Caleb Hanie, left, with Jay Cutler at training camp this year, is a former CSU quarterback awaiting his first NFL start with the Bears. Cutler has a broken thumb, so Hanie will be a starter Sunday against the Raiders.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Bears are confident quarterback Jay Cutler will return this season from a broken thumb on his right (throwing) hand, so there was a glimmer of hope to go with the big chill that just blew through Chicago.

Even so, this is a major blow for the red-hot Bears.

Cutler needs surgery and will be out “for an extended time,” coach Lovie Smith said Monday. He would not say when the operation will take place, just “hopefully fairly quick,” and provided few details about the specific nature of the injury.

Smith did make one thing clear, though.

“Is it a season-ending injury? No,” he said. “From what I’ve been told right now, we can expect him back at the end of the regular season.”

The regular-season finale is Jan. 1 at Minnesota.

With Cutler out, the Bears will turn to backup and former Colorado State standout Caleb Hanie against Oakland this weekend. They also will look to bring in a veteran quarterback.

Hanie has thrown just 14 regular-season passes in four years. He made some plays in the NFC championship game against Green Bay last season after Cutler was injured and Todd Collins struggled, helping keep the Bears in it, but Chicago ultimately lost to the Packers.

Cutler was injured trying to help tackle Antoine Cason on an interception return in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 31-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers, and Smith was unaware of the extent of the injury until after the game.

Cutler stayed in and finished with 286 yards passing. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another TD while leading the Bears (7-3) to their fifth straight win, but his injury is a hit for a team that made a big leap into contention in the NFC.

“It’s devastating,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said. “It’s horrible, and I felt worse for him than I did for us. It stinks for us because he’s having such a great year. He’s our leader. He’s the guy we turn to for pretty much everything.”

The Bears travel to play the Broncos on Dec. 11.

The Chicago Bears brought in receiver Roy Williams hoping he would rediscover his old Pro Bowl form in a familiar system.

It might happen. It hasn’t yet.

Then again, the season doesn’t start for a few weeks.

Williams played only a few snaps in the preseason opener against Buffalo and was not the target of any passes. He had three thrown his way without a catch Monday night in a 41-13 loss to the New York Giants, and two probably could have been completed.

Just don’t tell him he had a drop. Williams didn’t like that.

“I had a drop? I didn’t have a drop,” Williams said Wednesday. “If you want to count it, you can. I think the DB (Aaron Ross) made a great play to knock it out as soon as it got into my hands, so I didn’t drop the ball.”

Williams was referring to a third-down bobble on Chicago’s first possession that was initially ruled a 16-yard completion. The Giants challenged and the call got overturned.

On the Bears’ next possession, a high short slant hit off Williams’ fingers on third down.

About that, Williams said, “Yeah, I got to catch that ball, man. It’s my fault. I’ll catch it next time, Coach.”

The Bears certainly hope so.

They gave the 6-foot-3 Williams a one-year deal and a chance to redeem himself after a disappointing run in Dallas, signing him late last month a day after the Cowboys released him, and made him their No. 1 receiver while dropping Johnny Knox to No. 2. The hope is he flashes some of the skills that made him a Pro Bowl receiver with Detroit when Mike Martz was his offensive coordinator and that a reunion with receivers coach Darryl Drake provides an extra kick. The two have strong ties dating back to when Drake was on the staff at Texas, and under Martz, Williams had 1,310 yards in 2006.

Drake made one thing clear, though. Williams needs to step up his play.

“He’s not where he needs to be, and he knows that,” Drake said. “He and I have talked about that, and the good thing about it is you’ve got Johnny Knox who’s fighting and working hard. And believe you me, Roy understands that Johnny’s there. Johnny’s hungry, and Johnny wants his spot back. If things don’t start changing, then Johnny’s going to be in there. That’s straight from the horse’s mouth.”

Drops have been a big issue for Williams the past few years, and every time a ball hits off his hands, eyebrows are raised. They were up again on Monday, and Drake wasn’t giving any free passes.

He said the first one should have been caught “for sure.” And while he praised Ross for knocking the ball out, he blamed Williams for letting him do that.

Drake initially said the slant was uncatchable and that there should have been a pass-interference call. Even so, he put some blame on Williams.

“You’ve got to beat that,” Drake said. “What I told him, he’s just got to be more physical with him, get him off your spot and get in there cleaner. Don’t allow that guy to get his arm in there and rip you around.”

That also has been one of the knocks on Williams — that he’s not physical, that he won’t go up and get balls, that he plays small for a receiver who’s 6-foot-3.

While he knows the system, he still is settling in.

Veteran free agents couldn’t practice until Aug. 4, meaning Williams missed the first week, and he and Cutler are still adjusting to each other. He’s also getting into shape — football shape, that is.

When he made an off-hand remark recently about his conditioning, he was made out to be the next William Perry or a guy who was following The Fridge’s regimen.

“My fault, media,” Williams said. “‘I’m a sarcastic guy. I like to smile a lot. So I won’t do that anymore.”

Cutler said Williams simply needs time and that missing those first few weeks in training camp hurt. Now, he expects to see more from his receiver.

The Bears practiced at Halas Hall for the first time Wednesday after holding training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. They’re back at home, back to a more typical routine, preparing for their third preseason game against Tennessee on Saturday.

“I think this week is going to be a good stepping stone for him with us really going through an actual game week — Wednesday, Thursday, Friday — and getting all of the details to him and exactly what we want to do out there on Saturday,” Cutler said. “In past weeks, in training camp, you kind of just skim over some stuff and you go out there and play, and whatever happens, happens.”

Notes: Coach Lovie Smith said LB Lance Briggs (bruised knee) and DT Anthony Adams (calf) will not play Saturday for precautionary reasons and might also miss the final preseason game against Cleveland. Briggs played in the preseason opener but sat out against New York. Adams missed both games. … CB Zackary Bowman returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out a game because of a head injury.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP)—The Chicago Bears brought in receiver Roy Williams
hoping he would rediscover his old Pro Bowl form in a familiar system.

It might happen. It hasn’t yet.

Then again, the season doesn’t start for a few weeks.

Williams played only a few snaps in the preseason opener against Buffalo and
was not the target of any passes. He had three thrown his way without a catch
Monday night in a 41-13 loss to the New York Giants, and two probably could have
been completed.

Just don’t tell him he had a drop. Williams didn’t like that.

“I had a drop? I didn’t have a drop,” Williams said Wednesday. “If you
want to count it, you can. I think the DB (Aaron Ross(notes)) made a great play to
knock it out as soon as it got into my hands, so I didn’t drop the ball.”

Williams was referring to a third-down bobble on Chicago’s first possession
that was initially ruled a 16-yard completion. The Giants challenged and the
call got overturned.

On the Bears’ next possession, a high short slant hit off Williams’ fingers
on third down.

About that, Williams said, “Yeah, I got to catch that ball, man. It’s my
fault. I’ll catch it next time, Coach.”

The Bears certainly hope so.

They gave the 6-foot-3 Williams a one-year deal and a chance to redeem
himself after a disappointing run in Dallas, signing him late last month a day
after the Cowboys released him, and made him their No. 1 receiver while
dropping Johnny Knox(notes) to No. 2. The hope is he flashes some of the skills that
made him a Pro Bowl receiver with Detroit when Mike Martz was his offensive
coordinator and that a reunion with receivers coach Darryl Drake provides an
extra kick. The two have strong ties dating back to when Drake was on the staff
at Texas, and under Martz, Williams had 1,310 yards in 2006.

Drake made one thing clear, though. Williams needs to step up his play.

“He’s not where he needs to be, and he knows that,” Drake said. “He and I
have talked about that, and the good thing about it is you’ve got Johnny Knox
who’s fighting and working hard. And believe you me, Roy understands that
Johnny’s there. Johnny’s hungry, and Johnny wants his spot back. If things don’t
start changing, then Johnny’s going to be in there. That’s straight from the
horse’s mouth.”

Drops have been a big issue for Williams the past few years, and every time
a ball hits off his hands, eyebrows are raised. They were up again on Monday,
and Drake wasn’t giving any free passes.

He said the first one should have been caught “for sure.” And while he
praised Ross for knocking the ball out, he blamed Williams for letting him do
that.

Drake initially said the slant was uncatchable and that there should have
been a pass-interference call. Even so, he put some blame on Williams.

“You’ve got to beat that,” Drake said. “What I told him, he’s just got to
be more physical with him, get him off your spot and get in there cleaner. Don’t
allow that guy to get his arm in there and rip you around.”

That also has been one of the knocks on Williams—that he’s not physical,
that he won’t go up and get balls, that he plays small for a receiver who’s
6-foot-3.

While he knows the system, he still is settling in.

Veteran free agents couldn’t practice until Aug. 4, meaning Williams missed
the first week, and he and Cutler are still adjusting to each other. He’s also
getting into shape—football shape, that is.

When he made an off-hand remark recently about his conditioning, he was made
out to be the next William Perry or a guy who was following The Fridge’s
regimen.

“My fault, media,” Williams said. `”I’m a sarcastic guy. I like to smile
a lot. So I won’t do that anymore.”

Cutler said Williams simply needs time and that missing those first few
weeks in training camp hurt. Now, he expects to see more from his receiver.

The Bears practiced at Halas Hall for the first time Wednesday after holding
training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. They’re back at
home, back to a more typical routine, preparing for their third preseason game
against Tennessee on Saturday.

“I think this week is going to be a good stepping stone for him with us
really going through an actual game week—Wednesday, Thursday, Friday—and
getting all of the details to him and exactly what we want to do out there on
Saturday,” Cutler said. “In past weeks, in training camp, you kind of just
skim over some stuff and you go out there and play, and whatever happens,
happens.”

Notes: Coach Lovie Smith said LB Lance Briggs(notes) (bruised knee) and DT Anthony
Adams(notes) (calf) will not play Saturday for precautionary reasons and might also
miss the final preseason game against Cleveland. Briggs played in the preseason
opener but sat out against New York. Adams missed both games. … CB Zackary
Bowman(notes) returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out a game because of a head
injury.

The last time he appeared at Soldier Field, Jay Cutler had a rough day.

He left the biggest game of his career with a knee injury, then came under heavy criticism as the Chicago Bears lost to Green Bay in the NFC championship game.

This time, the stakes aren’t so high.

The Bears open the preseason against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, and Cutler is itching to get out there even if he figures to see only limited action.

“I’m excited, with the lockout and not really being able to play football until training camp, it’s been a long time, so the guys are ready to go, I’m ready to go,” Cutler said. “We’re in the second year in the offense so expectations are going to be a little bit bigger, so we have to go out there and be on top of it.”

The team that takes the field Saturday will have a different look.

Six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz is gone after a messy breakdown in contract negotiations, as is longtime punter Brad Maynard. Tight end Greg Olsen was traded to Carolina as part of a makeover at that position, and whether running back Matt Forte will play remains to be seen.

He considered holding out of training camp because he wants a new contract, and he’s thought about sitting out preseason games. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players can be fined $30,000 for holding out.

Besides the familiar faces that will — or might — be missing, there will also be some new ones in Bears uniforms.

Chicago brought in Roy Williams, hoping he could rediscover the form that made him a Pro Bowl receiver under offensive coordinator under Mike Martz in Detroit, and he’s now No. 1 on the depth chart ahead of Johnny Knox. The Bears also added Marion Barber to the mix at running back, with Forte and Chester Taylor.

The Bills made some moves, too, hoping to build on the modest success they showed toward the end of last season, when they went 4-12 after dropping their first eight games.

“We’re looking to get out there a few series and at least (put) some sort of points on the board and limit the mental mistakes,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “And that’ll be the big thing, and we’ll call that a success if we can do that.”

The Bills have a new dimension on offense with Brad Smith, who has practiced in the wildcat formation and lined up at receiver.

They also spent much of the offseason trying to improve a defense that struggled to make the switch to the 3-4, got hit hard by injuries and ranked last against the run. Buffalo used seven of its nine draft picks on defensive players, starting with Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus at No. 3, and although they lost inside linebacker Paul Posluszny in free agency, they replaced him with former Packer Nick Barnett.

They’re also counting on a return to form by three-time Pro Bowler Shawne Merriman, who lasted about 15 minutes in his first practice with the Bills last November after being waived by San Diego. He came up hobbling with a sore right Achilles tendon that led to him being placed on injured reserve.

“It’s been a while, man,” he said. “I can’t wait. Just the competitiveness to get back on the field and compete, you know go out there and go against somebody else.”

For all the changes the Bears made, core players like Cutler, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers are back, hoping to build on last year’s surprising run — a run that came crashing to a halt with an 21-14 loss to their old rivals.

Cutler sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the first half against the Packers and played the first series in the second half before heading to the sideline, then took more shots from current and former players.

Maurice Jones-Drew and Darnell Dockett criticized him on Twitter, as did Deion Sanders and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth. Cutler said recently that he wasn’t sure how to react to it all, that his toughness had never been questioned. That episode seemed to run its course, but another drama continues to play out.

That would involve the oft-maligned surface at Soldier Field.

Chicago Park District officials failed to put enough water on sod that was 3½ weeks old, causing the seams to buckle and forcing the Bears to cancel their “Family Fest” practice at the stadium last Friday.

As if that weren’t enough, they also had to stop practice after 80 minutes Monday afternoon because of lightning and rain, and a blackout Wednesday night forced them to move it from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., to a nearby high school.

Those issues aside, Martz said the Bears should “continue to improve from where we left off” last season and even make a “quantum leap” in some areas.

BOURBONNAIS — While a few of the Bears starting players said they figure to get the normal 10-15 snaps in Saturday’s preseason opener in Soldier Field against the Bills, head coach Lovie Smith would not tip his hand Thursday.

“We haven’t told them yet. … It will be pretty much along the lines that we normally do,” Smith said. “We’re not going to do too much — it’s the first game. We’ll work our way up to that third game.”

Linebacker Lance Briggs wasn’t sure how much work he’d get Saturday, but he did know that it’s not how many, but how good.

“I don’t know about that. I don’t know about more,” Briggs said when asked whether he expected to play longer than usual Saturday night. “It’s about quality reps. Quality reps, all right.”

Knox does not want out
Wide receiver Johnny Knox refuted reports that he was seeking a trade from the Bears after being demoted to the fourth wideout on Chicago’s first depth chart of the year, released Wednesday.

“No, not at all. I’m a Bear and I want to stay a Bear. I didn’t say nothing about wanting to be traded,” Knox said. “I want to finish here, and I do not want to be traded.”

A report came out Wednesday that Knox was frustrated and wanted out of Chicago after learning he had moved down the chart. He’s listed behind Roy Williams, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett.

WR coach shows frustration
Wide receiver’s coach Darryl Drake was upset over a story about Knox, and he went on a bit of a tirade outside the Olivet Nazarene University dining hall in front of several reporters Thursday.

“If you guys keep making this stuff up and bringing this stuff up,” Drake said. “You’re going to have to deal with me.”

He finished with a brief, but profanity-laden, statement that showed his disapproval in the recent story, he said was written by Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs.
Hester has Cutler’s back

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had two more interceptions during offense-vs.-defense drills in Thursday’s training camp practice, and he’s had a sporadic (at best) stretch the past four days of practice. Still, Devin Hester, who’s been his best wide receiver in camp this year, had his back.

“It’s a unit thing; when one guy messes up his assignment it throws the whole play off,” Hester said. “If everybody does what they’re supposed to do, there will be guys open and it will be easier for Jay to get it to them.”

Reach staff reporter Jay Taft at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have been through a lot the last seven days. One thing they hope they don’t have to endure is a holdout by their star running back.

In a week when three practices have been stopped and moved or canceled, the stoppage the Bears hope they don’t have is a work stoppage from running back Matt Forte on Saturday when they open the preseason at home against the Buffalo Bills.

“I expect all the guys to be ready to play if we tell them,” coach Lovie Smith said. “Again, we’ll make those decisions a little bit later, but you just look at what Matt is doing. You love everything he’s done and why wouldn’t he be ready to go?”

In the final year of his contract Forte has a promise from general manager Jerry Angelo to negotiate an extension. It hasn’t been done yet.

As a result of that, and out of injury concerns in a meaningless exhibition, Forte hinted on Monday he would consider the possibility of sitting out preseason games.

“I’ve considered not playing in the preseason games,” Forte told the Chicago Tribune. “But just to make that a fact, and say ‘I’m not going to,’ I haven’t gotten there yet.”

On Thursday he told the Associated Press the situation remains much the same.

“I said it’s possible I would consider it,” Forte said. “Nothing has changed.”

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players can be fined $30,000 a day for holding out.

“That’s the way it is,” Forte said of the fines. “You’ve got to deal with it if you decide to do it.”

Nor has Forte’s contract status changed, but he said he understands the situation considering the Bears had so many contracts to negotiate once the NFL lockout ended.

“I figured it would take a little while to get a contract,” Forte said. “The lockout kind of messed everything up and pushed it all back.”

Many backs dislike preseason games because of the injury risk, but Forte said he sees benefits to getting on the field against Buffalo even if it includes only a few snaps. Last year Forte had only 12 preseason carries and one reception.

“You can get back to full speed football, hitting different people than the same people in camp, and getting used to being tackled as a running back,” he said.

Forte’s situation is not the only one Smith and coaches had to address Thursday. Wide receiver Johnny Knox had reportedly pondered asking the team for a trade after being demoted to second string behind newly acquired Roy Williams. However, Knox and coaches strongly denied he felt this way.

“I’m a Bear and I want to stay a Bear,” Knox said. “I didn’t say anything about wanting to be traded.”

Smith said he had just posted the first depth chart, and nothing was etched in stone at this point about starters.

“We’re a little early to start running somebody out of town or putting someone up top or anything like that,” he said. “We’re not there yet. This is just a part of the evaluation process.”

Knox led the Bears in receiving yards (1,487) and touchdown catches (10) over the last two seasons, but

Williams brings a taller presence at 6-foot-3, a type the Bears have lacked for years at wide receiver.

The general discontent came a day after the team had to practice for the second time until 10:30 p.m. A blackout in Bourbonnais deprived 1,600 homes of electricity and shut down the Olivet Nazarene University practice lights Wednesday night, so the team loaded into buses and drove several blocks to the Bradley-Bourbonnais High School field to complete practice late.

On Monday their afternoon practice had been stopped for good after 80 minutes due to lightning and strong rain. And on Friday, they had a practice at Soldier Field canceled due to poorly groomed sod – it forced them to return to Bourbonnais by bus and practice until 10:30 p.m.

“Yeah, it’s been a weird series of events here, you know,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “Nothing we can really do about it. We just have to work through and try to get our work in.

“I mean, who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow now?”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP)—The Chicago Bears have been through a lot the last
seven days. One thing they hope they don’t have to endure is a holdout by their
star running back.

In a week when three practices have been stopped and moved or canceled, the
stoppage the Bears hope they don’t have is a work stoppage from running back
Matt Forte(notes) on Saturday when they open the preseason at home against the Buffalo
Bills.

“I expect all the guys to be ready to play if we tell them,” coach Lovie
Smith said. “Again, we’ll make those decisions a little bit later, but you just
look at what Matt is doing. You love everything he’s done and why wouldn’t he be
ready to go?”

In the final year of his contract Forte has a promise from general manager
Jerry Angelo to negotiate an extension. It hasn’t been done yet.

As a result of that, and out of injury concerns in a meaningless exhibition,
Forte hinted on Monday he would consider the possibility of sitting out
preseason games.

“I’ve considered not playing in the preseason games,” Forte told the
Chicago Tribune. “But just to make that a fact, and say ‘I’m not going to,’ I
haven’t gotten there yet.”

On Thursday he told the Associated Press the situation remains much the
same.

“I said it’s possible I would consider it,” Forte said. “Nothing has
changed.”

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players can be fined $30,000
a day for holding out.

“That’s the way it is,” Forte said of the fines. “You’ve got to deal with
it if you decide to do it.”

Nor has Forte’s contract status changed, but he said he understands the
situation considering the Bears had so many contracts to negotiate once the NFL
lockout ended.

“I figured it would take a little while to get a contract,” Forte said.
“The lockout kind of messed everything up and pushed it all back.”

Many backs dislike preseason games because of the injury risk, but Forte
said he sees benefits to getting on the field against Buffalo even if it
includes only a few snaps. Last year Forte had only 12 preseason carries and one
reception.

“You can get back to full speed football, hitting different people than the
same people in camp, and getting used to being tackled as a running back,” he
said.

Forte’s situation is not the only one Smith and coaches had to address
Thursday. Wide receiver Johnny Knox(notes) had reportedly pondered asking the team for
a trade after being demoted to second string behind newly acquired Roy Williams.
However, Knox and coaches strongly denied he felt this way.

“I’m a Bear and I want to stay a Bear,” Knox said. “I didn’t say anything
about wanting to be traded.”

Smith said he had just posted the first depth chart, and nothing was etched
in stone at this point about starters.

“We’re a little early to start running somebody out of town or putting
someone up top or anything like that,” he said. “We’re not there yet. This is
just a part of the evaluation process.”

Knox led the Bears in receiving yards (1,487) and touchdown catches (10)
over the last two seasons, but

Williams brings a taller presence at 6-foot-3, a type the Bears have lacked
for years at wide receiver.

The general discontent came a day after the team had to practice for the
second time until 10:30 p.m. A blackout in Bourbonnais deprived 1,600 homes of
electricity and shut down the Olivet Nazarene University practice lights
Wednesday night, so the team loaded into buses and drove several blocks to the
Bradley-Bourbonnais High School field to complete practice late.

On Monday their afternoon practice had been stopped for good after 80
minutes due to lightning and strong rain. And on Friday, they had a practice at
Soldier Field canceled due to poorly groomed sod—it forced them to return to
Bourbonnais by bus and practice until 10:30 p.m.

“Yeah, it’s been a weird series of events here, you know,” quarterback Jay
Cutler(notes) said. “Nothing we can really do about it. We just have to work through
and try to get our work in.

“I mean, who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow now?”

First it was a problem with the turf causing the team to cancel a practice at Soldier Field. Then, a dangerous thunderstorm forced players off the field earlier this week. Wednesday night, the Chicago Bears had the biggest training camp disturbance of all: the lights went out.

About an hour into an evening practice at Olivet Nazarene University, all the lights at the stadium and in surrounding areas shut down. Players and coaches waited around for the lights to come back on for 30 minutes to no avail. The team was eventually bussed to a nearby high school field for the remainder of practice.

“It’s been a weird series of events for us,” Jay Cutler(notes) told the Chicago Sun-Times.

At least the high school facility had FieldTurf, which is more than Soldier Field can say.

Coach Lovie Smith was nonplussed by the incident. “You want to put guys in different situations,” coach Lovie Smith said. “As I said earlier, we’re going to London [to play Tampa in October]. We’ll have to get out of the routine.” (What, is the power going to go out at Wembley because of all the mindless looting?)

The Bears have another practice scheduled Thursday. Judging by the events of the past week, expect live bears to disrupt things.

Related: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

BOURBONNAIS — Quarterback Jay Cutler estimated there were about 40 new players that he didn’t recognize as the Chicago Bears reported to training camp Friday on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University.

Defensive back Chris Harris suggested the team get them all name tags so they could start to learn who all the new faces were.

Yet they all will be together as one when camp really opens today with the first practice session of the new season. And with the free-agency frenzy that followed the end of the lockout still in high gear, there are a lot of questions left to be answered.

“We were sitting in the room this morning and there was like 40 faces we’ve never seen before. There’s a lot of new guys, a lot of guys we’ve got to get familiar with,” Cutler said. “And we’re already running out of time. We’ve got a limited amount of time and a limited amount of practices to get ready now … A lot has changed.”

What was known by the end of the day Friday was that tight end Greg Olsen (one of Cutler’s best friends on the team), punter Brad Maynard and defensive back and return man Danieal Manning — among others — signed with other teams, while the Bears brought in wideouts Roy Williams and Sam Hurd from Dallas and tight end Matt Spaeth from Pittsburgh.

What is also known is that each and every guy who has already signed a contract and passed a physical will be on the field at 2:30 p.m. for the team’s first practice. They will go without pads both today and Sunday, and will suit up with shoulder pads and helmets for Monday’s 7 p.m. session.

And they already have a long-term goal in mind.

“Being in Coach (Mike) Martz’s offense for the second year in a row, and getting to the NFC championship game last year,” running back Matt Forte said, “I think in this offense, we can go even farther than that now.”

They will have to do it with some new faces, however. The Bears got all five of their rookie draft picks signed before the end of Friday, and were still busy trying to lure free agents when the day concluded. The rookies and free agents will have the toughest time adjusting to the post-lockout life.

“I think we run the same defense we ran at Oregon State, just a lot more advanced. I’ve got to just take it day to day and practice as hard as I can,” rookie defensive lineman Stephen Paea said. “I’m a little bit nervous, but probably even more excited.”

All of the Bears should be excited. Though the season didn’t end the way they wanted — a 21-14 loss to Green Bay left them one step shy of the Super Bowl, and left them “with a sour taste in our mouths,” Cutler said — they got farther than most expected, and did a bit better than most fans predicted following an 0-4 preseason of 2010.

But the Bears are not sitting on their laurels. Instead, they’re shooting even higher for this year.

“Of course we’re not satisfied. We were close, but. ,” Chicago’s head coach Lovie Smith said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we’re excited to start getting after it.

“It’s a new year, and it’s time to kick it off.”

Reach staff reporter Jay Taft at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

Jerry Angelo, you’re on the clock.

The Chicago Bears’ general manager figures to be a busy man now that a new labor deal is in place. Training camp for the Bears begins Friday in Bourbonnais, Ill., and a wild frenzy is about to start as teams try to fill out their rosters.

For Chicago, there are several big issues to address, starting with center Olin Kreutz. Re-signing the six-time Pro Bowler is one of the top priorities for a team coming off a run to the NFC championship game.

The Bears had big issues on the offensive line last season, and even though Kreutz might not be quite the dominant force he once was, he remains one of the team’s leaders. Heading into his 14th season, he’s healthier than he was this time last year. And agent Mark Bartelstein made it clear he hopes to stay.

“He would love to be in Chicago, no question,” Bartelstein said. “Now, at this point, things are going to move so fast it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen, but there’s no doubt he’d like to be here. Obviously, it’s going to be a very fast process, and Olin like everybody else is going to have to make quick decisions, it looks like.”

Players put an end to the 4 ½-month lockout when they OK’d the deal on Monday, days after the owners approved a tentative agreement, and turned the focus from the negotiating table to the field.

The frenzy will start at 9 a.m. Central time Tuesday, when teams can start talking with free agents and sign draft picks and undrafted rookies. Veterans can’t sign until 5 p.m. Central on Friday, the same day the Bears are scheduled to report to camp at Olivet Nazarene University.

Assuming that plan does not change, the first practice will be on Saturday. Between now and then, there’s plenty of work to do.

The Bears have apparently decided not to bring back Brad Maynard. The Chicago Tribune, citing a source close to the player, reported on its website Monday that the team informed the veteran punter that he would not be re-signed. His agent Chad Wiestling did not return calls seeking comment.

The 37-year-old Maynard spent the past 10 seasons in Chicago after starting his career with the New York Giants. Even so, it’s no shocker that the Bears would let him go, considering he ranked 32nd in punt average (40.1 yards) and 29th in net average (35.2).

Chicago signed Richmond McGee to a two-year contract in February and could also bring in a veteran punter.

The Bears could use another defensive end to create havoc and complement Julius Peppers. They could also use some linebackers, considering they have only two — Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs — under contract. Pisa Tinoisamoa, Nick Roach, Brian Iwuh and Rod Wilson are all free agents, and rookie J.T. Thomas could fill a backup role.

Re-signing defensive tackle Anthony Adams figures to be one of the top priorities, and on offense, many fans would like to see an upgrade at wide receiver. The bigger issue, though, is on the line.

The pounding quarterback Jay Cutler absorbed while being sacked a league-leading 52 times was well-documented, but things got better as the season wore on. The Bears went more with the run, taking the load off their quarterback, and a line that struggled with injuries and poor play early on started to show some improvement. After going with four different lineups the first seven weeks, Chicago used the same five linemen the rest of the way.

Since then, they’ve added first-round draft pick Gabe Carimi to the mix.

Keeping Kreutz in that mix is important. The 34-year-old is one start away from tying Walter Payton’s club record (184) and is as healthy as he’s been in years. He had surgery to remove a bone spur in his Achilles’ tendon after the 2009 season and really didn’t feel comfortable until late last season.

“It’s night and day,” Bartelstein said. “He was recovering from that bone spur that was removed from his Achilles, so he was nowhere near 100 percent. This is the best he’s felt, probably, in three or four years.”

As the NFL closes in on a labor agreement that will start the 2011 season, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Thursday that the Hall of Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams has been canceled.

That means the Bears will not play an extra fifth preseason game Aug. 7. They were scheduled to face the Rams that night at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, before an NBC national television audience. But the Bears and Rams originally were scheduled to report to their respective training camps Friday and hold their first practices Saturday.

“Because we have Richard Dent being enshrined, it’s disappointing from that standpoint but probably the most fair given the circumstances of the offseason that every team starts training camp on the same day,” said Bears CEO Ted Phillips on the game’s cancellation.

Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher figured the Hall of Fame Game would be called off.
 

“It’s a preseason game. It doesn’t mean anything,” he told the Tribune on Thursday after Goodell’s announcement. “So that’s one less chance we have to get people hurt.
 ”I definitely respect the Hall of Fame and all that stuff, but, again, it doesn’t mean anything. I’m not mad one bit about it being canceled.”

The Hall of Fame released a statement Thursday night of disappointment over the game’s cancellation.

“Obviously, the loss of this year’s game will have a significant adverse economic impact on the Hall of Fame and the Canton community,” the statement read. “We believe, however, that the long-term stability this new agreement will provide will be beneficial not only to the league and the players, but to the fans and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Owners have voted to ratify a tentative agreement with the players for a new collective bargaining agreement, but the players had yet to hold a vote and it remains unclear when the lockout will be lifted and when the new league year will begin. Goodell expressed hope that training facilities could open Saturday, with the league year beginning Wednesday if the players complete their union recertification process.

A team spokesman told the Tribune the Bears indeed will go to Olivet Nazarene in Bourbonnais, Ill., for training camp. The team is expected to report Wednesday and begin practicing Thursday. Olivet spokesman Gary Griffin said the school expects to be fully ready for the team by Sunday night.

Now, the Bears’ first preseason game will be Aug. 13 vs. the Buffalo Bills atSoldier Field.

Former Bears defensive end Richard Dent will not have the support of the entire organization in person at his induction ceremony into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Aug. 6 in Canton.

bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs

CHICAGO (AP)—Two people familiar with the situation say the Chicago Bears
won’t report to training camp this week even if there is a new labor agreement
because they need more time to prepare.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized
to comment publicly.

The Bears planned to report to camp at Olivet Nazarene University in
Bourbonnais, Ill., on Friday and hold their first practice the following day.
That’s about a week earlier than most teams because they’re scheduled to play
St. Louis in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7.

The Bears must give Olivet Nazarene 24 hours’ notice and need a few days to
fill out rosters and sign draft picks, along with undrafted rookies and
conventional free agents.

One person said if owners ratify a deal at their special meeting in Atlanta
on Thursday, the Bears could report the following Tuesday or Wednesday, if the
Hall of Fame game is still on. If the deal is ratified and the game is canceled,
they would start camp around the 29th.