It's not surprising that Bears GM Jerry Angelo isn't interested in signing Matt Jones. He's satisfied with the hands of stone losers the team plays at receiver year after year. Lovie Smith wouldn't stand for it either.
Don't expect the Chicago Bears to pursue free-agent receiver Matt Jones
By Vaughn McClure
Bears general manager Jerry Angelo wants to explore every option in terms of upgrading the team. But don't expect the Bears to make a serious run at free-agent receiver Matt Jones.
When asked about Jones during a community visit in Waukegan Wednesday afternoon, Angelo seemed to have reservations about adding the former Jacksonville Jaguar.
"He was a first-round draft pick and he is a very talented player," Angelo said, "but it's case by case. We're not quick to move on any player."
No doubt the Bears are concerned about Jones' checkered past, one that included an arrest for cocaine possession last July. Jones, 26, served a three-game league suspension after losing an appeal. After violating terms of a court-mandated drug program by consuming alcohol, he was arrested again and faced further disciplinary action for the 2009 season. But the league decided not to impose another suspension, although Jones was fined $50,000.
In recent years, the Bears cut ties with two players due to off-the-field concerns: running back Cedric Benson and defensive lineman Tank Johnson.
"Guys make mistakes, move on, and become better people," Angelo said. "Some guys have patterns of bad behavior and continue to have those patterns. I'm not saying that about Matt Jones. What I'm saying is we have to do our homework. And then you have to look at what value that person brings to your football team irrelevant of his off-the-field issues."
There are concerns about Jones' production. The 6-foot-6-inch, 218-pounder is not a "special" player and struggled at times in Jacksonville, although Jones caught 65 passes for 761 yards in just 12 games last season. The Jaguars released him in March.
Agent Dave Butz said he has been contacted by several teams but declined to name those teams. Butz also has reached out to measure the interest level in Jones.
"We feel very confident about Matt's prospects for a great upcoming season, but we have not reached the point where we are ready to publicly discuss the interest levels of specific teams," Butz said.
Angelo remains confident in the Bears receiving corps as is, particulary when he factors in the production he expects from tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2009/05/dont-expect-the-chicago-bears-to-pursue-freeagent-receiver-matt-jones.html<A id=more></A>