Bears lock up WR Bennett

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears and receiver Earl Bennett have agreed on a four-year contract extension through 2015.

Bennett says the deal announced Friday had been in the works for several months, and he wasn't really interested in exploring the free agent market. He says Chicago is home and the organization has been loyal to him.

A third-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt in 2008, Bennett has emerged as one of the team's top receivers the past three years after failing to catch a pass as a rookie. He and Jay Cutler, his college teammate, quickly clicked after the quarterback arrived in a trade with Denver in 2009.

He's the top third-down target and often a fallback for Cutler when plays break down.