December 2007 Archives

Right tackle Fred Miller battled with a partially torn MCL in his right knee during the middle of the season, but had even bigger problems with a right ankle issue that forced him out of Giants game on Dec. 2. Miller is not one to miss games. It was just the second he had missed since 1998, when he started 15 games for the St. Louis Rams.

The Chicago chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America announced that linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was selected as the Good Guy Award winner for 2007.

Hillenmeyer was chosen for his consistent and professional approach in handling the media obligations that come with the job and serves as an example for teammates to follow.

We interrupt this quarterback search—the Bears have already begun looking for their starter in 2008, right—to ring in the New Year with an issue of a different kind.

The Bears need to make a decision on what to do with veteran safety Mike Brown. The former Pro Bowl selection is signed through this next season, but it’s unknown if the organization has reached a decision on how to proceed with him after he appeared in just the season opener when he tore the ACL in his left knee.

Running back P.J. Pope became the fourth player to sign a futures contract on Monday.

Lovie Smith announced at his season-ending press conference Monday that he expects his entire coaching staff to remain in tact for 2008.

The NFL released the draft order for 2008.

It contains a complex tie at the top between Atlanta, Kansas City and Oakland for spots 3-5. Coin flips will be involved in deciding it.

To see the NFL's list: http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d805a3a57&template=without-video&confirm=true

Guard Tyler Reed signed a futures contract to return to the Bears in 2008.

The sixth-round pick from Penn State in 2006 has been on the practice squad for the past two seasons.

Cornerback Greg Fassitt said he expects to sign a futures contract soon.

The Saints weren’t just beat Sunday at Soldier Field, they were beaten up.

Wide receivers Marques Colston (wrist) and Terrance Copper (concussion) and safety Josh Bullocks (ankle) were knocked out of the game. Tight end Eric Johnson was also sent to the bench.

Safety Leonard Peters and guard Mike Jones, both on the practice squad, are expected to sign futures contracts with the Bears, perhaps as soon as Monday.

Clubs have exclusive negotiating rights with players on their own practice squad for five days beginning Monday. Afterward, they can pursue players from other organizations.

Upon review, unofficial special teams rankings had the Bears first entering Sunday ahead of San Diego and San Francisco.

Brad Maynard’s four punts inside the 20 should help them. The official numbers are crunched by the Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin, who created the complex ranking system that counts 22 categories.

Lovie Smith set out a goal for Brian Urlacher to have a 5-5 season as a linebacker in 2006.

He accomplished it this season, getting his fifth interception in the first quarter Sunday when he stepped in front of a Drew Brees pass for Marques Colston.

LB Lance Briggs will return from a hip injury to start today against the New Orleans Saints. Briggs will be an unrestricted free agent on March 1 and all signs point to him taking an offer from the highest bidder.

DT Darwin Walker will finish off his disappointing season in street clothes. Walker, who is expected to be released before March 1 as he has a $5.2 million option bonus due, injured his left elbow at Washington Dec. 6 and will end up missing the final three games despite practicing the last two weeks and being listed probable on Friday's injury report.

The remainder of the inactives:

The Bears are moving the site of their annual fan convention to Soldier Field.

The event, which was a sellout last spring for the first time, had been held at the Hilton and Towers since its inception. Now, the franchise will have more time to put a disappointing season behind before the rah-rah for the 2008 campaign begins.

The Bears are getting healthy just in time for the offseason.

All but LB Lance Briggs (hip) and QB Rex Grossman (knee) participated fully in Friday’s final practice of the season in the Walter Payton Center. Briggs and Grossman both participated on a limited basis and are listed questionable for Sunday’s game at Soldier Field with the New Orleans Saints.

Bernard Berrian’s competition on the open market just got thinner.

Dallas Cowboys WR Patrick Crayton took a below-market deal to remain with the team, something his agent Frederick Lyles admitted in telling reporters Thursday night: ``He could have easily secured more money on the open market. But his family is here. His wife and child and mother and siblings, they all live in Dallas. He was more concerned about not uprooting his family.’’

The Bears brought CB Alan Zemaitis in for a look Thursday morning at Halas Hall, but it doesn’t look like the former All-American from Penn State will be signed.

The official injury report came out and DT Tommie Harris (left knee) and WR Muhsin Muhammad (ankle) were the only two players to miss.

Players who had limited participation: WR Bernard Berrian (knee), LB Lance Briggs (hip), QB Rex Grossman (knee), RT Fred Miller (ankle) and DT Darwin Walker (left elbow).

WR Muhsin Muhammad and DT Tommie Harris (left knee) were not dressed to participate in practice at the beginning of Thursday’s workout.

LB Lance Briggs (hip), DT Darwin Walker (left elbow), RT Fred Miller (ankle), WR Bernard Berrian (knee) all were stretching to practice. Miller and Berrian sat out Wednesday.

As expected, the Bears went ahead and placed CB Nathan Vasher (groin) on injured reserve Thursday morning and signed WR Brandon Rideau to the 53-man roster.