Marty Booker happy to be rejoining Bears

3/6/2008 5:30 PM

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -Marty Booker has one memory from his first stint with the Chicago Bears. He caught the first TD pass Rex Grossman ever threw.

``We've got a little bit of history,'' Booker said Thursday after returning to the Bears as a free agent with a two-year contract worth a reported $3.5 million.

Booker hauled in a 59-yard TD pass from Grossman during a 2003 game against the Redskins, but the two never connected for another score. After five years with the Bears, including a team-record 100-catch season, Booker was traded to the Miami Dolphins for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye during the 2004 preseason.

``It's good to be back, plus, No. 1, it's good to have a job,'' Booker said.

Booker is the Bears' most experienced wide receiver and directly in the middle of what coaches promise will be a two-man quarterback battle between Grossman and Kyle Orton.

``The time I was there I really liked Rex,'' Booker said. ``Unfortunately, I had to leave and I thought we would have been a good connection. I'm coming back and hopefully we can get that connection rekindled.''

Booker wasn't choosing up early sides.

``I'm not too familiar with Kyle and pretty familiar with Rex,'' he said.

``With my understanding, I'm thinking it will probably be an open competition. Whoever wins the job, they're going to have it going in. No matter who is in there I will be supportive of whoever and just go out there and try to make plays.''

Booker's main role will include helping a receiving corps that lost No. 1 receiver Bernard Berrian to Minnesota in free agency. The second starter, Muhsin Muhammad, was cut prior to free agency and has re-signed back with Carolina.

So the Bears receiver corps had been whittled down to little-used Mark Bradley, Pro Bowl kick returner Devin Hester, backup receiver Rashied Davis and unused third-year player Mike Hass.

Booker said helping groom the Bears younger receivers will be a byproduct of his real job - being the team's top receiving threat.

``The opportunity and the option here were better for me,'' he said. ``Plus Chicago, that's where it all started. I still feel I have some unfinished business there.''

Booker, who also visited New England in free agency, left the Bears after Pro Bowl seasons of 100 and 97 catches in 2001-02.

But during his stay with Miami, he played in the shadow of former Dolphin Chris Chambers and made more than 50 catches only once in four years.

``I feel I'm still the same guy,'' the 31-year-old Booker said. ``I just feel I didn't get the opportunities that I would wish when I was in Miami, having to take the back seat to being the No. 1 guy and everything. Given opportunities, I know I can still play this game at a high level.''