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Just watched the second half of the Bears/Browns game. Can't believe Freddie didn't even see a single play from the wide receiver positon. WTF? The Bears go all preseason without even getting him lined-up at receiver for a single play? Really? Is he that bad that you can't get him a series late in the fourth quarter of the last preseason game? Hell, the starting receivers didn't even play for the Bears. You have the leading receiver in Division 1 football last year and you don't even get him on the field in preseason except blocking for punt returns? Maybe they are hiding him to stash him on the practice squad?

For a team many are projecting to go 6-10 this year, I'm not sure what it would've hurt to see him line up at receiver just once. On special teams he almost had a blocked punt in the first half. He'll probably be on the practice squad.

So much for my brief return to following the NFL.
I should have known better.

There are 2 reasons why Freddie would not have played at all this preseason:

1. He really looks awful in practice, they know he has almost no shot to make the team, so they're going to use those game reps on the guys that have a shot to make the roster.

2. He shows promise in practice, but they know he's not ready for an active roster. They want to stash him on the practice squad so he can develop. By not playing him they're hiding him the other NFL teams to make it more likely he clears waivers and can be put on the practice squad.

I'm inclined to think the 2nd is the more likely scenario, because if it was a foregone conclusion they didn't want him on the practice squad there is little reason to hide him in the final preseason game as well. They'd just put him out there as a body that they don't care whether he gets hurt or not.

We will very soon know which of these is the case. If they bring him on their practice squad we'll know they were just hiding him. If they just let him go we'll know that he didn't even show enough promise in practice to justify playing time in the preseason games.

hammb wrote:There are 2 reasons why Freddie would not have played at all this preseason:

1. He really looks awful in practice, they know he has almost no shot to make the team, so they're going to use those game reps on the guys that have a shot to make the roster.

2. He shows promise in practice, but they know he's not ready for an active roster. They want to stash him on the practice squad so he can develop. By not playing him they're hiding him the other NFL teams to make it more likely he clears waivers and can be put on the practice squad.

I'm inclined to think the 2nd is the more likely scenario, because if it was a foregone conclusion they didn't want him on the practice squad there is little reason to hide him in the final preseason game as well. They'd just put him out there as a body that they don't care whether he gets hurt or not.

We will very soon know which of these is the case. If they bring him on their practice squad we'll know they were just hiding him. If they just let him go we'll know that he didn't even show enough promise in practice to justify playing time in the preseason games.

I agree with both those ideas but think the second is the only real logical one. If you know the guy can't play you cut him. There is no shortage of wideouts in the open market with potential, the Bears no that more than anyone. I dont think most NFL teams are always logical so I could see him getting cut, but it would notbe the wise/logical thing to do.

hammb wrote: 2. He shows promise in practice, but they know he's not ready for an active roster. They want to stash him on the practice squad so he can develop. By not playing him they're hiding him the other NFL teams to make it more likely he clears waivers and can be put on the practice squad.

I was going to say something to this effect. If they were keeping him out of the game because he was awful, he would have been cut by now.

Yes...I agree with hammb, GT and RUIT... I don't think the Bears want any film on Freddie for teams looking for a developmental WR to be able to study...

Yes, I agree they might be keeping him under wraps. They made some cuts last week including a wide receiver. If he has no hope, why didn't they cut him last week with the others?

Rollo83 wrote:Yes, I agree they might be keeping him under wraps. They made some cuts last week including a wide receiver. If he has no hope, why didn't they cut him last week with the others?

I would assume he would be a pretty good guy to have on the practice squad even if they did not want to develop him because he can simulate play at QB, RB and WR.

I'm in agreement too. If they didn't think he had anything he would have been released in the first wave of cuts last week. That's why I fully expect them to try to get him on the practice squad.

Unfortunately he will have to be cut before he can make it to the practice squad, so I fully expect to see Freddie's name on the waiver wire shortly. I just hope that if this is Chicago's plan they actually DO swoop him up on their practice squad. I'm afraid with no film of him at all he'll find a hard time finding another team willing to put him on the squad this year. Although I do think the NFL increased the size of practice squads a year or two ago, so that has to help.