Bears release wide receiver Marty Booker

Marty Booker's second go-round with the Bears didn't come close to living up to his first tour of duty.

Booker, who had back-to-back seasons of 100 and 97 catches in 2001 and '02 that accounted for 2,260 yards and 14 touchdowns, was released on Friday after catching just 14 passes last season.

The 32-year-old Booker had one year and $1 million remaining on the two-year, $3.5 million deal he signed last off-season as an unrestricted free agent after he was released by the Dolphins following four seasons in Miami. Booker was selected by the Bears in the third round of the 1999 draft and was a Pro Bowl pick in 2002. He was traded during the 2004 preseason for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

Booker's '01 and '02 seasons were the two most productive in Bears history in terms of receptions, and his streak of catching at least one pass in 60 straight games is also a franchise record. Booker's 329 receptions in six seasons with the Bears are tied for third in team history.

But the 6-foot, 205-pound 10-year veteran battled knee and other nagging injuries throughout the 2008 season that caused him to miss three games and numerous practices. Booker caught just 3 passes in the final nine games of the '08 season.

When Booker and Brandon Lloyd were signed three days apart early last March, they were expected to be major players in the Bears' passing attack. Lloyd got off to a fast start with 15 catches for 251 yards in the first four games but then missed five games with a sprained knee and wasn't much of a factor the remainder of the season with just 11 more catches for 113 yards in his final seven games.

Lloyd, who was playing on a one-year, $645,000 deal, is an unrestricted free agent who is not expected back with the Bears.

Five-year veteran linebacker Gilbert Gardner, who was signed late in the season and played in only the season finale, also waived Friday, along with practice squad linebacker Marcus Riley.