Will Bennett go with the orange shoes again?
Earl Bennett says he won’t know until he starts getting dressed Sunday if he will wear the orange cleats that have cost him $15,000 in fines the past two weeks.
“It’s a game-time decision,” he said. “Last week I didn’t know I was going to wear them, and they came out. We’ll see.”
The league docked Bennett $5,000 when he wore orange in Week 9, his first game back after suffering a chest injury in Week 2.
Last week the fine doubled. This week it would double again.
In his two games wearing the shoes that don’t conform to the NFL’s guidelines for uniforms, Bennett has the best back-to-back production of his four-year career: 11 receptions and 176 yards.
But he’s not wearing the shoes for superstitious reasons.
“I don’t believe in luck,” he said. “I believe in preparation and opportunity. We’ve been preparing all week for success, and we’re just looking forward to coming out and winning this game.
“Coach (Mike) Martz has been putting me in a great position to make plays, and Jay (Cutler) is just finding me. I just catch the ball, and run after the catch is big, so I just want to continue that.”
Testing the West:The Bears next four opponents are all from the AFC West, and quarterback Jay Cutler is familiar with that division after spending his first three years in the league with the Broncos.He says the West has changed somewhat since he was with Denver (2006-08).#147;When I was out there, all the teams were kind of airing it out and throwing it,#148; Cutler said. #147;Oakland has gotten into more of a running scheme, and Kansas City does a little bit of both, but San Diego is going to air it out.#147;Denver, I don#146;t know what they#146;re doing anymore.#148;The division has swung heavily toward the run in recent years. The Broncos, whom the Bears play Dec. 11 in Denver, are No. 2 in rushing yards but 31st in passing yards.The Chiefs (Dec. 4 at Soldier Field) are 10th in rushing and 28th in passing, and the Raiders are No. 4 in rushing and 16th in passing.But the Chargers still like to put it up. They#146;re No. 4 in passing yards and 18th in rushing.#147;They#146;re probably going to push the ball down the field,#148; Cutler said. #147;That#146;s what San Diego does the best. That#146;s what Philip (Rivers) does, so defensively we#146;re going to prepare for that.#148;Not a surprise:Even though he plays the demanding position of nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, former Bear Antonio Garay leads all Chargers defensive linemen with 27 tackles and 2 sacks.#147;It#146;s not like a shock that he would be playing that type of football,#148; Bears coach Lovie Smith said of the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Garay, who played for the Bears in 2006 and #146;07.#147;Scheme-wise, it may be a better fit for him. But he was a good, tough football player while he was here. They#146;re getting some big plays from some of our old players.#148;The Chargers also have Tommie Harris, the Bears#146; 2004 first-round draft pick who made three Pro Bowls as a defensive tackle. Harris is a backup end in San Diego#146;s scheme.Still dangerous: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is in the midst of his worst season in eight years as a professional.That doesn#146;t mean the Bears will take him more lightly than they would have during the previous three years, when his passer rating was better than 100.#147;Philip is a confident player,#148; Bears coach Lovie Smith said. #147;I#146;m sure he doesn#146;t need a pep talk each day about, #145;Hey, you can play ball,#146; just like most of the quarterbacks don#146;t.#147;He#146;s a competitor. We haven#146;t played against him a lot, but I know they#146;re going to come ready.#148;ŸFollow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.