Nov 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Dante Rosario (88) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears offseason is in full swing as we head toward the start of the new league year and Free Agency. As a part of our Chicago Bears Roster Review, we’re leading off by looking at Bears Free Agents. New GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox have some tough decisions to make as they reshape the Bears roster in hopes of a bounceback 2015 season.
Dante Rosario, Tight End, Age 30 – Unrestricted Free Agent
2014 Review
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Dante Rosario is known as a journeyman tight end who came to Chicago in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys in 2013 when the Bears were in desperate need of competent #2 tight end. In last seasons game against Miami, he made a great short catch from Cutler and fumbled giving the ball back to the Dolphins. That is the only play that I could remember from his forgettable 2014 season with the Bears. He played in all 16 games, had a total of 16 receptions, 116 yards with no touchdowns. According to Dan Durkin from CBS Radio The Score, Rosario was thrust into a dual role, functioning as both a lead back and a move tight end where he didn’t distinguish himself. Yet, according to Pro Football Talk, when the Bears traded for him, he was a solid pass-catcher, who could work both as an H-back and added value as a special teamer.
2015 Outlook
Should the Bears bring back Dante Rosario for the 2015 season? I don’t think that they should. The Bears need to get younger on both sides of the ball. John Fox wants to run the ball more and the Bears are going to need Tight Ends who can create holes for Matt Forte to run through. The only reason that the Bears might keep him is that he played under Fox when he started his career with the Carolina Panthers in 2007. Fox doesn’t seem to be the sentimental type of coach, but you never know.
What do you think about Rosario? Can you remember any good plays from 2014? Should the Bears keep him for 2015? He won’t cost the bears much considering he only counted $570,000 against the salary cap in 2014. Let me know what you think in the comments below.