Bears' decision to release TE Burton creates more questions than answers
In a vacuum, the Bears decision to release tight end Trey Burton on Friday wouldn't be a shock.
After a good, but not great first season as a Bear, Burton woke up 48 hours before the Bears wild-card game with a mysterious groin injury that left him unable to play versus the Eagles.
Burton followed that last season by missing a good chunk of training camp after offseason sports hernia surgery to correct the groin problem. He then played in just eight games before going on IR, with what was determined to be a torn hip labrum. The handwriting was on the wall.
What made the Bears' decision far less obvious however was the $7.5 million in dead cap money still on the books for this season.
By releasing Burton Friday, the Bears would save just over $1 million against the salary cap this season.
I believe the Bears still have the option of designating Burton a post-June 1 release that would at least save them closer to $2.75 million against this year's cap.
But in either case, why not let him come to training camp and see if he's healthy and can contribute?
If he can't, they could still cut him in August for the same cap savings.
It seems certain there is more than meets the eye.
Before the news of Burton's departure, the tight end position was already under the microscope due to the near stunning decision to give a two-year, $16 million deal (including $9 million guaranteed) to five-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham.
Not only has Graham been in steady decline over the past few seasons, at 6-7, 265 pounds, the former star you would expect to play the Y is in fact a man without a position.
The Bears also added former Chief and Brown Demetrius Harris, a college basketball star who at 6-7, 230 pounds, you would expect to be a U tight end.
But at this year's combine, Bears GM Ryan Pace told us Harris is actually a better blocker than pass catcher, suggesting he could be the Y.
In six years in the league, Harris has started 39 games, almost all of them when his team opened in a two tight end set and virtually none of them as the Y.
It's also worth noting Adam Shaheen, who is almost certainly a bust after three seasons, remains on the roster. His release Friday would have saved the same amount of cap space as Burton's does, if Burton isn't a post-June 1 designee.
Lastly there is the cast of thousands including Ben Braunecker, J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, Dax Raymond, Eric Saubert and Darion Clark, and the Bears still don't have a starting Y tight end.
Braunecker and Holtz may have fine careers as No. 3 or No. 4 tight ends, and ace special teamers, but neither is the answer to the Bears needs at the Y.
There is hope that Raymond can become a quality Y, but all he is right now is a practice squad guy.
Horsted just might be a younger, healthier, more promising version of Burton, but that remains to be seen.
From where I sit, Burton's release has to be more about concerns with him off the field than on it.
Was the second surgery a failure?
Who gives a player $7.5 million not to be on their team, when they don't have any assurances they can replace him?
Burton's initial explanations of his mysterious groin injury were puzzling and there was some discussion generated by his own comments about possible anxiety disorders.
While it would be nice to report he did and said all the right things trying to come back last season, the reality is he was a mystery a good part of the time.
The only way I can read this move is management came to the conclusion that negatives that could potentially be created by his presence outweighed any benefits he could bring if he stuck around.
It is a hugely disappointing and sad ending to a story that began with real promise.
• @Hub Arkush can be reached on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.