Bears believe in WR Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd, who signed a one-year contract with the Bears on Friday, will provide the team's depleted wide receiver corps with depth and experience, but it remains to be seen if he can upgrade a mediocre unit.
Lloyd was released by the Washington Redskins on Feb. 26 after catching 2 passes in nine games last season as he missed part of the season with a fractured collarbone. In 2006, he caught just 23 passes.
The Redskins gave up on the University of Illinois product two years after signing him as an unrestricted free agent to a deal that included a $10 million signing bonus.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Lloyd was originally a fourth-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers. In his best season with them in 2003, he caught 48 passes for 733 yards.
Lloyd's connection with Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner - Turner was head coach at Illinois during Lloyd's time there - was instrumental in the 26-year-old signing a one-year deal to attempt a resuscitation of a career that appeared bright before taking a downturn in Washington.
"I think it just means a lot as far as the trust factor and coach Ron knowing the things that I'm able to do and believing in me," Lloyd said. "That gives me a lot of confidence, the comfort level that I have with coach Ron Turner.
"It's big, just because the past two teams that I've been on, it hasn't been the smoothest ride in the world. So to really have somebody in my corner who really believes in me and has known me since I was 17 years old and really knows the foundation of what kind of person I am, it means a lot, especially the times that I'm in right now."
There has been plenty of criticism of Lloyd in the past - including his hands, work ethic and attitude - but he is an extremely athletic player with great leaping ability, capable of making spectacular catches, although he has only average speed.
"I think the best thing that I can do for myself is just come in and work, and that's not anything that I haven't done," Lloyd said. "I'm not going to sit here and say that it's all my fault. I'm not going to say that it's all somebody else's fault. The circumstances just weren't right.
"I'm just going to continue to try to find my fit and try to find my path in this league because I feel I have the talent to play."
Lloyd was a two-time 1,000-yard receiver for the Illini and a track standout in the high jump, long jump and 60-meter hurdles. And Turner recalls a lot of positives from his recruitment of Lloyd as a high school player and the three years they spent together at Illinois.
"I think Brandon's a playmaker," Turner said. "I've known him since he was 17 years (old). He was very productive (at Illinois), so I've got a good feel for what he can do. (Receivers coach) Darryl Drake and I went back and looked at all his film from the last couple years and feel he can still play and that hopefully he can come in and be a good fit with the receivers that we have here right now. We're looking forward to that competition."
Lloyd joins a group that includes recently signed nine-year veteran Marty Booker and talented but inexperienced Devin Hester and Mark Bradley.
Rashied Davis, who caught 17 passes as a part-time slot receiver last season, is a restricted free agent who has drawn interest from several other teams and could be leaving soon. Since he receiver the lowest tender offer ($927,000) from the Bears and was not drafted, the Bears will receive no compensation for his loss.