Uncertainty, opportunity among Bears receivers

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake isn't looking forward to life without unrestricted free agent Bernard Berrian.

He realizes, however, it's possible -- actually, probable -- that last season's leading pass catcher won't be back.

"I'll be hurt and disappointed, but hopefully it'll work out," Drake said. "If it doesn't, you have to move on, but it'll be tough without him."

After Randy Moss, Berrian is the most attractive wide receiver due to hit the market Feb. 29, and the four-year veteran wasn't enamored of the Bears' most recent contract offer. So it's assumed he'll see what he's worth before deciding where his future lies.

Playing with three different quarterbacks last season, Berrian caught 71 passes for 951 yards, both career highs.

Without him, the Bears will be forced to rely on the potential of Mark Bradley and Devin Hester, and perhaps a second-tier player in free agency -- which is about all that is available this year.

"I'm sure there are some guys out there that may be able to help," Drake said, "but you want to give the guys who have been here an opportunity to grow and flourish. (Without Berrian) they're definitely going to have a chance to get out there and show what they can do."

Drake believes Bradley and Hester have the potential to succeed, but they've yet to produce on a consistent basis. Drake said a variety of factors contributed to Bradley's limited role last season, when he had just 6 receptions.

"He practiced well enough (that) he deserved more of an opportunity to get out there and play," Drake said. "We've got to do a better job of making sure he plays -- just give him an opportunity. He'll have that opportunity this year."

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has seen glimpses of greatness from Bradley since drafting him in the second round in 2005, but that isn't enough.

"Mark's got talent," Angelo said. "We've all recognized that. But he's got to do it and do it on a consistent basis. If you grade the flashes, you like what you see because, when he's on the field, big plays happen. Do we feel good about him? Certainly. But are we going to have other people competing? Certainly."

As for Hester, Drake agrees with coach Lovie Smith and Angelo that Hester can become a go-to receiver, but it won't happen overnight.

"He grew tremendously this past year, and he'll only get better," Drake said. "He's got a lot of want-to right now. He's putting the time in. It's going to take some time, but he's done extremely well and learned things extremely fast, contrary to what a lot of people think. If he continues to grow like he did, he can be as good as anybody in this league."

Hester's struggles with the mental part of the NFL game in his first year as a full-time wideout have been overstated, according to Drake.

"People were saying during the season it looked like he didn't know what he was doing -- when he did," Drake said. "We threw him a (short) ball in the Redskins game and he kept running, which was right, (but) everybody beat him up, saying he didn't know what to do. But he was right because the cornerback didn't back up, and when the cornerback doesn't back up on a three-step drop, you run by the guy."

That's something Hester is extremely capable of doing, provided the Bears have someone to get him the ball.

But that's another story.