The Facts: It sounds like OC Mike Martz is prepared to extend an opportunity for Bennett to earn a starting job, likely across from Johnny Knox. “We didn’t throw it to him enough,” Martz said on the website last month. “That will be remedied. He will figure in a much larger role than he did last year."

Diehards Line:As Tribune staffer Brad Biggs notes, it's a big year for Bennett, a third-round draft pick from Vanderbilt in 2008. He’s entering the final season of his contract with a chance to set himself up well. He has changed agents, signing with Octagon, and surely that move was with an eye toward is future. Now, it’s about going out and putting up a big season, something Martz seems to believe will be the case. “He’s extremely reliable," the coach said of Bennett. "I know Jay [Cutler] feels comfortable with him in the slot doing some of those things. But he should be able to play outside for us as well. ...” Meanwhile, Bennett has heard the chatter again this year that the Bears could be in the market for help at the position in free agency. He does his best to tune it out as it’s nothing he hasn’t heard before. “For the past three years, I have been hearing that,” he said. “The guys in the front office must see something in us and we must be doing a pretty good job because they never go after these guys.”