Bears shouldn't stop at adding one WR

There is much talk these days about the Bears needing a wide receiver, and it's simply not true.

They don't need one.

They need at least two, maybe three and probably a tight end, as well.

Matt Forte led the Bears in catches with 52, but the Bears' top receiver in 2011 was Johnny Knox with — wait for it — 37 receptions and 727 yards, but his future is in doubt after a horrific back injury.

Roy Williams tied Knox with 37 catches, but he will not be back. Next came Dane Sanzenbacher (27), Devin Hester (26) and Earl Bennett (24).

Bennett would be a nice third receiver if the Bears had two very good ones, but just because Jay Cutler likes throwing to him doesn't make Bennett a top two.

So the Bears need at least two top-tier receivers if they want an offense that is taken seriously and to get the most out of Cutler, and when you throw in an injury or two, maybe they ought to consider finding three.

Kellen Davis led the Bears in receiving touchdowns (5), but the Mike Martz offense didn't feature the tight end and Davis' 18 catches and 206 yards don't quite compare with the best in the division, like Brandon Pettigrew (83-777) and Jermichael Finley (55-767), who were the 11th and 12th best tight ends in the NFL (by yards) in 2011.

So when you start talking about maximizing Cutler's ability, having Knox or Bennett in your top two isn't taking seriously the concept.

The Bears need at least one huge receiver through the draft and another through free agency.

Anything less is not enough.

Anything more might actually make Cutler smile.

The bounty

What free-agent receivers will ultimately be available is unclear because guys like Wes Welker are likely to remain with their teams, but free agents Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City) and Vincent Jackson (San Diego) might be on the market, and Miami's Brandon Marshall could be available through trade.

As for the draft, Pro Football Weekly lists the top receivers in this order: Justin Blackmon (OSU), Kendall Wright (Baylor), Rueben Randle (LSU), Michael Floyd (ND) and Alshon Jeffery (SC).

Blackman will be gone long before the Bears pick at 19, but it remains to be seen what happens with Randle (6-4, 210), Floyd (6-3, 225) and Jeffery (6-4, 230), any of whom would look good in a Bears uniform.

The list

PGA.com ranks these as the top 9 clutch putts in golf history:

9. Hale Irwin in the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah, needing a birdie on the final hole to force extras.

8. Tiger Woods in the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla, draining a bird to reach a playoff.

7. Davis Love III at Winged Foot in the 1997 PGA Championship, with his “rainbow'' putt to end it.

6. Costantino Rocca at St. Andrews in the 1995 British Open, pouring in a 60-foot birdie from the “Valley of Sin'' to force overtime.

5. Woods on No. 17 at TPC in the 2001 Players, a 60-foot triple-breaker from the back of the green for birdie on the way to his only Players win.

4. Jack Nicklaus on 17 in the 1986 Masters, making an 18-foot birdie to take the lead at 46 years old.

3. Woods on the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S. Open, on a shredded knee and broken leg, making a 15-foot bird to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate.

2. Payne Stewart in the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, just months before his death, making a 15-foot bird in the rain on the final hole to win on Father's Day.

1. Justin Leonard at Brookline in the 1999 Ryder Cup, a 45-footer that clinched a U.S. victory.

The good cause

You can see a hockey game for $10 when the Chicago Police Department faces off against the Chicago FBI in the “Law Enforcement Hockey Classic'' on March 10 at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, and help raise money for a worthy cause.

The fundraiser benefits Honor Flight Chicago, whose mission it is thank veterans — especially WWII veterans — by bringing them to Washington at no cost to them for a day of honor.

To purchase $10 tickets before March 1, visit honorflightchicago.com, or pay $20 at the door.

Just asking

Do you remember Roy Williams catching 37 passes?

N.Y. holiday

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel: “An estimated 1 million people showed up to celebrate and be part of the Giants' victory parade. Didn't Clint Eastwood say we're supposed to get back to work?''

N.Y. every day

NBC's Jimmy Fallon: “This is our first show back in New York after a week in Indianapolis. I think the ‘Hoosier Hospitality' really rubbed off on me. Today, I held the subway door open for like six rats.''

And finally …

Omaha World-Herald's Brad Dickson: “The 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra, is OK after being briefly treated at a hospital for some pain management. Everything was paid for. I'll weigh in on this soon as I come to grips with realizing that a horse has a better health plan than I do.''

brozner@dailyherald.com

#376; Hear Barry Rozner on WSCR 670-AM and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.