No one has promised Mark Bradley anything, but the Bears' second-round pick in 2005 believes he will be the team's go-to receiver in 2008.
"In my eyes, I'm that confident that I'm the No. 1 guy," Bradley said at the Walter Payton Center on Saturday while participating in a reading incentive program for kids along with Garrett Wolfe. "That's what they drafted me for in the second round, to be the No. 1 guy. I've just had some injuries and some minor setbacks. Now I'm recovered and ready to be that guy."
The Bears need to fill the void left by Bernard Berrian, who took the free-agent money and ran to the Vikings. The release of Muhsin Muhammad means the Bears are without their two leading wideouts from last season.
In steps Bradley, heading into his fourth year out of Oklahoma. He has 38 career catches for 583 yards and four touchdowns. Last season Bradley was an afterthought, with just six catches for 71 yards and one score. He had four starts during his '05 rookie season before tearing his ACL.
"I didn't have anything bothering me [injury-wise] last year," Bradley said. "I talked to them about getting more opportunities on the field, and those opportunities didn't come that much. But the opportunity is here now. I can't cry over spilled milk, things in the past."
Coach Lovie Smith and wide receivers coach Darryl Drake have spoken favorably of Bradley this off-season, saying he was capable of stepping into a major role. But that didn't keep the Bears from adding veteran help, with Marty Booker signing with his former team for two years and Brandon Lloyd agreeing to a one-year deal.
"We lost two guys, so I knew they were going to make some moves," Bradley said. "Lloyd knows the system. He ran the offensive set with [offensive coordinator] Ron Turner at Illinois. And Booker went to the Pro Bowl here with the Bears. It's just two additions that don't have to come in here and learn a new set."
Asked what being the No. 1 guy means to him, Bradley couldn't measure it in numbers. Berrian had 71 catches as the Bears' top threat last season.
"Being the primary guy doesn't necessarily mean I'll have more catches than the No. 2 receiver," he said. "You could be the guy that teams don't want the ball in your hands once you start making plays. That's what we had last year, with people saying we'd rather have 'Moose' beat us than Bernard.
"No matter what, I'm looking at it as this is my spot to lose."
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,1529302.story
"In my eyes, I'm that confident that I'm the No. 1 guy," Bradley said at the Walter Payton Center on Saturday while participating in a reading incentive program for kids along with Garrett Wolfe. "That's what they drafted me for in the second round, to be the No. 1 guy. I've just had some injuries and some minor setbacks. Now I'm recovered and ready to be that guy."
The Bears need to fill the void left by Bernard Berrian, who took the free-agent money and ran to the Vikings. The release of Muhsin Muhammad means the Bears are without their two leading wideouts from last season.
In steps Bradley, heading into his fourth year out of Oklahoma. He has 38 career catches for 583 yards and four touchdowns. Last season Bradley was an afterthought, with just six catches for 71 yards and one score. He had four starts during his '05 rookie season before tearing his ACL.
"I didn't have anything bothering me [injury-wise] last year," Bradley said. "I talked to them about getting more opportunities on the field, and those opportunities didn't come that much. But the opportunity is here now. I can't cry over spilled milk, things in the past."
Coach Lovie Smith and wide receivers coach Darryl Drake have spoken favorably of Bradley this off-season, saying he was capable of stepping into a major role. But that didn't keep the Bears from adding veteran help, with Marty Booker signing with his former team for two years and Brandon Lloyd agreeing to a one-year deal.
"We lost two guys, so I knew they were going to make some moves," Bradley said. "Lloyd knows the system. He ran the offensive set with [offensive coordinator] Ron Turner at Illinois. And Booker went to the Pro Bowl here with the Bears. It's just two additions that don't have to come in here and learn a new set."
Asked what being the No. 1 guy means to him, Bradley couldn't measure it in numbers. Berrian had 71 catches as the Bears' top threat last season.
"Being the primary guy doesn't necessarily mean I'll have more catches than the No. 2 receiver," he said. "You could be the guy that teams don't want the ball in your hands once you start making plays. That's what we had last year, with people saying we'd rather have 'Moose' beat us than Bernard.
"No matter what, I'm looking at it as this is my spot to lose."
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,1529302.story
n another side note, Lovie Smith has stated that Josh Beekman is anticipated to be the starting left guard this season.
That'll be the day. They're more likely to get Don Johnson. 
