November 2007 Archives

Cornerback Nathan Vasher was suited up for practice for the third consecutive day at Halas Hall, improving the chances further he will play Sunday for the first time in more than two months. Vasher has been working his way back from a partially torn groin muscle.

The Sun-Times reported that Cedric Benson underwent successful surgery on his fractured left leg Thursday. The operation was performed by team physicians Armen Kelikian and Mark Bowen.

The injury comes at a bad time for Benson, who finished the season with 674 rushing yards. Had he gained 27 more yards—or less than three extra yards per game this season—he would have triggered a conditional roster bonus in his contract in the amount of $1.73 million. It’s lost money now for the running back.

As reported earlier, DT Tommie Harris (left knee), LB Lance Briggs (knee) and WR Devin Hester (foot) returned to practice in a limited fashion Thursday.

Right tackle Fred Miller remained out of Thursday's practice with a sprained right ankle.

The good news is that cornerback Nathan Vasher (groin) was on the field for practice for the second consecutive day.

Had some more interesting information in regards to right tackle Fred Miller that did not make the print edition, so I’ll complement that piece here:

There are plenty who have been calling for the replacement of Miller, who has a sprained right ankle and could be replaced by veteran John St. Clair in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. The right tackle is going to square off against future Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan. Coach Lovie Smith made it clear Miller was the starter when healthy.

Miller is 34 and is earning $3 million this season with his base pay going up to $4 million in 2008. Miller’s salary-cap figure for ’08 is $5.8 million, a lot of money for an aging lineman. But you’re going to have to spend money to replace him, and skilled linemen who aren’t injury risks are hard to find. General manager Jerry Angelo doesn’t have a track record of success drafting offensive linemen, either. The Bears have gotten just 30 starts out of linemen drafted by Angelo.

Bears -- did not practice

LB Lance Briggs knee
DT Tommie Harris knee
KR/PR Devin Hester foot
RT Fred Miller right ankle

Limited participation

CB Nathan Vasher groin

The optimism Lovie Smith had Monday, or slipped with on Monday came through Wednesday as cornerback Nathan Vasher returned to practice Wednesday at Halas Hall. We'll find out what the report on him is afterward, and see if he can repeat the activity on Thursday.

With the NFC's biggest game of the year -- Green Bay at Dallas Thursday night -- siphoned off by the NFL Network, the Bears-Giants game at 3:15 p.m. Sunday at Soldier Field.

Devin Hester was named the NFC's special teams player of the week for the third time this season following his two-touchdown effort against Denver.

The Bears made an additional move Tuesday that was not announced by the organization.

Fullback Quadtrine Hill was placed on waivers. Hill was waived/injured on Aug. 29 with a back injury after being signed during training camp. He reverted to the injured reserve when he cleared waivers, and rehabilitated the injury.

Running back Cedric Benson was officially placed on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon, opening a roster space on the team. Soon he will undergo surgery on his fractured left leg.

The Bears also made two other moves, releasing safety Brandon Sharp from the practice squad after one week. Taking his place was offensive tackle Ryan Gibbons. The Northeastern product was on the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this season after spending training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and sitting on their practice squad for the first three weeks.

Gibbons was undrafted in 2006 and spent nearly the entire season on the Jaguars practice squad. He was with Hamburg in NFL Europa.

It's been a little too long since our last entry, but two red eye trips back from the West Coast and a holiday in between has shortened our weeks. We'll get back on schedule for the stretch run, so keep the inquiries coming.

Q: Where is Corey Dillon? Isn’t he available? Tiki Barber might come out of retirement for a real chance to win a title.

Tyree T., Chicago

Tyree: I’d assume Dillon is kicking back with the phone nearby waiting to hear from the New England Patriots. While Dillon’s agent Steve Feldman told the Sun-Times in September that his client would be interested in joining the Bears, the team wasn’t seeking any help at the time. When I checked with Feldman earlier this month, he said Dillon no longer had an interest in the Bears.

And that change of heart has nothing to do with the changing weather. Dillon would gladly return to the undefeated New England Patriots for another run at a Super Bowl ring. They might not need him, though. As far as Barber goes, his agent also told the Sun-Times back in September that Tiki was quite happy as a talking head these days.

The Bears may still bring a running back in with Cedric Benson lost for the season, but they were in no rush to make that move Monday, and it’s almost a guarantee anyone they do bring in will not be a household name. Many teams operate with only four backs and that’s what the Bears have now with backup fullback Lousaka Polite expected to dress for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants for the first time this season.

Had an interesting conversation with Doug Plank on Monday afternoon after Joe Novak’s retirement at Northern Illinois was announced. Plank mentioned earlier this season he was interested in exploring a head-coaching position at the college ranks when he was in town to cover a Bears game for Sports USA Radio Network.

Plank has been the head coach of the Georgia Force in the Arena Football League for the last three seasons. He’s won more games in that span than any coach in a three-year stretch in league history and twice has been named coach of the year.

The former Bears safety had some interesting ideas. Here’s a portion of the interview:

League sources indicate that no roster move is imminent for the Bears. Word is the Bears are saying they are not going to take any action this week.

It could be that the organization wants to wait and compile more medical information in regards to Cedric Benson's left ankle. The Bears also might want to bring in a few candidates for tryouts before charting a course.

With an update on the condition of running back Cedric Benson possible later on today, it’s not too early to start considering options to replace him.

Benson’s left ankle was rolled badly in the second quarter of the win over Denver, and he told the Sun-Times following the game that he was to have it re-evaluated downtown this morning. Benson is expected to miss the remainder of the season. A knee sprain sidelined the former No. 4 overall pick for six games in 2005, and then the time he was on the shelf during training camp in 2006 with a shoulder injury cost him any chance of unseating Thomas Jones.

It will be interesting to see how the Bears proceed if and when the determination is made that Benson will be placed on injured reserve. By moving Adrian Peterson into the starting position, it takes a key performer from the special teams unit, an area Garrett Wolfe has been pitching in on more and more lately.

Just as there is no shortage of storylines coming out of the Bears’ dramatic 37-34 overtime stunner Sunday evening at Soldier Field, there is no shortage of 5-6 teams in the NFC.

With the Philadelphia Eagles finally succumbing to New England in the NBC nightcap, six teams are mired at 5-6 in the Second Division, or whatever you want to call the NFC. Dallas and Green Bay meet Thursday night in Big D with superiority in the NFC on the line. The rest of the bunch is a giant mess right now.

The Bears, of course, are in that pile of teams a game behind the Detroit Lions (6-5). The Bears are actually two back of the Lions because they would lose a tiebreaker to them as Detroit swept the regular-season series.

Brian Griese has reassumed his role as the backup quarterback to Rex Grossman.

And Ricky Manning Jr. will start at right cornerback instead of Trumaine McBride, who was slowed this week in practice with a hip injury. McBride is still active for the game.

Also, as reported earlier Andre Hall will replace Selvin Young (knee) as the Broncos starting running back.

One source said it is likely the Broncos make RB Selvin Young inactive for today's game, meaning Andre Hall will make his first NFL start.