The Chicago Bears will find a new punter for the 2011 season.
Brad Maynard, who has been the Bears’ punter since 2001, found out this afternoon that he won’t be back in Chicago. Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bears informed Maynard that they’ll move on without him. Maynard is an unrestricted free agent.
The punting job in Chicago is expected to go to either Richmond McGee or Steve Weatherford.
Although the 37-year-old Maynard has a knack for landing punts inside the 20-yard line, he just doesn’t have a strong enough leg, finishing 32nd in the league with 40.1 yards per punt and 29th in the league with a net average of 35.2 yards. Now he’ll need to compete for a job elsewhere.