CHICAGO LOOKS TO LAND DYNAMIC NATIVE SON
Antwaan Randle El, the receiver who threw the bomb to Hines Ward that broke open Super Bowl XL and propelled the Pittsburgh Steelers to victory, is considering joining the Bears, according to the Chicago Tribune. It would be a homecoming of sorts for the electric wideout and kick returner, who attended Thornton (Ill.) H.S. in the Chicago area and then starred as a quarterback at Indiana University.
“Certainly my family members want me to come here and play here,” Randle El said. “I have to make sure I make the decision based on the important things. If God leads me here to Chicago, I certainly prefer that situation for my family if it is the best situation for me coming in and playing. If this is a team that needs a receiver or a punt returner or what have you… those are the things that are most important.”
God could not be reached for comment, but unrestricted free agency begins March 3 and Randle El wants to get this figured out by the end of next month. The Bears have an interest in landing him, and could certainly use a playmaker of his caliber in their offensive attack. But they’ll have to show him more than the money.
“Money is not the biggest factor,” said Randle El, whose services are also reportedly coveted by the Eagles. “Of course there’s a business side to it, but you have to make sure what is best for your family. You have to make sure you don’t go to a team that doesn’t have a clue about using a guy like myself.”
Randle El wants to start at wide receiver and return punts for his new team. He appeared in every game in four seasons as a Steeler, catching 162 passes for seven TDs. The speedster also returned four punts and a kickoff to paydirt, and completed 14 of 16 passes on trick plays (such as his Super pass to Ward) with a pair of TD tosses.
The Steelers have not indicated an interest in re-signing Randle El, and are apparently ready to go with Cedrick Wilson, Quincy Morgan and Nate Washington along with Super Bowl MVP Ward at wide receiver.
If the Bears sign him, it’s hard to say how this would impact his fantasy value. He would get plenty of looks as a starting receiver alongside Muhsin Muhammad, but Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman are question marks at QB. If you are in a deeper league that counts return yards, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on Randle El as a bench player and spot starter.
