he arrives at Miami in 2013.

Both strategies have worked quite well for Miami.

The only legitimate criticism that could be made about Miami's ability to send receivers and tight ends to the NFL is that many of its top guys at this position are at or past their primes.

Hankerson, a third-round pick last year, is the only Miami receiver to get drafted since 2007. Wayne ended his Miami career in 2000. Johnson's last two years at Miami were the 2001 national championship season and the 2002 campaign that ended with a Fiesta Bowl overtime loss to Ohio State.

And even though Graham has emerged as an immediate star in the NFL after a brief college career, most of Miami's other productive NFL tight ends left college long ago. Shockey's last season at Miami was 2001. Winslow finished his college career in 2004 and Olsen left Miami after the 2006 season.

Olsen, who caught 38 passes in 2006, was the last Miami tight end to catch more than 22 passes in a season. Miami's main pass-catching tight end last season was Clive Walford, who caught 18 passes for 172 yards as a redshirt freshman after playing just one year of high school football at Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Central.

Tommy Streeter should assure that Miami has a wide receiver drafted for a second straight season. After catching 46 passes for 811 yards and eight touchdowns last year, Streeter has been projected as a mid- to late-round pick in this year's draft.

Miami might not have a tight end drafted anytime soon, mainly because of its youth at that position. Walford still has plenty of time left in his college career. Miami didn't sign a tight end in its 2012 class, but the Hurricanes rectified that issue by getting the early 2013 commitment from Dobard.
"I hope to be one of the best tight ends ever to come through Miami," Dobard told CaneSport.com.

That would be quite an accomplishment indeed.

WIDE RECEIVER U. 2012

Our choice: Miami.
Who they've sent: Leonard Hankerson (Washington Redskins), Devin Hester (Chicago Bears), Andre Johnson (Houston Texans), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins), Roscoe Parrish (San Diego Chargers), Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts).
Who's next: Tommy Streeter is a projected mid- to late-round selection in this year's draft.
Why we picked them: Johnson and Wayne are two of the most productive receivers of the last decade. Each has five Pro Bowl appearances. They have combined for 125 touchdown catches and over 21,000 receiving yards. Moss also is a former Pro Bowl selection. Hester remains an unpolished receiver, but he's one of the best kick returners in football history.
Other finalists: Florida (Denver's Andre Caldwell, Philadelphia's Riley Cooper, Washington's Jabar Gaffney, Minnesota's Percy Harvin, Oakland's Louis Murphy, Buffalo's David Nelson), LSU (Kansas City's Dwayne Bowe, New York Giants' Michael Clayton, Arizona's Early Doucet, New Orleans' Devery Henderson, Houston's Trindon Holliday, Carolina's Brandon LaFell, Detroit's Terrence Toliver), Michigan (New Orleans' Adrian Arrington, Philadelphia's Jason Avant, Kansas City's Steve Breaston, San Francisco's Mario Manningham), Ohio State (San Francisco's Ted Ginn, New England's Anthony Gonzalez, Miami's Brian Hartline, New York Jets' Santonio Holmes, Minnesota's Michael Jenkins)
Candidate you might not have considered: Tennessee, Texas Tech.

TIGHT END U. 2012

Our choice: Miami.
Who they've sent: Richard Gordon (Oakland Raiders), Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints), Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers), Jeremy Shockey (free agent), Kellen Winslow Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Who's next: Nobody's on the horizon. Miami's top pass catching tight end last year was Clive Walford, a redshirt freshman in 2011.
Why we picked them: Miami would have been the clear pick even if we'd done this a year ago, before Graham delivered a breakthrough season in which he caught 99 passes. Graham, Shockey and Winslow have all earned Pro Bowl invitations at some point in their careers.
Other finalists: Arizona State (Arizona's Todd Heap, Seattle's Zach Miller), California (Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, Seattle's Cameron Morrah, Tennessee's Craig Stevens), Iowa (Buffalo's Scott Chandler, free agent Dallas Clark, Kansas City's Tony Moeaki, Oakland's Brandon Myers, Minnesota's Allen Reisner), Notre Dame (Seattle's John Carlson, Miami's Anthony Fasano, Minnesota's Kyle Rudolph), Texas (Green Bay's Jermichael Finley, Cincinnati's Bo Scaife, New Orleans' David Thomas), Wisconsin (New York Giants' Travis Beckum, Houston's Owen Daniels, Houston's Garrett Graham, St. Louis' Lance Kendricks)
Candidate you might not have considered: Colorado State is the alma mater of Denver's Joel Dreessen and San Diego's Kory Sperry. Dreessen caught six touchdown passes for the Houston Texans last season before signing with the Broncos as a free agent.


(yahoosports.com)

Very quietly, the Carolina Panthers have restructured the contract of tight end Greg Olsen.

The deal was done several weeks ago, but I haven’t seen it reported anywhere. The Panthers have made other moves since Olsen’s restructure and they currently are the only team in the NFL with less than $1 million in salary-cap space.

The Panthers dropped Olsen’s salary-cap figure from $4.125 million to $2.4 million by converting $2.3 million of his scheduled base salary into a signing bonus that will be pro-rated over the life of his contract. The Panthers also converted a $2.5 million option bonus into a signing bonus that also will be pro-rated over the rest of Olsen’s contract.


(espn.com)

Greg Olsen turned into being part of the package that brought the Chicago Bears Brandon Marshall.

General manager Phil Emery cleared up questions about what specific picks the Bears shipped to the Miami Dolphins in the Tuesday trade for the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.

The Bears gave the Dolphins the 74th overall pick in the third round, the pick they received from the Carolina Panthers for Olsen, and their third-round pick in 2013.

The Bears still have seven picks in this draft. But their pick in the third round will come later.


(chicagotribune.com)

Reggie Wayne started a new streak last week by scoring 56-yard TD (his 1st TD since Week 1) finishing the game with 5 receptions for 122 yards and Jimmy Graham added 2 TDs to go along with his team leading 84 yards on 5 receptions for the New Orleans Saints in their victory over the NY Giants in Week 13 of the 2011 NFL Season.

This Week there were FIVE proCane TDs. The day was started off buy Vince Wilfork who scored his first career NFL TD by recovering a fumble in the end zone and was capped by a Frank Gore TD.

To see the old full 149 week streak click here.

Week 14 2011:
Vince Wilfork - 1 TD - New England Patriots
Jeremy Shockey - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Greg Olsen - 1 TD - Carolina Panthers
Santana Moss - 1 TD - Washington Redksins
Frank Gore - 1 TD - San Francisco


Week 13 2011:
Willis McGahee - 1 TD - Denver Broncos

Week 12 2011:
Reggie Wayne - 1 TD - Indianapolis Colts
Jimmy Graham - 2 TDs - New Orleans Saints

Greg Olsen caught two passes for 53 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons in Week 14.

Olsen lost a 6-yard touchdown to Jeremy Shockey, but responded with a 44-yard score of his own off a tight-end screen. While the six targets are the most he's had in three weeks, Olsen is still more of a TE2 option against a tough Texans defense in Week 15.



(rotoworld.com)

Greg Olsen caught just one pass for 21 yards in the Panthers' Week 13 win over the Buccaneers.

Olsen also dropped a potential touchdown and finished with just four targets. Mired in a slump, Olsen will only be a high-end TE2 consideration against the Falcons in Week 14. He has cleared 50 yards just once in his last eight games.


(rotoworld.com)

Greg Olsen is happy to be one of Cam Newton's favorite targets with the Carolina Panthers, but the tight end believes the Chicago Bears were "unprofessional" in their dealings with him that led to a trade before the season.

Olsen, known more as a pass-catching tight end than a blocker, was an odd fit in a Mike Martz offense that utilizes the position more for blocking. The Bears traded Olsen to the Panthers in July, a year after the New England Patriots were in trade talks for him. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said during training camp that Olsen pushed for a trade then, a claim Olsen denies.

"I just felt that the way they approached it was, in my opinion, a little unprofessional," Olsen said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "The night before the trade when they contacted me and I spoke to Jerry, we had a good healthy conversation and he laid out what they were thinking, that they were not going to invest that money in the position because of the offense and all those things that we all know.

"[He said] they were going to entertain trades. I said that's fine. I get that. I said you know me I'm not one that goes out and speaks to the media. I'm not really a throw-guys-under-the-bus [kind of guy]. I respect that. I was nothing but professional. Then the day after the trade goes down he was the one saying that I was demanding [a trade in 2010]. I just thought that was a little uncalled for when all along I did nothing but play the good guy."

Olsen, a first-round draft pick in 2007 who caught 41 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns in his fourth and final season with the Bears in 2010, said he felt the organization let him down after word got out that a trade with the Patriots fell through.

"Last year when they tried to trade me to New England and it all falls through I'm the guy out there biting the bullet keeping the straight face saying 'I'm happy to be here' in an offense that I knew wasn't going to use me," Olsen said. "I still went out there and played one of my best all-around seasons that I have had in the league, blocking and doing all the things they asked me to do being the team guy.

"Then for them to just throw me under the bus when I never did demand a trade, I just thought that was unprofessional on their part. But at the end of the day it is what it is, and I really can honestly say I'm happy here and I'm really happy that they made that decision for my career. Obviously they are having a good season too so it's worked out for everybody."

Olsen already has 30 catches and four touchdowns this season playing with rookie star Newton, who is second in the NFL with 2,393 yards.

Olsen still keeps in touch with his former Bears teammates, including running back Matt Forte, who has been in talks with the Bears about a contract extension. The Bears reportedly will use the franchise tag on Forte if they don't get a long-term deal done by February.

The breakdown in the contract negotiations don't make sense to Olsen.

"I think it's a little crazy that they won't reward their best player," Olsen said. "Let's be honest, especially offensively he's been pretty much the whole offense. He singlehandedly beat us. He's a great kid. He works extremely hard as we all know in working out with him in the offseason. It's not a mystery why he's having such a good season. And it's not just one season. He's been like this since he was a rookie. He's come in and carried a heavy load under two different offensive coordinators and his play has just continued to get better.

"Those are the guys you want to see rewarded, the guys that do it the right way, the guys that aren't real flashy and don't really care about all the extra curricular stuff but just go out and play every week really hard. You've got to hope that they do the right thing but as we all know sometimes they make decisions that are a little crazy."

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Greg Olsen caught four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Week 8.

Olsen put a great move on Husain Abdullah at the line of scrimmage to break free for a 39-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His seven targets tied for the second-most on the team. Olsen is on pace for 60 receptions, 718 yards, and eight touchdowns heading into the Week 9 bye.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Through seven weeks of the season, there are four NFC South representatives among the six most-targeted tight ends in the NFL. The top two spots are occupied by NFC South players.

New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham has been targeted a league-high 66 times, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He has 45 catches for 674 yards and five touchdowns.

Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow is No. 2 with 56 targets. He has 31 catches for 282 yards and a touchdown. Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez is No. 5 with 50 targets. Gonzalez has 35 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns.

Carolina’s Greg Olsen is No. 6. He’s been targeted 45 times and has 26 catches for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Olsen’s numbers could be higher, but he shares time -- and targets -- with Jeremy Shockey.

Even though he’s not the primary tight end, Shockey still ranks No. 16 with 37 targets. He has 22 catches for 291 yards.

Click here to order Jimmy Graham’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

Greg Olsen caught just one pass for four yards in Sunday's win over the Redskins.

Olsen may have been limited by his turf toe issue. The Panthers ran a screen for Jeremy Shockey in a spot they'd normally use Olsen. In the four games prior to today, Olsen was averaging 5.0 catches for 42.5 yards with three touchdowns. After next week's game against the Vikings, Olsen will have the bye to rest his toe.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Panthers TE Greg Olsen (turf toe) returned to a full practice on Thursday.

Olsen is fully expected to start against a Redskins defense allowing the 20th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Greg Olsen's turf toe issue is not believed to be serious. The ex-Bear is averaging 4.1 catches for 47 yards with three touchdowns through six games. He'll be a borderline TE1 option against a Redskins team that gave up a decent game to previously dormant Brent Celek last week. Rotoworld ranks Olsen as the No. 12 fantasy play at the position this week.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers: He’s not a sexy name, but Olsen currently ranks sixth in fantasy points at the tight end position in standard scoring formats. He should be owned in all leagues with ten or more teams, especially when you consider the fact that quarterback Cam Newton currently ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nationalfootballpost.com)

Greg Olsen caught three passes for 21 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in Week 5.
He was targeted five times. Olsen couldn't haul in a short pass thrown behind him in the end zone, but Cam Newton came right back to him for a 5-yard touchdown just a few plays later. Olsen is averaging 48 yards with three touchdowns heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Falcons.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Back when Randy Shannon was attempting to talk basketball player Jimmy Graham into trying football, the former University of Miami football coach used a very powerful recruiting pitch.

“He said, 'We are Tight End U,'" Graham said. “He said, 'Look at the guys who’ve been through here -- Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow and Jeremy Shockey. Look where they are now. They’re in the NFL. You can do the same thing.'"

Shannon’s out at Miami, but he turned out to be a prophet. Graham, now with the New Orleans Saints, is doing a lot of the same things Olsen and Shockey are doing for the Carolina Panthers and Winslow is doing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Throw in Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, who didn’t go to Miami but has another common bond with Graham, and you can make a pretty strong case that the NFC South has the league’s best collection of pass-catching tight ends.

"None of those guys are guys you want to end up covering," said New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who played at Miami. "I had to do it in college and thought I was getting away from it and I did for a few years. But now I've got to deal with it in this division and I've got to deal with it every day in practice. It’s not a lot of fun."

It’s not mere coincidence that the NFC South, once a wasteland for tight ends, is suddenly filled with some of the best pass-catchers in the league. And it’s no coincidence that most of them came through the Miami pipeline.

When one team has success with something, other teams tend to follow. And when you’re looking for good tight ends, you look for the guys who come from the best factory.

The Saints started this trend back in 2008 when they traded for Shockey. The next offseason, the Falcons traded for Gonzalez and the Bucs traded for Winslow. In 2010, the Saints used a third-round pick on Graham, who played only one year of college football. He showed them so much potential that the Saints released Shockey after last season.

He didn't stay unemployed for long. Before the lockout started, the Panthers scooped up Shockey. They later made a trade with Chicago to get Olsen. There was some very strong logic behind both moves.

Ron Rivera had just taken over as Carolina’s coach and he brought Rob Chudzinski as his offensive coordinator. Yep, you guessed it. Chudzinski once was the tight ends coach at the University of Miami.

"We’re caught up in the same boat to a degree, but we’re young at a couple positions and we have enough playmakers at tight end that you have to account for both of them," Rivera said.

The Panthers, who pretty much ignored offense in the John Fox days, found their franchise quarterback in Cam Newton. And now they're using their tight ends as frequently as the other teams in the division.

Watch an NFC South game these days and you’ll think you're on the practice field in Coral Gables.

"As soon as I made the decision to play football, they started showing me tapes," Graham said. "I watched tapes of Olsen, Winslow and Shockey. I guess that was pretty much like reading a textbook on how to play tight end. Heck, even when I was getting ready for the draft and my combine workout and pro day, I watched a tape of Olsen's pro day over and over because everybody told me that was like the greatest workout ever for a tight end. It’s pretty amazing because I didn't have a lot of football experience, but I feel like those guys cleared the way for me. I learned a lot by watching tape of them and I think the reputation they created for Miami tight ends also helped me a lot."

But the commonality Graham has with Gonzalez might have played a role. Like Graham, Gonzalez played some college basketball. There are people who say Gonzalez could have played in the NBA, but he chose football. That turned out to be the right move because Gonzalez has been the most prolific pass-catching tight end in the history of the NFL.

It also didn't hurt that San Diego's Antonio Gates, another former basketball player, has probably been the closest thing to Gonzalez.

"I think when someone has success like Antonio Gates had and the league sees that, I think all of us pay attention to another area to scout than just the college football field," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said.

Payton’s having fun drawing up plays for the former basketball player. In Sunday’s victory at Jacksonville, Graham had the best game of his career -- 10 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.

"He’s a guy that is going to give you headaches if he can stretch your team vertically," said Rivera, who will face Graham and the Saints on Sunday. "He has enough athletic ability and route-running ability and good hands to cause you problems underneath. And if you’re not careful and you try to match him up with the wrong guy, he could take advantage of that."

But it’s not just Graham that Rivera and the other NFC South coaches have to worry about. Every time an NFC South team takes the field these days, you have to worry about the tight ends.

They’re a huge part of every passing game. Graham is second in the league with 36 targets. At 35, Gonzalez hasn’t slowed a bit. He has 21 catches for 229 yards and is tied for second among the league’s tight ends with four touchdown catches. Winslow and Olsen each have been targeted 27 times, which ties them for seventh in the league among tight ends, and each have 17 catches. Shockey’s been targeted 19 times and has 11 catches.

"All those guys are like wide receivers playing tight end and they can block too," Vilma said. "As a defense, you have to account for them on every play. It's not really supposed to be like that. But, in our division, that’s the reality now."


(espn.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tight end Greg Olsen has played an integral role for the Carolina Panthers' offense so far this season.

The Bears traded Olsen, a four-year starter, to the Panthers in July for a third-round draft pick in 2012 because he no longer fit in Chicago's offensive scheme. Olsen has been productive in Carolina, where tight ends are a featured part of the passing game.

He has 140 yards on 13 receptions, including a game-winning 16-yard touchdown reception last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars that gave the Panthers their first win of the season. He also scored on a two-point conversion.

On Sunday, he makes his return to Soldier Field, where he caught 194 passes for 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns in four seasons.

"Of course I want to go up there and play well and I would be lying if I said I didn't," Olsen said. "But you don't want to try to do too much and make it more than it is. It's not the Super Bowl. We want to continue to get better and that's the approach we're going to take."

It's been reported that Olsen asked for a trade to leave Chicago, something that he vehemently disputes.

"I didn't ask for a trade, it's about as simple as that," Olsen said. "They will say what they want to and protect themselves so people won't make them out to seem, you know, whatever. But it's over and I'm glad I'm here."

So are the Panthers.

When the Bears informed other teams that Olsen was on the trading block, it took only minutes for the Panthers to respond with an offer.
"We moved immediately," coach Ron Rivera said.

It took some bargaining on the part of both sides, but eventually a deal was struck. General manager Marty Hurney described Olsen as a "perfect fit" in coordinator Rob Chudzinski's offense.

Olsen and fellow tight end Jeremy Shockey have been huge safety valve outlets for young quarterback Cam Newton, combining for 25 receptions for 306 yards.

They've also freed up the outside for four-time Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith, who's enjoying a renaissance of sorts in his 11th season.

"The big reason we wanted (Olsen) is because of what we were familiar with in San Diego," said Rivera, who was the Chargers defensive coordinator last season. "I'd seen what we did with Antonio Gates under coach (Norv) Turner. Knowing how valuable a tight end was going to be in our offense, we made the move."


(chron.com)

Panthers-Bears doesn’t exactly have the storied rivalry of Packers-Bears, but this week’s game at Soldier Field means a little extra to a few members of the Panthers organization.

“I’m not going to downplay it. People say it’s just another game. No, it’s not,” Panthers coach Rivera said Monday. “They’re all big, but this has a little personal meaning for me because it’s Chicago. It’s a great city and a great organization. Now I’m here in Charlotte in a great organization and a great city. It’ll be fun. I look forward to going up there.”

Rivera, of course, was drafted by the Bears and played for their 1985 Super Bowl team.  He’s also had two coaching stints there under Dave Wannstedt and then Lovie Smith before Chicago went in a different direction at defensive coordinator.

Rivera isn’t the only one that’s fired up.

“To say this game doesn’t light your fire a little more with everything that happened would be a lie,” Panthers tight end Greg Olsen told the Chicago Tribune. “I’m excited.”

While Jay Cutler has struggled to find weapons passing, Olsen is off to a nice start in Carolina with 12 catches, 169 yards, and a game-winning touchdown last week.  He’s on pace to have the best year of his career after Chicago traded him to the Panthers.

We haven’t even mentioned Julius Peppers yet.  Charles Johnson of the Panthers gets a shot to prove perhaps he’s the best big money defensive end on the field this week.

It’s not Packers-Bears, but it’s not bad.

And it’s a game the Bears desperately need to win.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

Tight end Greg Olsen will make his return to Chicago to face the team that traded him to the Panthers this offseason.

“Of course I want to go up there and play well, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t,” Olsen said. “But you don’t want to try to do too much and make it more than it is. It’s not the Super Bowl. We want to continue to get better and that’s the approach we’re going to take.”

After the trade, the Bears said Olsen had asked to be traded, something Olsen vehemently denies.

“I didn’t ask for a trade, it’s about as simple as that,” Olsen said. “They will say what they want to and protect themselves so people won’t make them out to seem, you know, whatever. But it’s over and I’m glad I’m here.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(gastongazzette.com)

In terms of Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, do you ask them to do the same things or different things?
Chudzinski: “I think a lot of the things they do, both of them can do.  There may be a few things we will ask one of them to do a little bit more of. I have been real pleased with both of them. Obviously Greg makes the big catches at the end of the game (Sunday) but Jeremy has been doing all of the little things to help win. You watch the film yesterday and you see some of the blocks down the field or a catch in a critical situation that Jeremy has. I have been real pleased with how those guys are playing.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s or Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(www.gastongazette.com)

Greg Olsen caught seven passes for 57 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Jaguars.

Olsen also nabbed a two-point conversion. His touchdown capped a game-winning drive as he caught the ball over the middle and outran three Jaguar defenders to the end zone with just over four minutes left. Olsen led the team in targets with 10 today as a heavy downpour made it difficult to get downfield. He's locked in as the weekly No. 2 target for Cam Newton behind Steve Smith.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Greg Olsen caught one pass for 34 yards in Week 2 against Green Bay. The Panthers started in a two-tight end set and used them throughout, but the coaching staff appears to envision Olsen and Jeremy Shockey as interchangeable -- both blocking and receiving wise.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(fantasysp.com)

CHARLOTTE — Rookie quarterback Cam Newton completed two passes to wide receivers in the Panthers' first two preseason games—both to Armanti Edwards.

And while that stat speaks to Newton's struggles with his accuracy on longer throws, it also reflects the expanded role of tight ends in the passing attack of first-year offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

Chudzinski had a pair of two-year stints as the tight ends coach in San Diego, where tight end Antonio Gates was the Chargers' leading receiver for six consecutive seasons (2004-09). And while Panthers new tight end Greg Olsen might not be in the same class as Gates, don't be surprised if the former Bear puts up big numbers under Chudzinski, his coach for a year at the University of Miami.

Olsen is big (6-5, 255 pounds) and fast and has good hands. He has caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in the first two exhibitions, and has quickly gained the confidence of Newton as a safety valve for the No. 1 overall pick.

Olsen was not being used much by coordinator Mike Martz in Chicago, which traded him to Carolina last month for a third-round pick. By the end of Olsen's first year in Charlotte, that deal could look like a steal for the Panthers.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sportingnews.com)

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer believes Greg Olsen could challenge Steve Smith for the team lead in receptions.
Olsen is the Panthers' No. 2 receiver based on talent and scheme. In coordinator Rob Chudzinski's system, tight ends are featured heavily in the passing game. Olsen already has five catches during limited playing time in two preseason games and is a good bet to reach 60 receptions this year. Olsen is offering good fantasy value.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

After trading tight end Greg Olsen to the Panthers, Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo said that Olsen “came at me hard” and asked to be traded to a team that has a more tight end-friendly offense.

Olsen says that’s false.

“I’m the last one to go to the media and make big spectacles, but sometimes when things aren’t right, it’s hard to keep your mouth shut,” Olsen told the Chicago Tribune. “[Angelo] put the perception out that I forced my way out of there, which wasn’t true at all.

According to Olsen, Angelo is spreading the perception that Olsen demanded a trade because Angelo wants to avoid criticism for the decision.
“I never asked for a trade,” Olsen said. “If he had said, ‘We are going to try to get rid of you,’ I would have said, ‘That’s fine.’ I did not go in his office and ask for a trade. I think a little bit of that is him trying to make it look like I tried to force my way out because they took so much heat about it. It’s just not true.”

Still, Olsen says he’s happier in a Carolina offense that will see him playing to his strengths, rather than the Mike Martz offense that doesn’t get the tight end involved in the passing game.

“There’s no question I wasn’t happy catching only 40 passes after the previous two years,” Olsen said. “It was pretty clear when Mike was hired it was going to be a different role. But I embraced that and was the bigger man. I tried to do the best I could and think I played well.”

And Olsen says he would have been willing to keep playing well in Chicago, and it was Angelo’s decision to send him elsewhere.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballtalk.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton shared a common denominator on their biggest throws in the Panthers' first exhibition: tight end Greg Olsen was on the receiving end of both.

Olsen, who came to the Panthers last month in a trade with Chicago, pulled down three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown Saturday in Carolina's 20-10 win against the New York Giants.

The Panthers hope Olsen's performance was a preview of what is to come this fall in the first season of Extreme Makeover, Tight End Edition.
At his introductory news conference in January, first-year coach Ron Rivera identified the tight end spot as an area that needed to be addressed. The Panthers signed free agents Jeremy Shockey and Ben Hartsock, and gave up a third-round pick for Olsen, who had two big years in Chicago before seeing his role diminish when Mike Martz took over as the Bears' offensive coordinator in 2010.

Olsen seems thrilled to have landed in Charlotte, where the tight end figures prominently in offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's offense.
Chudzinski came with Rivera from San Diego, where he worked with Antonio Gates, the Chargers' Pro Bowl tight end.

"I think it's a great fit. From the leadership of coach Rivera all the way down to the veterans that they had coming back and the new guys that they added, I feel like they have a really good group here," Olsen said after Saturday's game. "I've been around some good teams and I think that this group has something special and has something going forward."

Gary Barnidge is the only holdover among the six tight ends on the roster. Barnidge, a proven blocker who did not catch a pass in 2010, had two receptions for 25 yards against the Giants.

With Shockey not seeing much action, Olsen and Barnidge were targeted four times each-more than any of the Panthers' receivers.

"I was really pleased with their play as a unit. I thought they did some really good things," Rivera said. "I thought their route running was well. They caught the ball well when they had opportunities. They ran well with the ball and protected it."

"We have four guys who can really handle the position for us," Rivera added. "We are pretty excited about that group."

Rivera said last week the Panthers could potentially keep four tight ends on the roster. Olsen and Shockey, in particular, will be good safety valves for the team's young quarterbacks.

Newton said his safe, 10-yard completion to Olsen on his first play Saturday helped settle his nerves and get him into the flow of the game. Newton threw a 30-yard laser to Olsen later on the same drive to help set up the first of Olindo Mare's two field goals.

Olsen was careful not to put too much emphasis on the offensive showing, considering both teams sat their starters for most of the second half. But after failing to score a touchdown in four exhibitions last year, the Panthers will take it.

"You don't want to get too high. You don't want to get too low. But I do think we did a lot of good things that we can build upon and show what the future for this offense could look like," Olsen said. "There's obviously a lot of things we have to fix moving forward. But I feel like it was a good start."

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(sunherald.com)

Greg Olsen caught three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants.
Olsen and fellow tight end Gary Barnidge tied for the team lead with four targets each. We're one game in and already Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski - an ex-tight end at the University of Miami and former tight ends coach of Antonio Gates - has put his stamp on the offense. Olsen's fantasy outlook is trending upwards.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Shortly after being traded to Carolina, tight end Greg Olsen and the Panthers worked out a four-year contract extension.

We’ve got the complete breakdown here. Olsen was in the last year of his contract when he came from Chicago and was to make $900,000 in base salary. In the new deal, the Panthers knocked that figure down to $700,000. They also gave Olsen a $2.5 million signing bonus and added four years to his contract. His cap figure for this year is $1.2 million. The average per year of the new deal is $5.7 million.

In 2012, Olsen’s base salary jumps to $3 million and that’s guaranteed. Olson also has a $2.5 million option bonus in 2012. In 2013, Olsen’s base salary increases to $3.75 million and he has a $250,000 workout bonus for that offseason.

In 2014 and 2015, Olsen is scheduled to make $5.25 million in base salary each season. He also has a $250,000 workout bonus in each of those years.

Prior to the lockout, the Panthers signed Jeremy Shockey to a one-year deal that's worth $3.8 million. Olsen's new deal shows that the Panthers have a lot more money and time invested in him. Shockey will probably be used as a role player this season, but Olsen will be Carolina's main tight end.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

It's been since Wesley Walls that the Panthers had a good offensive tight end. Now they have two if Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey can stay healthy, which is no gimme. Shockey signed as a free agent; the Panthers dealt a third-round pick to Chicago for former first-rounder Olsen the other day. Saw Shockey in the student union after lunch today, hunkered down with tight end coach Pete Hoener, working on learning the playbook. I like what they've done there.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s or Jeremy Shockey’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cnnsi.com)

BOURBONNAIS -- Stopped at the bank of elevators at a hotel in Indianapolis during the 2010 scouting combine, Jerry Angelo told a Tribune reporter Greg Olsen has not come to the Chicago Bears seeking a trade.

On Sunday night, after he finished hashing through the decision to move on from center Olin Kreutz, Angelo went ahead and admitted that not only did Olsen seek to be traded shortly after Mike Martz was hired as offensive coordinator, he “came at me hard.”

“I understood it,” Angelo said. “I told him I’d think about it. Greg is a great kid, works his tail off. I said, ‘Greg, no, I don’t see that being in our best interest.’ Again, it’s about the team. And I said, that’s going to hurt our football team. I said, ‘You’re going to have to suck it up, just do your job. You’ve got a contract, we’ve paid you well for your services,’ and he is a professional and he took the high road. I respect that.”

But a year later, after further evaluating the situation, the Bears made the decision Olsen was a player they would not invest in for the long haul because he didn’t fit what they wanted to do offensively as more physical tight ends. So, the Bears set out to get value for Olsen while they could, securing a third-round draft pick from the Carolina Panthers.

“This year was different,” Angelo said. “We’re really not looking for Kellen Winslow. We’re looking for Mike Ditka. So, the tight ends we have now really fit more the profile we want for our offense. It’s no more than that. And we got some good compensation. They got a heck of a tight end. (Panthers general manager) Marty Hurney is a good friend of mine and Marty’s just happier than heck to get him. (Rob) Chudzinski, the offensive coordinator, knows Greg. Greg is in a good spot. Hey, we hope he is in the Pro Bowl and he just has a great career. We really wish him the best.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chicagotribune.com)

Watch new Panther tight end Greg Olsen face a football passing machine for five minutes and you realize it's a mismatch. I've seen numerous receivers work with the machines, which fire footballs at you from a distance of 7-10 yards. I've never seen a tight end catch the ball any better than Olsen -- nonchalantly and one-handed with either hand. Talk about a nice safety valve for Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton -- Olsen is going to make a big impact.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(scottfowlerobs.blogspot.com)

The opening days of the NFL's free agency/trade "season" has led to several brow-raising moves from clubs. Whether it be the Seahawks choosing Tarvaris Jackson over Matt Hasselbeck, the Chargers giving up a Pro Bowl contract to safety Eric Weddle or the release of several starting caliber players by various teams, there have been plenty of surprises already.

One of the more interesting ones happened yesterday when the Chicago Bears traded away former first round pick Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers for a third round selection in the 2012 draft.

Olsen, 6-6 and 254 pounds and having been timed at 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the 2007 Scouting Combine is one of the league's most physically gifted tight ends. His statistics won't show it. After all, he's averaged only 10.2 yards per catch over his career and his "breakout" 2009 season (60 catches for 612 yards and eight TDs) resulted in nearly double the touchdowns as any other season of his career. While only an average blocker, his size, speed and secure hands would have resulted in a Pro Bowl nod or two already had he been in an offense that catered to him.

Now, he's going to one that will.

This trade had everything to do with scheme. The Bears run a multiple-receiver offense under offensive coordinator Mike Martz. It is the same offense that Martz ran to great success in St. Louis (and considerably less so in Detroit). The scheme didn't put Olsen (or any tight end, really) in position to be a significant part of the team's passing attack.

The Carolina Panthers, on the other hand, are incorporating former San Diego Chargers' tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski's offense. Chudzinski, you might recall, had the benefit of working with Antonio Gates, so it is safe to say that he understands the value of a mismatch of an athletic tight end.

But, that isn't the end of the Chudzinski-tight end connection. Prior to his NFL gigs (including being the offensive coordinator under Romeo Crennel with the Cleveland Browns), Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami where he coached All-Americans Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow II. Chudzinski left Miami the year before Olsen arrived at The U.

Considering their strong running game, deep threat in Steve Smith and young quarterbacks in Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen, the Carolina Panthers appear to be an ideal fit for Olsen. The young passers have been given a Pro Bowl caliber security blanket and the Panthers gave up just a third round pick to get him.

With the exorbitant prices of free agency, player trades being seen this week, Olsen could prove the best value thus far this year.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(cbssports.com)

Greg Olsen just wanted some clarity, to know where he stood with the Bears.

The 31st pick in the 2007 NFL draft, he had improved his catches, yards and touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, and some projected him as a breakout player in 2010.

Many speculated Olsen wouldn’t be an ideal fit under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who traditionally hadn’t used a tight end much. But everyone played nice through a 2010 season in which the Bears won the NFC North and reached the conference title game, even though Olsen’s production dipped across the board.

Heading into the final year of his rookie deal and slated to make $900,000, Olsen needed to feel good about his future.

On Tuesday, Bears officials told his agent Drew Rosenhaus that they needed a couple of days — based on all the chaos of this shortened offseason — before they could discuss a possible extension. Then, on Wednesday night, they informed Rosenhaus they were looking to trade Olsen.

On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers traded a third-round pick in the 2012 draft to the Bears for Olsen, then agreed to terms with the tight end on a four-year extension worth about $24 million, including $10.5  million guaranteed. The Bears also released Brandon Manumaleuna, whom they signed just last offseason to a three-year, $15 million contract, and signed Matt Spaeth from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kellen Davis is the only 2010 holdover at tight end.

Olsen has been stunned by it all.

‘‘It was not something that I expected,’’ he told the Sun-Times. ‘‘Then things transpired really fast. But, in the end, I think I’m going to a good place. There’s no doubt I’m going to miss my teammates, and the city of Chicago has been awesome to me and my family.

‘‘But, the business side of it, this was something that — I guess — was in the Bears’ best interests, and then once we started down that road, there was no turning back.’’

Could he have played another down for the Bears if they hadn’t found a suitable trade partner?

‘‘We went through all that stuff last year, and I was able to put it behind me and move forward,’’ he said. ‘‘Last year wasn’t as serious. But this year was more open and official, that this is what they wanted to do. It would be hard knowing that a team didn’t want you two times, then playing through it again.’’

Olsen admitted his reduced role and opportunities last season bothered him.

‘‘There’s no worse feeling then not being able to play up to your potential,’’ he said. ‘‘Last year, I felt like that was the case.’’

Still, Olsen said he’ll be grateful for his time with the Bears.

‘‘I always had a tremendous amount of respect for [coach] Lovie [Smith] and the Bears for selecting me with their first pick [in 2007],” he said.
Olsen said he fit into the offense, and he embraced Martz’s push for him to become a better blocker. And while he got chances to make plays, ‘‘there were weeks on end where I did nothing. I can’t say I never had a role, but it wasn’t consistent.’’

But Olsen is thrilled to be headed to Carolina, where he’ll reunite with former Miami teammate Jon Beason and former Miami offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

‘‘To get back with Coach Chud, and what he’s done in the past, with tight ends, is going to be huge for my development,’’ Olsen said, ‘‘and I’m looking forward to it.’’

Chudzinski coached two of the game’s most talented tight ends, Kellen Winslow and Antonio Gates.

Asked about his role, Olsen said, ‘‘It’s hard to say. But his track record of using guys is pretty clear, and that’s encouraging. Now it falls on my shoulders on how I perform. To be honest, I think it’s a way to finally get out of the restraints of what our system was.’’

Still, he’ll never forget the last two days, when he was holed up in a dorm room at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, waiting to hear about his future.

‘‘It was weird, because you’re sitting around your dorm, with nothing to do,” he said. “But I’m glad I can move on and go forward.’’

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

The Bears had a deal in place to trade Greg Olsen during the second round of the 2010 draft that didn't materialize when the Patriots drafted their own tight end.

Now, two nights before the beginning of training camp, the team may be considering trading Olsen again.

His agent Drew Rosenhaus sent a mass email to the league's general managers and personnel people at 7:56 p.m. Wednesday night announcing the Bears were making Olsen available for trade. The email went to scores of people, including Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and contract negotiator Cliff Stein.

"The Bears have granted me permission to seek a trade for Greg Olsen," Rosenhaus wrote. "Please let me know if interested. Sounds like the Bears will be very reasonable on the compensation in return for Greg."

But 11 minutes later, Rosenhaus sent another mass email to the same recipients, including Angelo and Stein, asking them to ignore his previous message.

"Please disregard my previous email regarding Greg Olsen," the one-sentence email said.

What does it mean? Clearly Rosenhaus had permission to shop Olsen or believed he had permission to shop him. One personnel executive who received the email speculated the Bears saw how fast and wide the message was sent and asked Rosenhaus to pull back.

Questions surrounded how Olsen would fit in the offense last season as coordinator Mike Martz has a history of not utilizing tight ends in the passing game. Olsen went to the front office and shared those concerns. There were rumors he would be traded before the draft and the deal with the Patriots nearly happened, according to a Bears source, before they selected Rob Gronkowski 42nd overall.

Olsen had 41 receptions for 404 yards last season and five scores, tying him for the most touchdown receptions on the team. The Bears have two other veteran tight ends on the roster in Brandon Manumaleuna and Kellen Davis.

Olsen, the club's first-round draft pick in 2007, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will be looking for an extension or an opportunity to play elsewhere.

He was very professional about the situation last season and has developed into a leader in the locker room while being a durable performer on the field. He said the trade talk did not get to him.

"You mean the story that was made up?" Olsen told the Tribune before the start of last season. "It doesn't bother me because I know there is no truth behind it. But it does bother me that people take the liberty to just make up stories for their own personal benefit.

"There was no substance behind it. If there was, tell us. It's easy to say an unnamed source. That could be anybody."

His agent's fingerprints are on the story now.


(chicagotribune.com)

 

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.

Greg Olsen said the workouts have helped the offensive players with their timing as they prepare for Year 2 in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system.

"It's a little unfortunate because in normal years we would have gotten a lot of work between all the OTAs, all the minicamps, just the regular days out on the field," Olsen said. "We would have gotten a lot accomplished and learned a lot from last season, but we didn't so that's the hand we were dealt, and we have to play a little catchup as far as with the coaches once training camp opens. But as players there is a lot we can do to prepare for the season."

After an inconsistent first season in Martz's complicated system, Olsen believes the Bears are poised for a breakout season from the offense.

"For awhile here we've been the stepchild," Olsen said. "The offense has always played second fiddle, deservingly so because we've had some of the top defenses and top defensive players in league history. But we feel like we have a good core nucleus of young offensive players and Jay being right up there as the guy. With Matt [Forte] and our receivers, Earl [Bennett], Johnny [Knox] and Devin [Hester], I think we've got a lot of guys who are ready to have a little bit of consistency."

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

No player had more speculation surrounding their concern over the arrival of Mike Martz than Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen had last off-season.  The free agent signing of blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna added even more fuel to the fire.  Whether it was rumors of Olsen's displeasure over his expected diminished role or trade rumors, the attention surrounding the Greg Olsen - Mike Martz "issue" became an important story to watch during the 2010 season.

This morning on the Mully & Hanely show, Greg Olsen talked about how he embraced his new role in the Martz offense in 2010:

"There's a lot of other ways that you can impact the game rather than just catching the ball. I think last year really made that a lot more evident to me than I experienced early on in my career because catching the ball really was my role on the offense. Last year there were some other things that were maybe even more important or just as important as being out there to catch the ball. I did embrace that."

"I think I got better as a football player last year. Granted my catches and stuff went down, but I honestly can say I think I got better and there's a reason for that. Between the coaches and the off-season work that we were able to do, and as you continue to grow and mature as a player, each year you should get better. I anticipate doing the same thing this year."

Being that I have been critical of Greg Olsen's play in the past, I had my doubts as to how Olsen would fit into Martz' system.  As such, I took great interest in following the play of Greg Olsen last season.  I'll say this now as I said throughout multiple games last season, watching Greg Olsen's performance was one of the great surprises and stories that I will remember from the 2010 Chicago Bears season.

While there were occurrences of whiffed blocks in the backfield and miscommunication at times, I can also vividly recall several instances while reviewing the games where I would be pleasantly surprised and literally marvel out loud at the visible progress of Greg Olsen's play.  Along with the occasional growing-pain plays, you would see flashes of growth and progress towards him becoming a more complete tight end.  Whether it was seeing extra effort on downfield blocks, or doing whatever it took to seal a block including a couple of infamous "booty" blocks, Greg Olsen's growth in 2010 impressed me and made me more of a fan of him than I have ever been.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.


(chicagonow.com)

Congratulations to Greg Olsen and his wife on the birth of their son, Tate.




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(nbcchicago.com)

When I spoke to him eight days ago, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler indicated that the offense would have some workouts, but he didn't offer much insight on them.

Players have been largely mum on the topic, but Bears tight end Greg Olsen offered some insight to me Sunday during the First Responders Bowl at St. Rita's High School, where he served as an honorary captain.

"It's been great," Olsen said. "You can train and do all your drills. But you can't substitute actually getting out there and running around and catching the ball."

Cutler and veteran backup Caleb Hanie was joined for three workouts by Bears receivers, tight ends and running backs. It's not entirely clear who showed up and who didn't but attendance was apparently pretty solid.

"We kind of said, 'If you want to be here, you'll make a way to be here, if it's important enough to you,' " Olsen said. "We had such a great turnout, and we have such a good group of guys.

"We don't have to beg anyone to come."

Olsen said it was helpful to get everyone together but he also didn't overplay what took place.

"It was a good start, but it wasn't anything major, and we didn't break any records," he said. "We'll correspond again, and come up with a string of days that works again."

Olsen said he and his teammates aren't worried about how little or much any other clubs are doing. The New Orleans Saints, for instance, reportedly hold workouts for 35 plus players, four times a week.

"Everyone has their own way of doing it. Everyone has a way that works. I'm sure the Saints feel great about the way they're doing it," Olsen said. "But we feel the way we're doing it is best for us."

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(suntimes.com)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- To understand Kevin Olsen, the rising junior quarterback from Wayne Hills, N.J., who's already drawing scholarship offers from the likes of Florida State, know this: Football surrounds him.

It has since before Olsen can remember. The game is in his blood.

Olsen's brothers, Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen and former Virginia quarterback Chris Olsen, delivered Kevin a crash course in football. The kid went everywhere with them, from recruiting visits to college games and NFL workouts.

"He didn't miss much," said their mother, Sue Olsen.

By age 6, Kevin was diving over couches in the office of Greg Schiano, who began recruiting Kevin's brothers even before the Rutgers coach could unpack his boxes after arriving nearly 10 years ago.

Fitting, then, that Olsen staged the latest act of his ascension to prominence Sunday at Rutgers Stadium, shining at the Nike Football Training Camp. Rules prohibit Schiano and other coaches from watching such events; rest assured, though, they know plenty about Olsen.

The 6-foot-3, 196-pound quarterback operated efficiently. He stood out in drills that included Rutgers pledge Blake Rankin of Bloomsburg, Pa., and Olsen plays with a smoothness that figures to place him near the top of all quarterbacks in the class of 2013.

And no one, especially not his father, appears surprised.

The elder Chris Olsen, a high school coach in New Jersey for 36 years, has spent the past quarter century at perennial North Jersey power Wayne Hills, coaching all three of his sons. Kevin is living up to the legacy of brothers Greg, one of the nation's top recruits in 2003, and Chris, heralded as a quarterback one year prior.

"When I was little," Kevin said, "they were everything. I still look up to them."

Chris and Greg signed with Notre Dame, but Chris left the school for Virginia after one season, and Greg transferred to Miami before ever suiting up with the Fighting Irish.

It just wasn't the right fit, according to Chris. The experience left Chris with a unique perspective from which to offer recruiting advice to his brother.

"Don't get wrapped up in the name," he said. "Don't get wrapped in Southern Cal or Ohio State. Get wrapped up in a school where you think the offense fits you and where the coaches actually want you -- where you're not just a number."

Kevin said he leans on Greg, the Bears' first-round draft pick in 2007, and Chris for advice on a variety of football-related topics. Greg provides suggestions on his diet and training. Chris covers the technical aspects of playing quarterback.

As a sophomore in his first season as the starting quarterback, Kevin directed Wayne Hills to a second straight state championship. He completed 103 of 171 passes for 1,484 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Was it surprising that he could fare so well immediately?

"No, because it's Kevin," Wayne Hills lineman Joey Lane said. "You don't get a lot of guys like Kevin Olsen. Most guys need time to learn. Kevin came right in, knew everything and just did it."

Age and experience hardly apply with Kevin. It's more about instincts, his father said.

"He understands the game well," the coach said. "A lot of kids play the position of quarterback. Kevin is a quarterback."

In addition to Florida State, East Carolina and Central Florida told Kevin he's earned a scholarship. Others are sure to follow. Although Kevin says he's not ready to dive full time into recruiting, he has prepared for this for a decade. Kevin spent time in the locker rooms at Virginia around the likes of Heath Miller and Chris Long during his brother's time in Charlottesville.

"The list goes on and on at Miami," brother Chris said. "He's always learned if he acts their age, they'll respect him. I think he's done a great job of that. He's had a chance to meet a lot of people that 16-year-olds just don't get to meet. He's never been awestruck.

"He's always tried to be confident and mature and say to himself, 'Hey, listen, I can be just like these guys.'"

In Chicago, where both of Kevin's brothers live, the family developed a friendship with Bears QB Jay Cutler, who befriended Kevin. Occasionally, they'll talk before a weekend of big games for both quarterbacks.

So, you see, Kevin is playing with the deck stacked in his favor. Of course, it takes more than a good hand to succeed as an elite quarterback.
"He had to take advantage of it," Chris said. "A lot of kids would just like to stay in and play video games. But he was always with us when he went on spring break, working on football. Anybody who's been around him can see that he's very mature.

"He takes coaching. He doesn't whine or pout or talk back. He grew up in a household where none of that stuff mattered."

Kevin said he's far from a finished product. His footwork, in particular, needs improvement, he said. The day before he attended the NFTC at Rutgers, Kevin attended the Elite 11 regional camp at Penn State.

Expectations for Kevin at Wayne Hills, considering the school's tradition and his early success, figure to skyrocket over the next two years. But there's no reason to worry. He's ready for it.

"I've been around a lot of good players," Chris said, "and I've never really seen anything like him as a 16-year-old sophomore. He doesn't think of it as pressure. At the end of the day, he doesn't think about it at all. He just goes out and does what comes naturally to him.

"It's what makes Kevin who he is."

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

With the NFL lockout lifted for now, some Bears players are making an effort to get back to work. Tight end Greg Olsen, kicker Robbie Gould and running back Kahlil Bell were among the players who arrived at Halas Hall on Thursday morning.

However, the players were unable to work out, with the weight room being off-limits while the Bears prepared for Thursday night’s draft.

Bell, who stayed at the facility for about 15 minutes, said the Bears told him he wasn't locked out but that the weight room was closed and no one could work out. He chatted with Olsen briefly.

"Pretty much all you could do is walk in, walk around, and walk out," Bell said. "I didn't see any of the coaches. Just the training staff and the strength coach."

Bell, who has yet to sign his one-year tender as an exclusive rights free agent, said he received an e-mail from Gould encouraging all the players to start working out together, with the lockout lifted. After being denied at Halas Hall, Bell said he planned to return to a fitness facility he has been using in Vernon Hills.

"I mean, it's been a long time, and we've never spent this much time apart," Bell said of not being able to work out with his teammates. "I was figuring everything would be cool. But I guess that's not happening."

Afterward, Gould wrote on his Twitter account: "Went to workout facility locker room and weight room closed."

Olsen tweeted on his account: "If the roles were reversed in labor dispute on eve of training camp and a player didn't show up to camp would he be fined?"

Olsen is one of the players hoping to secure a long-term deal this offseason, and the Bears would like to keep the talented tight end in the fold.

"I know there’s a lot that goes into (an extension), with the situation with the labor agreement or what not,’’ Olsen told the Tribune in March. "I would love to have that security and be here for a long time. There are a lot of things right now kind of out of all of our hands. We’ve got to let it play out. Once we get all this situated and get to free agency and all of that out of the way, we’ll see what happens.’’

Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina and offensive lineman Johan Asiata also showed up at Halas on Thursday morning. Gould and defensive end Israel Idonije came to Halas on Tuesday after the lockout was first lifted by Judge Susan Nelson.

Some are proceeding under the assumption that the league year has begun, as ordered by the judge, but with the NFL going to appeals court to seek a reversal, teams are awaiting guidance fom the league.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagobreakingsport.com)

Greg Olsen says reports of him getting kicked off of a high school football field have been "blown way out of proportion."

After saying in a radio interview that the high school he worked out at "a bunch of times" in Lincolnshire, Ill. kicked him out and wouldn't return his phone calls, Olsen attempted to clear things up on Twitter. "Left when asked and called school," he said. "Also have been to the school to speak to various classes and groups with no issue since (I) moved (into the) district." Hopefully, you can now rest easy at night.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nbcsports.com)

Being locked out by the NFL is one thing, but Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen had to deal with another rejection recently when he was kicked off a high school field while trying to work out.

"The other day I got kicked off a high school field trying to go out and do some field work, so it's not easy," Olsen said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "You have to find your spots and find someone that will let you use their field.

"[Players] already have done some research on some different places, and maybe as it gets a little closer [to training camp] if it looks like that's what we're going to have to do not being able to go over to Halas, then we'll have to continue to look at different opportunities."

One of those places is not likely to be Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill.

"I live right down the street from Stevenson," Olsen said. "The other day I went out there, done it a bunch of times, and all of a sudden they kicked me off. I tried calling everyone over there to see if I could, and no one would call me back."

Stevenson public information coordinator Jim Conrey said it's school policy not to allow the general public on the facilities during school hours.
"Here's my understanding -- I believe he showed up unannounced during the school day and tried to go out on the field while we were trying to have phys ed classes," Conrey said. "One of the phys ed teachers asked him not to go out on the field."

Conrey said Olsen "challenged" the decision.

"If he wants to give us a call and work something out, we'll see if we can accommodate him," Conrey said. "We understand he's in a tough situation with the lockout. We can't have the general public showing up and disrupting classes. Mr. Olsen said he was a resident of our district, and I'll have him on his word."

Conrey also said there are liability issues.

"Another issue is if we have the general public showing up unannounced and they get injured, we're responsible for that," he said. "If Mr. Olsen started to run sprints and blew out his knee, we're responsible. With his situation as a pro athlete, that could be a huge cost. You can't just show up announced. We'd be happy to work something out. We'd try to accommodate him."

Olsen said Bears players will monitor progress with the lockout in the next few weeks before deciding where to work out on their own.

"We're going to see how this last-ditch effort goes [to resolve the lockout]," Olsen said. "If the lockout seems like it's going to go much longer, we'll organize something up here and get everybody back together. We're going to let these next couple weeks play out and get a feel for how long things are going to go. If it doesn't look like there's a light at the end of the tunnel then we'll just take it upon ourselves to do it.

"We've had to do our research [on where to work out]. Preferably, we'd like to do it outside, especially as the weather starts turning. That's ideal."

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

To read our rankings of players 43-35, click here.

To read our rankings of players 34-26, click here.

To read our rankings of players 25-16, click here.

15. Jon Vilma MLB New Orleans Saints: Vilma was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl after a solid 2010 season where he posted over 100 tackles for the third consecutive season and a career high four sacks. Though Vilma did post the fewest tackles of his seven-year career (105), besides his 2007 season where he only played in seven games, the Saints’ defense was riddled with injuries in 2010, and Vilma did not miss a game and anchored the defense. Look for Vilma to continue to be the quarterback of the Saints defense in 2011 and as that defense gets healthier and gains more experience, Vilma will continue to flourish.

14. Greg Olsen TE Chicago Bears: Coming into the 2010 season there were fears that Olsen would not be utilized in Mike Martz’s wide open offense and the Bears actually almost traded Olsen before the start of the 2010 season despite public comments by Head Coach Lovie Smith and Martz that Olsen would be used in the spread offense. Olsen statistically didn’t have a bad season as he posted 41 receptions for 404 yards, the lowest since his rookie season, but more concerning was the fact that in seven games Olsen had either only reception (5 games) or no receptions (2 games). Olsen had his best game of the season in the first round of the playoffs versus the Seahawks where he posted 113 yards receiving, 58 of those coming on one play, but it showed that he could be a threat in that offense if correctly utilized. With one season under his belt it will be interesting to see if Martz can figure out a way to incorporate or Olsen, though the trade rumors continue to persist.

13. Javarris James RB Indianpolis Colts: James was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts right after last year’s draft and by the time Week 5 rolled around he was signed to the Colts’ active roster. James had previously been on the Patriots and Redskins practice squads. Though James did not put up huge numbers, 112 yards rushing on 42 carries, the fact that he made the active roster of the Colts and scored six TDs last season, more than any other proCane runningback, merits him being ranked as a top 15 proCane performer for 2010. James will have an uphill battle to earn a roster spot on the Colts next season as he was inactive for the last two games of the regular season and playoff game, but he very well may be signed by another team due to his tough redzone running.

12. Jon Beason LB Carolina Panthers: Beason had started at MLB for the Panthers the last 3 seasons and coming into 2010 put the team first and agreed to start at the RLB spot. Beason who has yet to miss a game in his four-year career took some time to get acclimated to his new position and was not having as large of an impact defensively for the Panthers. In Week 10, Beason moved back to the middle and 2 weeks later made his presence felt with an interception versus the Cleveland Browns. Beason is too good to not be the starting MLB and it seems like the Panthers have realized that, and he should resume his duties in the middle of the defense in 2011.

11. Kellen Winslow TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Winslow finished the 2010 by playing all 16 games for the second consecutive season and though his numbers weren’t as good as his 2009 numbers, his first season in Tampa, Winslow was still a threat down the middle of the field for the Bucs. Winslow had a career high 5 TDs to go along with his 730 yards receiving and as the season progressed became a more consistent option for Tampa QB Josh Freeman culminating in a 7 reception for 98 yards and 2 TDs performance in Week 15. Winslow has already said he expects big numbers in 2011, and though at times he was not able to practice due to injury, he didn’t miss a game and played with his usual fire all season long.

10. Antonio Dixon DL Philadelphia Eagles: Dixon was a surprise contributor to the Eagles’ defensive line in 2009 as an undrafted rookie free agent signing. He suited up for 16 games and became a vital cog in the Eagles’ defensive line versus the run that year. In 2010, due to injury Dixon received extensive playing time in Week 5 versus the 49ers where he recorded his first sack of the season and ended up starting the rest of the way for Eagles totaling 30 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 pass deflections. Dixon has been a very pleasant surprise for the Eagles and a great personal story as well, overcoming learning disabilities and controlling his weight. Look for Dixon to start for the Eagles next season and continue to excel versus the run and improve his game on passing downs.

9. DJ Williams LB Denver Broncos: Playing in the 3-4 for his second consecutive season DJ Williams looked even more comfortable totaling 119 tackles. Williams also became much more involved in the passing game as he had a career high 9 pass deflections and more impressively 5.5 sacks. The Broncos began to blitz Williams more in passing situations and as a result he led the Broncos in sacks last season as well as tackles by a wide margin. The only knock on Williams is his off the field problems where he was accused of a DUI for the second time in his career and lost his captaincy as a result as well as his driver’s license for a year. Rumors have circulated that Williams is on the trading block but if he isn’t traded he will have to get used to playing in the 4-3 defense at the weak-side linebacker spot as the Broncos are changing their defense, again.


Check back tomorrow to see which proCanes were ranked 8th through 1st!

NFL players and coaches aren’t allowed to have any contact during the lockout, which created an awkward situation when Bears coach Lovie Smith and tight end Greg Olsen both agreed to serve as judges at the McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk contest at Chicago State University.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Smith didn’t say a word to Olsen during the event and barely looked Olsen’s way the entire time.

Smith told the Tribune he could say hi to Olsen and nothing else.

“You want to talk, but you know what it is,” Smith said of the policy against coach-player contact during the lockout. “Greg knows what it is, and I know what it is. . . . We both understand the landscape of what’s going on right now. We just hope that, eventually, we’ll be able to do a lot more than just see each other.”

Smith said he would have liked to ask Olsen if he’s staying in shape, but he knows that’s not allowed. So he’s just going to hope that whenever the lockout ends and players are back in Chicago, they’re ready to go.

“I’m assuming right now, guys are doing what they normally do,” Smith said. “It’s not like we’re talking about of bunch of junior high and Pop Warner kids. These are professionals. They work out. Players just don’t work out because coaches tell them. They take this seriously, so I assume they all are working out, like they normally do.”

But when Smith sees those players out and about, it’s anything but normal.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

While most of the world slept this morning, a large contingent of NFL players was up working out to get ready for a season they aren’t exactly sure will come.

Perhaps the biggest contingent of players was at BPS in Miami — Bommarito Performance Systems.  Chad Ochocinco and Jon Beason are in the 6 a.m. ET workout group, but Ocho stuck around to lovingly take pictures with the 8 a.m. group once they were done.

Among those in attendance: Patriots receiver Wes Welker, free agent running back Fred Taylor, Bears running back Matt Forte, Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch, Giants safety Kenny Phillips,  Ravens cornerback LarDarius Webb, Bears tight end Greg Olsen, Panthers defensive linemen Everett Brown and Charles Johnson, Ravens wideout Donte Stallworth, Browns receiver Mohommad Massaquoi, and probably many more we’re missing.

At a time when fan anger is pretty high, it’s worth remembering the majority of players are preparing for the season like they always would anyway.

Expect, well, they are doing it on their own.

Click here to order Jon Beason’s or Greg Olsen’s or Kenny Phillips’ proCane Rookie Card.



(profootballtalk.com)

In January, Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz lamented tight end Greg Olsen's statistics in the passing game "are not what they could, and probably should be."

Last week, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo suggested Olsen will have a "more prominent" role in Martz's offense next season.

"I thought he did a lot of good things, last year. But I think you'll see a lot more things, more consistently, because of the familiarity that our coaches have with him," Angelo said.

Angelo noted how many wondered about Olsen's role in Martz's offense, which previously hadn't highlighted a tight end. While his numbers dropped from 2009, Olsen came up with big plays and stretched opposing defenses.

"We felt good, because of the fact that we know the person, we know how important football is [to him], and he's got talent, and any good coach or system I've been around always finds a way to accentuate to the best players, and I felt we did that," Angelo said. "I expect him to make a big jump as well, next year. No reason to believe he won't."

Both he and Bears coach Lovie Smith said Olsen improved as a blocker in 2010. But Smith said there "only so many balls," with other talented skill players like running back Matt Forte and receivers Johnny Knox and Devin Hester.

But that's not all; Smith also mentioned backup tight end Kellen Davis.

"[Olsen] was just a great team player in his role, and just like I said with other guys, we're going to try to find ways to keep them all involved. I was pleased with what Kellen Davis was able to do," Smith said. "You could make a case for Kellen getting more plays, being more involved also.

He's everything you're looking for in a tight end. We just have to keep the progress going. The second year in the system, we know the guys a lot better."

It will be interesting to see what the Bears do with Olsen. He enters the final year of his rookie deal, which is set to pay him a base salary of $900,000, about $500,000 less than Brandon Manumaleuna, a blocking tight end signed last offseason.

Smith, though, shed some light on what a tight end will not do in the Bears offense.

"I guess you look at the numbers and they want the tight end to catch 100 balls," Smith said of the team's offense under Martz. "We have too many options on the offensive sides of the ball for our tight ends to have those kinds of numbers. But you can still be a big part of the offense, which Greg and Kellen are."

Carrying both Davis and Olsen in 2011 isn't an issue. But, the team will likely have to make some hard choices sooner than later. The Bears have invested heavily in quarterback Jay Cutler and Hester, and Olsen and Forte are entering the final year of their respective deals.

Without an extension, if he makes that "big jump" in 2011, than Olsen's price tag will be even higher next offseason. The Bears, of course, could franchise him, if they can't agree to a long-term deal; Marcedes Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars signed his franchise tender that was worth $7.3 million earlier this month.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(suntimes.com)

During the NFL owners’ meetings, Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo implied that tight end Greg Olsen would be one of the young guys in line for a contract extension.

Angelo noted, however, that it depended on whether there’s enough money to go around once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

Olsen, whose contract is up after the 2011 season, has no desire to go elsewhere despite what people continue to say about his role in offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s scheme. This past season, Olsen finished fourth on the team in receptions with 41 and tied Johnny Knox for the team lead with five touchdown catches. And Martz envisions a bigger role for Olsen moving forward.

"I’ve said, since the day I got here, that I’m very happy here," Olsen said. "I’m very happy here. I feel like I’ve had a good four years and have really enjoyed my time.

"I know there’s a lot that goes into (an extension), with the situation with the labor agreement or what not. I would love to have that security and be here for a long time. There are a lot of things right now kind of out of all of our hands. We’ve got to let it play out. Once we get all this situated and get to free agency and all of that out of the way, we’ll see what happens."

Until then, Olsen plans to follow his normal offseason of working out at Bommarito Performance System in south Florida alongside teammate Matt Forte. But Olsen is willing to alter his schedule if the Bears are able to organize workouts, as Rashied Davis is attempting to do. Last season, the Bears began their voluntary workouts one year ago Tuesday.

"We’ll see what they put together," Olsen said of Davis’ plan. "Right now, I’m just kind of doing stuff on my own, like I do every year; pretty much the same program. But, yeah, if guys get together and do routes and stuff … you just have to be careful.  There’s a lot that goes into it vs. what there’s been in past years where you had some protection.

"But I think it’s important that the guys are around each other building that timing. Depending how long this goes and it gets all the way to training camp then you have a lot of catching up to do. It’s still early. We’ll see how the offseason plays out."

Olsen has touched base with Jay Cutler, who has been MIA since exiting the NFC Championship game with a second-degree knee sprain.

"Jay’s doing good," Olsen said. "Same offseason for him. I know he’s excited to get back to work."

Until Olsen is able to reconnect with Cutler, he’ll have to settle for having another NFC North signal-caller to toss him some passes.

"The one guy we have down in (Florida) is Drew Stanton," Olsen said, referring to the Lions’ third-stringer. "He’s our designated quarterback."

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagobreakingsports.com)

Bears GM Jerry Angelo claims that Greg Olsen's role in the offense will grow in his second season under OC Mike Martz.

"He'll be more prominent this year ... because of the familiarity that our coaches have with him," said Angelo. We could see Angelo's contention if there was evidence Olsen's role grew as last season wore on, but there isn't. Olsen finished 21st in the league in tight end targets, behind the likes of Kevin Boss, Tony Scheffler, Tony Moeaki, and Jermaine Gresham.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

Chicago Bears TE Greg Olsen is a player who could be on the trade market this offseason, according to CBSSports.com. Olsen, who has one year left on his rookie deal, made 19 fewer catches for 208 fewer yards and three fewer TDs than in 2009.


Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(kffl.com)

One of the big questions for the Chicago Bears when Mike Martz was hired as offensive coordinator was what would become of the tight ends?

General manager Jerry Angelo had invested a 2007 first-round draft pick in Greg Olsen, who seemed to be coming into his own as a receiving tight end. But Olsen wanted to know where he stood and met with management shortly after Martz's hiring to express concern about his role moving forward.

Olsen wanted out and the Bears actively worked to trade him, believing they had a deal in the works with the New England Patriots during the second day of the draft involving a second-round pick. That didn't materialize and Olsen and Martz remained together to make the best of the situation.

That is what they did for the most part, but consider Olsen had 41 receptions, only three more than Ernie Conwell had playing for Martz in 2001 with the St. Louis Rams. While Conwell was a fine player, he didn't possess nearly the same skills as a receiver that Olsen does, and that illustrates one of the ways the offense was dysfunctional in 2010. Olsen was used, but statistics indicate he wasn't used well enough. Olsen was on the field for 82.1 percent of the offensive snaps, nearly identical to the 84.1 percent he had in 2009 under Ron Turner.

The Bears simply didn't get the ball to Olsen enough. Whether it was a function of him having to play different roles, like lining up in the backfield, is hard to say. The use of the tight end actually went up in 2010 when you consider the four tight ends combined for 1,522 snaps. That is 85 more than they had under Turner. As mentioned in a previous post, the tight ends picked up many of the 359 snaps fullback Jason McKie had in 2009. The Bears also had 24 fewer offensive snaps in 2010 than in the previous year.

Here is how the playing time broke down for the tight ends last season:

Greg Olsen:  805 snaps, 82.1 percent
Brandon Manumaleuna:  553, 56.4 percent
Kellen Davis: 148, 15.1 percent
Desmond Clark:  16, 1.6

Manumaleuna got about the playing time that was expected after being a significant free-agent addition. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last month and is expected to be fully healthy before the summer. His role doesn't figure to change much moving forward, but the team has been complimentary of Kellen Davis and his playing time could increase after dipping from 22.6 percent in 2009. He's becoming more well rounded and could be in line for more action.

Clark will be an unrestricted free agent and is not expected to return. He was used sparingly and wound up being inactive for 11 games. The veteran handled his demotion with class.

The biggest question moving forward remains whether Olsen can carve out a bigger niche for himself in the passing game as he heads into a contract year. He could make himself attractive in free agency with a big season, and it's unknown whether the Bears will want to approach him early. The two sides might have different views on his value, especially after the team came close to trading him.

We've already posted playing-time breakdowns on the defensive line, wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback and running back positions. Check back throughout the day as we analyze playing time at every position.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagobreakingsports.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Known primarily for his pass-catching skills prior to the 2010 season, Bears tight end Greg Olsen excelled in an expanded role that included more blocking assignments.

“I was very pleased with how he played,” said tight ends coach Mike DeBord. “He really improved his blocking. We asked him to play multiple positions—wide receiver, tight end, fullback—and he did it all.”

DeBord was impressed with how determined Olsen was to improve as a blocker.

“He was very committed from Day 1 with it,” DeBord said. “I think he heard people talking about it and he wanted to prove a point, and in my opinion he proved it. 

"There are still little things he can continue to get better at and he will get better at. But I was really pleased with the improvement he made.”

Olsen had 41 receptions for 404 yards and tied for the Bears lead with five touchdown catches. He also showed his versatility by throwing key blocks in pass protection and on running plays.

“I take a tremendous amount of pride in it, the challenge throughout the course of the week of absorbing it and getting all the information and learning what our responsibilities are,” Olsen said during the season. “It’s a fun challenge.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz is aware that Olsen made sacrifices throughout the season.

“We don’t have a fullback on our team,” Martz said. “So the tight ends have picked that up and we’ve asked all of our tight ends to take turns at that position. That takes away from being the down-the-field type that we’d like Greg to do. But he’s done so many great things for us.

“Unselfishly, he’s lent himself over to do that so that we can run the ball so much better. He leads in there. He’s at the point-of-attack as a tight end. We put him out as a wide receiver. We can do everything with him.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagobears.com)

Coordinator Mike Martz insists that TE Greg Olsen "can do so much more" as a receiver and that his value can't be measured in statistics.
"He did so many things for us," Martz said. "Coaches around the league will look at what he did and say, 'Wow, this guy had a hell of a year.'" Martz has become a huge Olsen fan, but the next time he features a tight end in the passing game will be the first. Olsen will be underutilized again in 2011.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

Toward the end of the 2010 season, when it was clear his statistics would be down in every key category, Bears tight end Greg Olsen provided a glimpse into his character.

During a three-game stretch, he hauled in just three passes for 20 yards. But the fourth-year player didn’t complain about his limited opportunities or question his role.

Instead, he highlighted his growth in other areas and the challenges of becoming a more complete tight end.

‘‘I’ve had a lot of fun growing into the offense,’’ Olsen told me then. ‘‘When you have so many roles, it makes it a lot of fun. Each week in practice, it’s a challenge to try and learn it all.’’

Olsen and I chatted alone for a while just outside the locker room, and one of the topics I didn’t write about then was his future. Olsen is entering the final year of his rookie deal, which is set to pay him a base salary of $900,000 — about $500,000 less than blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. That doesn’t include a $1 million roster bonus Manumaleuna is scheduled to receive as part of a five-year, $15  million contract he signed last offseason that included $6.1  million in guarantees.

‘‘My No. 1 priority is that I stay for here for a long time,’’ Olsen said. ‘‘Hopefully, both sides feel that same way. But I know I do. I want to stay in Chicago.’’

I asked him if his contract status was on his mind at all.

‘‘To say it [isn’t] would be a lie,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not what it’s all about, but it’s definitely a factor. But I’m confident that if I continue to play well and help our team win, then everything will take care of it itself.’’

Olsen insisted he wouldn’t issue any ultimatums to Bears management.

‘‘I’m not going to storm in and say this and that and the other thing,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m going to continue to work hard, try to be consistent and make the plays they ask me to and build on what I’ve done the last couple of years, and things will take care of themselves.’’

But a resolution could be complicated.

The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire March 3. A salary cap hasn’t been established, and the Bears already have a litany of expensive veterans on their tab. In addition, key players are set to hit the open market, including defensive tackle Anthony Adams.

And the team’s decision to sign two unrestricted free agents has created an awkward situation. When the Bears signed perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers, they also invested in two other veterans, Manumaleuna and running back Chester Taylor, who didn’t have breakout seasons. Their younger counterparts, Olsen and Matt Forte, are scheduled to make be paid less than those two in 2011.

Clearly Olsen deserves a raise, but how much?

The NFL’s highest-paid tight end is Vernon Davis, who signed a five-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers that averages $7.35 million per year. Brent Celek signed a six-year extension with the Philadelphia Eagles in December 2009 that averages about $5 million a year.

One positive is that Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has completed several deals with Drew Rosenhaus, one of the most prolific agents of NFL players.

But before he engages in any serious talks, Angelo needs to figure out what offensive coordinator Mike Martz plans to do with Olsen.

Martz traditionally hasn’t focused on the tight end in terms of moving the football. Davis, one of the NFL’s best overall athletes, even had a forgettable season under Martz in 2008 when Martz was the 49ers’ offensive coordinator. Olsen’s numbers dipped dramatically from 2009 to 2010; he caught 19 fewer passes and scored three fewer touchdowns.

Martz, though, doesn’t blame Olsen.

‘‘Greg’s numbers in the passing game are not what they could and probably should be for his abilities, but what we’ve done with him is he lines up at the line of scrimmage, and he’s the point of attack,’’ Martz said in January. ‘‘But he’s also lined up at fullback and has been a lead blocker. We line him up at wide receiver. He does so many things for us, and just by being able to do that flexibility, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense, though his numbers wouldn’t indicate that.’’

So the Bears will have to figure out what to do with Olsen. Unlike the situation with Forte, they at least have a promising young player behind Olsen: Kellen Davis.

But in an age when skill players care more about ‘I’ than ‘T-E-A-M,’ Olsen takes the right approach. So, too, it seems, does Davis.

‘‘There are a lot of guys who get a ton of catches a game, and granted everyone wants that,’’ Olsen said. ‘‘But there’s a difference between getting a lot of balls and catching balls that are meaningful. Guys around here understand that. It’s not how many but the ones that you get.’’

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(suntimes.com)

Greg Olsen caught three passes for 30 yards in Chicago's NFC Championship Game loss to the Packers.

After busting out in the Divisional Round, Olsen faded back into his usual background role. He had no catches until Caleb Hanie came in and got the offense going late in the third quarter. Olsen did not express displeasure with his meager usage throughout the season, but did reportedly ask for a trade before the year. If tight end unfriendly coordinator Mike Martz is back, we wouldn't be surprised to see Olsen raise a stink again. He won't be a free agent until 2012.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

Greg Olsen hopes at least one myth about a Mike Martz-run offense now can be put to rest.

His performance in Sunday’s 35-24 NFC divisional playoff win over Seattle went a long way in erasing any thoughts that Martz’s offense can’t utilize a pass-catching tight end — especially in big games. Olsen and Jay Cutler did their part in dispelling that notion during the victory, quickly and emphatically.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it did feel good to get off to the fast start, and then have a couple of big plays later in the game,” Olsen said. “There’s no question it was a good feeling.”

Olsen caught a long touchdown pass from Cutler on the Bears’ first drive of the day, putting Seattle behind the rest of the way. Olsen finished with 113 receiving yards, the best playoff performance for a Chicago tight end in franchise history.

So was this enough to debunk the idea that an offense under Martz can’t (or won’t) feature a tight end?

“We’re not trying to debunk anything or prove any points. I’ve said from Day 1 that I’m happy to be a part of this offense,” Olsen said. “Everyone is all in. I think that’s a big reason why we’ve gotten this far.”

Still, it would be a hard argument to win anymore. Olsen was reportedly shopped around in the offseason after Martz was signed on to join the Bears. Instead, the team traded for blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, and Olsen was made into a movable part, setting up as a tight end, fullback and wideout as Martz implemented his offense.

Olsen was inconsistently good, putting up solid numbers – like his five-catch, 64-yard performance in Week 3 against the Packers – on some occasions, and not-so-good stats – like when he had one catch in four out of five games late in the season – on others.

He followed up his team-leading 60 receptions and eight TDs of a year ago with 38 catches and four touchdowns this regular season.

And then came Sunday.

“We hear a lot about not using our tight end; what about this,” Bears head coach Lovie Smith said. “Greg came out with a big touchdown pass right away, and throughout the day we felt like he could make a play anytime we got him the football.”

Cutler connected with Olsen for a 58-yard touchdown pass less than three minutes into Sunday’s playoff game, and they didn’t stop there.

“Olsen also caught a bunch of passes today,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said.

No coach, it just seemed that way.

Olsen was targeted a team-high nine times, making only three grabs, but making the most of those three grabs. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end in a receiver’s body had catches of 58, 33 and 22 yards, for the first 100-yard receiving game of his four-year career. It was also the third most in Bears single-game postseason history.

“Some games it can be the receivers, the tight ends, the backs, whoever,” Olsen said. “This just happened to be my day.”

The Packers are at least wondering if he can do it again this weekend in the NFC Championship game. Cutler knows he can.

“I’ve been comfortable with Greg since I got here. He’s a really friendly target,” the second-year Bear QB said. “This is nothing new to me. A lot of teams try to take him away because they know how dangerous he is, and they know we like to get him vertical.

“It doesn’t always work, though.”

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rrstar.com)

CHICAGO -- From a statistical standpoint (41 catches for 404 yards and five touchdowns), the 2010 regular season was Greg Olsen's worst since his rookie year.

But those numbers mean nothing in the postseason.

Olsen played arguably the best game of his NFL life on Sunday. He finished with a career-high 113 yards receiving yards -- the third-highest single-game total in Bears history -- and caught a 58-yard touchdown on the third play of the Bears' first possession.

"They came out in man coverage," Olsen said. "We thought we had a shot -- it was third and short. Lawyer Milloy was up in coverage, good player, but we were able to get down the field and Jay [Cutler] was able to hold it so that it gave us a chance. He was able to hold it, I was able to get behind [Milloy], and he put the ball where you've got to make that play. [Cutler] put the ball in the perfect spot, and we were able to score."

"Greg gives us a good matchup most of the time," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "Going to him on the first big third down, he's tough to cover, whether it's a safety or a linebacker. Greg has good skills as far as his speed and being able to get down the field.

You can add this to the list of things that went horribly awry for the Bears in the loss to Seattle on Oct. 17: Olsen had zero catches on three targets. Luckily for the Bears -- just like with Matt Forte in the run game -- offensive coordinator Mike Martz was able to correct those mistakes in the playoff rematch.

"It was nice to have a big day," Olsen said. "It was nice to be that big a part of the offense in the passing game. I'm not going to lie, it did feel good to get off to a fast start and have a couple of big plays later in the game. There's no question it was a good feeling."

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Drafted by the Bears in 2007 a few months after they had reached the Super Bowl, tight end Greg Olsen never thought that he'd have to wait until his fourth season to make his first trip to the playoffs.

“I was excited to come here,” said Olsen, a first-round pick. “You expect to be back right away. But as a lot of teams know, for the most part, that’s not the case. It’s not easy to get this far. There’s a lot that goes into it.

“Myself and other guys who haven’t been in the playoffs are really anxious and are really excited for this opportunity. It’s been four years since we’ve been in the playoffs. We’re happy for our fans. It’s been kind of a tough couple of years. So we’re excited and we hope to do good things and keep this thing rolling."

Olsen caught 41 passes for 404 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. Although his statistics were down—he had 54 and 60 receptions the previous two years—he was among the Bears’ most valuable players.

“Greg’s numbers in the passing game are not what they could and probably should be for his abilities,”  said offensive coordinator Mike Martz. “He lines up at the line of scrimmage at the point of attack, but he’s also lined up at fullback and has been a lead blocker. We line him up at receiver.

“He does so many things for us and just being able to do that flexibility puts a lot of pressure on the defense, though his numbers wouldn’t indicate that.”

"I didn't have as many catches but I had as many impact plays if not more key catches, third downs, touchdowns, whatever the case," Olsen said. "I contribute in the running game, pass protection in the backfield, blitz pickup, so it's not always about stats. This year kind of opened my eyes to that." Olsen wanted a trade over the offseason, but he's happy now, which isn't surprising since winning cures most things.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagobears.com)

Greg Olsen could end up catching a dozen passes against Seattle on Sunday, score three touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game and be the Super Bowl hero.

But Olsen, the Bears and the rest of the league know the fourth-year tight end would still be better off on another team.

With one year left on his contract, Olsen had the fewest catches (41) and the least yardage (404) this regular season since his rookie year. He had 19 fewer receptions, 208 fewer yards and three fewer touchdowns (five) than last season, when he was Jay Cutler's favorite target.

He could triple that amount on any number of teams and better utilize what he does best.

Yes, Olsen out of necessity improved somewhat as a blocker this season. His block to spring Matt Forte to a 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of the Bears' victory over the Jets was perhaps his best. But it's still not what he does.

After Mike Martz's arrival last winter, Olsen told people he wanted to be traded. And who could blame him? Even Martz readily admitted that there wasn't much room in his system for a tight end with his hand down. Translation: Tight ends on Martz's teams were glorified offensive linemen and fullbacks, nothing more.

Olsen said Wednesday that he has changed his attitude.

"It's definitely different as far as the past," he said. "But I really think, and I wholeheartedly believe this, that it's been a good thing. It's opened my eyes that you can have an impact on the game other than catching the ball and scoring touchdowns.

"In the past, it was always, 'What can our tight ends do in the passing game?' We did stuff in the run game, don't get me wrong. But this year, we have a lot more responsibility on blitz protections on third downs. As opposed to maybe running the routes, we're back there, which is just as important, picking up blitzes, scanning guys, run blocking from the backfield, on the line of scrimmage. … The position has made some plays and been a factor in the passing game. But I feel like the position has helped in other ways that sometimes can go unnoticed. … I think we've all grown a lot this past year as all-around players.”

That would be with the notable exception of Desmond Clark, of course. Prior to last season, in which a season-opening back injury limited him to seven starts and 11 games, the 12-year veteran became the first Bears tight end since Mike Ditka to turn in three consecutive 40-reception seasons.

Why the multidimensional Clark was inactive in 11 games and had just one catch for 12 yards this season was as much a mystery as it was a waste, particularly after Martz flashed Clark and the other tight ends in training camp as if they were going to be the main cogs in the offense. He also started Clark at fullback during the preseason and talked about his ability to catch balls out of the backfield.

But it was all talk, as Martz shifted his guy, Brandon Manumaleuna, to fullback in the season opener and shafted Clark, who is all but gone after this season since his Bears contract expires. Manumaleuna, whom the Bears signed to a five-year deal in March, seemed to miss more blocks than he made this season and became such a nonfactor that he all but escaped the responsibility heaped upon the O-line.

As a group, the Bears' tight ends, along with Kellen Davis, caught just 48 passes this season, down from 88 last season, and had five fewer touchdowns with eight combined.

Considering that no tight end under Martz had caught more than 38 passes or scored more than six touchdowns in a season, Olsen's 41 and five were on par. But is that production worth an extension? Probably not to Olsen if the Bears realize there are plenty of other tight ends who can do the same thing in this system and offer to pay him accordingly.

Considering Martz's concessions this season in regards to the run game, not to mention the Bears' 11-5 record and Manumaleuna's contract, it's unrealistic to expect Martz to change his philosophy toward tight ends.

Cutler tried to make a case for Olsen's fit.

"Greg's still valuable to this offensive right now," he said. "He does so many different things. Him and kind of Earl [Bennett] and Rashied [Davis] and those guys are kind of our movable pieces. He's lined up at probably every position possible out there. I think even though Greg's numbers might be down, he's probably had more fun in this offense than he has in years. Just the challenge of preparing each week and the different things we're asking him to do."

Maybe. But do the Bears need a former first-round pick to do that?

Somehow it feels like watching Clark sit on the bench all season. A waste.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

6 proCanes made early exits out of the NFL playoffs after he wildcard round this weekend.

Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles) all lost their respective games and will start their offseason.

Below are the remaining proCanes in the NFL playoffs.

AFC: Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).

The Bears' Matt Forte and Greg Olsen and former "Apprentice" winner Bill Rancic attended the premiere of "The Dilemma" at AMC River East movie theater on Thursday. Forte and Olsen were also spotted at Mastro's Steakhouse that night.

Click here to order Greg Olsen’s proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagotribune.com)

17 proCanes will participate in the 2010 NFL playoffs. 8 from the AFC and 9 from the NFC. Below is a list of the players.

AFC: Reggie Wayne (Colts), Javarris James (Colts), Ed Reed (Ravens), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Tavares Gooden (Ravens), Willis McGahee (Ravens), Brandon Meriweather (Patriots), Vince Wilfork (Patriots).

NFC: Kelly Jennings (Seahawks), Jon Vilma (Saints), Jimmy Graham (Saints), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Antonio Dixon (Eagles), Spencer Adkins (Falcons), Devin Hester (Bears), Greg Olsen (Bears), Sam Shields (Packers).