Johnny Knox

I'm sure I started liking Johnny Knox mostly because he wore the number 13. Many people have a problem with that number. I do not. I continued to like him because he was one of the best receivers we had seen in quite some time. I will concede that he was not a typical number one receiver for a team and would have made a great 2 or 3 option. He was still the best we had at the time, and his yards per catch prove it. He was also a great kick returner and made the pro-bowl for the 2009 season.

I would have liked to see him as a complimentary receiver to Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery as his speed would have fit perfectly. Unfortunately in the 2011 season, he fumbled the ball and when both he and Seattle's Anthony Hargrove were diving for the it, they collided. At the time, Hargrove weighed roughly 282 lbs and Knox weighed in at 185 lbs. With the nearly 100 lb difference, Knox was the one to give. Specifically his back. The hit ended his season and most likely his career. He had spinal surgery the next day and the initial projection was that he would have at least 4-6 months of rehab in order to get back into normal functioning shape. Much longer to possibly return to football. He spent the final year of his contract on the Bears' physically unable to perform list.

Yesterday the Bears announced that they were ending their contract with Knox. Because he spent the entire final year of his contract on the PUB list, the Bears had the option to extend it. They chose not to do so seeing as he is unlikely to return to the NFL.

"Johnny will always be a Bear and he will always be welcome in our practice facility and all of our team events and at games,'' Phil Emery.

I enjoyed watching him play, and if he ever does come back, I will be extremely happy for him. Until then, I will wear my Knox jersey proudly as he was a fun football player to watch, and continues to be a very stand up guy.