Chicago Bears All-Decade Team: 2000s
Desmond Clark, TE
There were two viable options for the top TE spot with Greg Olsen getting heavy consideration here, but I had to go with Desmond Clark. Before joining the Bears as a free agent in 2003, Clark spent his first three years in Denver (two of them relatively productive) and his fourth year in Miami, one in which he was rarely utilized.
From 2003-2009 Clark put up 241 receptions for 2,627 yards and 18 TDs. Olsen was drafted in 2007 and by 2008 was becoming the more featured TE; by 2009 Clark was nearly completely phased out of the offense. From 2007-2009 Olsen pulled in 153 receptions for 1,577 yards and 15 TDs.
Olsen was unquestionably the more athletic of the two and thus the more dangerous pass-catching option, but Clark’s contributions to the Bears in the 2000s were greater. Clark was a well-rounded player who contributed greatly to the run-blocking game while Olsen, at that stage of his career, wasn’t yet the TE he is now. Plus, Clark needs to be on this team to resume his role as security blanket for Rex Grossman.
Next: All-2000s O-Line