NFL preseason position battles are boring. But here's one to keep an eye on.
Former Ozen standout Brandon Rideau hopes to make the Chicago Bears' regular season roster as a wide receiver. The Bears' final preseason game is Thursday, and Rideau will find out Saturday if he'll be on the field when Chicago opens the regular season against against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
Rideau has just three catches for 25 yards in three preseason games, but Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler has spoken favorably about Rideau during the preseason, according to the Chicago Tribune.
From the Trib's Web site:
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler endorsed both [Devin] Aromashodu and Rideau throughout the preseason. It's no secret Cutler likes big targets after his years with 6-foot-4-inch Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall in Denver. Both Rideau (6-3) and Aromashodu (6-2) have size but lack experience, appearing in a combined eight games with one start (Aromashodu with the Colts).For now, Rideau -- who has been cut four times in his career -- said he gets encouragement from his father, Alfred.
"Not only big. They have to be able to move," Cutler said, speaking about liking big receivers. "I was fortunate to have Brandon. He could go. If you get a big receiver who can't run, he becomes more of a possession guy over the middle. But if you can get a guy outside to match up -- a big guy -- it's a problem for defensive backs."
"He likes to talk to make me feel comfortable," Rideau said of his father. "He makes me focus on what's ahead of me, not what's behind."
Link: Chicago Bears receivers on bubble await their fates
Photo credit: The Associated Press/Charles Rex Arbogast
