Report: Chicago Bears will release wide receiver Earl Bennett

Last season the Chicago Bears asked Earl Bennett to re-do his contract, and he did. This off season the Bears asked again, but Earl declined.

Filed to http://t.co/WgYMLjEn8n: #Bears WR Earl Bennett declines pay cut and is expected to be released, per sources.

— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) March 18, 2014

Bennett's cap hit of $2.45 million proved too high for a reserve wide out for the Bears. His release will move Marquess Wilson up the depth chart, but expect newly signed Domenik Hixon to be in the mix as well.

Wilson has been down in Florida working out with Brandon Marshall and the gang, so expectations are high for the 2nd year player.

Other wide outs on the roster fighting for a reserve role are Eric Weems, who was given the same take a cut or get released mandate by the Bears today, Chris Williams, whom we looked at yesterday, and Terrence Toliver.

What are your thoughts on this latest development?

EDIT: The cut was made official...

Bears terminated WR Earl Bennett's contract today, according to the NFL transactions wire. That clears $2.45M in cap space.

— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) March 18, 2014