Let go by Bears, Wade lands in TennesseeBy Len PasquarelliESPN.comReleased by the Chicago Bears earlier this week because he couldn't hold on to the football, wide receiver Bobby Wade has quickly grabbed hold of a new job.Bobby WadeWide ReceiverTennessee TitansProfile2005 SEASON STATISTICSRec Yds TD Avg Long YAC10 80 0 8.0 17 32The three-year veteran, who combined for nine fumbles or "muffs" on punt returns with the Bears, has been claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans. The Titans, thin at the wideout position after losing rookies Brandon Jones and Roydell Williams for the rest of the season to injuries, will play Wade at receiver.Tennessee already has an established punt-return specialist in first-round draft pick Pacman Jones."We were kind of looking for a practice squad receiver and then [Wade] popped onto the [waiver] wire," said Titans general manager Floyd Reese. "Of course, he is going to have more experience and knowledge than a practice squad guy [from another team]."To make room for Wade on the roster, the Titans moved Williams to the injured-reserve list. The fourth-round draft choice suffered a season-ending fractured wrist in a Dec. 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Williams is expected to be rehabilitated in plenty of time for the beginning of the offseason conditioning program.By claiming Wade, the Titans will be able to essentially get a three-week audition from him, at a reasonable price of just $67,058, the prorated share of his $380,000 base salary for 2005. If the Titans like what they see of Wade, they can retain him for 2006, since they basically inherited the four-year, $1.53 million contract he signed as a fifth-round pick in the 2003 draft. Wade's salary for 2006 is a palatable $460,000.The Titans have a young and potentially talented wide receiver corps but, his fumbling problems aside, Wade could fit in well if he plays up to his potential.Wade, 24, actually started 14 of 16 games at wide receiver last season, catching 42 passes for 481 yards and no touchdowns. But the Bears switched offensive coordinators this season and Wade wasn't nearly as prominent in the plans of new boss Ron Turner.For his career, the former University of Arizona standout has appeared in 40 games and started 15 of them. He had 64 catches for 698 yards and no touchdowns and returned 35 punts for an average of 9.3 yards, with one touchdown.Despite ranking fifth in the league, with an average of 9.6 yards on 33 returns (and nine fair catches), Wade had become too much of a liability for the Bears, especially with the team's lead in the NFC Central now reduced to just a game over the resurgent Minnesota Vikings. Wade's 73-yard runback against Detroit on Sept. 18 is one of just six punt returns for touchdowns in the league this year, and early in the season he led the NFL in punt-return average.But the third-year veteran fumbled five punts, "muffed" four others, and lost four of his miscues. He also had a fumble while playing as a wide receiver. He had two mishandled punts in a Sept. 25 game against Cincinnati and three against San Francisco on Nov. 13. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2259957
