Bears' free-agent watch: Marc Mariani finished strong

Here is the eighth in an 18-part series examining the Chicago Bears' unrestricted free agents.

Position: Wide receiver/return man

Age: 28

NFL experience: Six years

2015 salary: $660,000

2015 key statistics: 22 receptions for 300 yards; 29 punt returns for 192 yards and 16 kickoff returns for 418 yards.

Probability to return: Moderate

Outlook: Mariani plays with maximum effort. He leaves it all on the field. You have to give Mariani credit for finishing the year on a high note after special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers wanted to bench him outright. Mariani even became a fairly reliable target for quarterback Jay Cutler in the passing game. The mere fact Mariani lasted this long in the NFL is a…