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LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears have signed running back Harvey Unga to a four-year contract.

Terms were not disclosed Wednesday.

Taken in the seventh round of the supplemental draft, Unga is BYU’s all-time leading rusher with 3,455 yards on 696 carries. He also caught 102 passes for 1,085 yards over four seasons and had 45 touchdowns [...]]]>

LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears have signed running back Harvey Unga to a four-year contract.

Terms were not disclosed Wednesday.

Taken in the seventh round of the supplemental draft, Unga is BYU’s all-time leading rusher with 3,455 yards on 696 carries. He also caught 102 passes for 1,085 yards over four seasons and had 45 touchdowns — 36 rushing and nine receiving.

The Bears have also cut defensive tackle Jimmy Saddler-McQueen and wide receiver Vic Hall. They were undrafted free agents.

CB Tim Jennings

TE Brandon Manumaleuna

DE Julius Peppers

RB Chester Taylor

FB Eddie Williams

Re-signed LB Pisa Tinoisamoa

Hester didn’t appear to try to prevent the Bills’ Leodis McKelvin from intercepting a poorly thrown pass by Jay Cutler in Saturday’s preseason game in Buffalo. After the game, Cutler suggested that Hester made a mistake and could “learn from [...]]]> For all the hubbub it caused, Devin Hester seemed unbothered by criticism from his new quarterback.

Hester didn’t appear to try to prevent the Bills’ Leodis McKelvin from intercepting a poorly thrown pass by Jay Cutler in Saturday’s preseason game in Buffalo. After the game, Cutler suggested that Hester made a mistake and could “learn from it.”

After Monday’s practice, Hester said he and Cutler have cleared the air.

“Jay said that he didn’t mean it like I wasn’t a go-up and (get it) guy,” Hester said. “You’ve just got to throw it out there and then (I’ll) go get it.

“It wasn’t no criticism or anything like that,” he added. “He said, ‘You’re not a 6 (foot) 8 receiver. You can’t go up and get everything.’”

Hester said his relationship with Cutler wasn’t tarnished by the situation.

“It’s growing stronger and stronger each and every day,” Hester said. “He’s a new guy on the team. Everybody’s trying to get a feel for what type of a person he is and trying to build a relationship.”

This is the second time that Cutler has been involved with some drama involving a teammate in recent weeks.

Just before training camp started, Minnesota Vikings and former Bears wide receiver Bobby Wade said that Brian Urlacher questioned Cutler’s toughness by using a deragotory word.

Just as he did then, coach Lovie Smith did his best to downplay the latest flare-up, going so far as to plead ignorance.

“First off, I don’t know what comments you’re talking about,” Smith said. “This is what I know about our football team: there are going to be things said from time to time. Jay has a great relationship with the receivers, running backs and all.”

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner at least admitted he knew the comments and though he aknowledged there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, he said wasn’t bothered that his quarterback criticized a receiver.

“He’s a leader and he’s doing a great job of leading out there,” Turner said. “Some things obviously you address one-on-one and other things you can talk about. He’ll find that fine line.”

Cutler commented to reporters about wide receiver Devin Hester failure to break up an interception on a pass that fell short Saturday night following the team’s 27-20 preseason loss to [...]]]> BOURBONNAIS — One game into the preseason and already Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has had to smooth things out with one of his wide receivers.

Cutler commented to reporters about wide receiver Devin Hester failure to break up an interception on a pass that fell short Saturday night following the team’s 27-20 preseason loss to Buffalo. His remark seemed to rub some people the wrong way.

“Devin is more of a go-get-it guy; he is not really a back shoulder or jump-up-and-get-it (guy),” Cutler said Saturday. “You learn from it.

“We made some mistakes. It’s the first preseason game. Luckily enough, we have some time to correct them and keep going.”

The Bills’ Leodis McKelvin intercepted the pass.

Hester admitted Monday that Cutler’s comment upset him at first.

“But then he (Cutler) said he didn’t say it,” Hester said.

Hester said they’re just getting to know each other.

“It wasn’t criticism or anything like that,” Hester said. “He was saying, you are not a 6-8 receiver. You can’t go up and get everything. But we know you are the type of receiver if we throw it out there, you will go get it.”

Cutler was not available for comment. He is only made available to the media in Bears camp on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said Cutler should have checked down to a shorter receiver route when he had to slide up in the pocket on the play rather than put the ball up for grabs.

Nevertheless, Turner likes Cutler’s competitive attitude.

“I look at that as a good thing,” Turner said. “He’s got an edge about him that you better have if you’re going to be an elite quarterback in this league.”

Turner said occasionally he might need to talk to Cutler about being critical of teammates, but not every time.

“We don’t want to temper that too much,” Turner said. “Jay is an emotional guy and he’s a fiery guy and he’s a fiery competitor. That’s why he’s an elite quarterback.”

Cutler’s candid remarks got him into trouble when he played for Denver last year. Cutler went 5-for-10 Saturday for 64 yards with the one interception.

Coach Lovie Smith sought to call the entire matter forgotten.

“There are a lot of things said when we’re not playing the type of football we know we are capable of,” Smith said. “We went back to the practice field today. We have no issues except our team trying to get better.”

The Bears host the New York Giants in their home preseason opener Saturday night.

NOTES: Linebacker Nick Roach and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina missed practice with concussions sustained in Saturday’s game. … Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee), running back Matt Forte (hamstring) and tight end Greg Olsen (hip bruise) returned to practice after being held out of Saturday’s game.

While on his way to a humane society event in Englewood, Vick was seen at O’Hare on Tuesday night, which led to rampant speculation that the Bears were in talks with [...]]]> Wednesday began with the Internet buzzing about a Michael Vick sighting at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. The day ended in much more uneventful fashion.

While on his way to a humane society event in Englewood, Vick was seen at O’Hare on Tuesday night, which led to rampant speculation that the Bears were in talks with the maligned free agent quarterback.

Coach Lovie Smith has gone on the record saying Vick deserves another chance, he is great friends with Vick’s new mentor Tony Dungy, and the Bears’ backup quarterbacks (Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez) don’t have NFL experience.

However, the Bears seem to have no interest in Vick, with Bears media relations manager Jim Christman telling TMZ — the news organization that first reported Vick’s Chicago appearance — the team was not in talks with the quarterback.

With that issue squashed, the Bears went through practice, their final padded practice before Saturday’s preseason opener at Buffalo.

The team, suddenly a bit nicked-up after a relatively injury-free first week, went through the workout with hardly so much as a cramp.

Cutler’s input

It’s no secret that competition is hot for the last wide receiver spots on the roster.

What wasn’t known until Wednesday, however, is that Cutler wants to provide his two cents for which receivers are kept.

“If they don’t ask me, I’m going to tell them,” said Cutler, who only speaks with the media on Wednesdays and Saturdays during training camp. “But (offensive coordinator Ron Turner) and I have been on the same page and we know where we want to go with this group.”

Cutler kept his current choices secret.

Who stays; who goes?

Assuming Devin Hester and Earl Bennett have their spots on the team secured, and assuming the team keeps five wide receivers on the 45-man active roster, the Bears have to choose from eight receivers for the final three spots.

Rookie draft picks Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias could get the treatment that Bennett received last year and wind up on the practice squad.

Fellow rookie draft pick Derek Kinder will likely be cut, as will undrafted rookie free agent Eric Peterman and second-year player John Broussard.

If that’s the case, Rashied Davis’ spot on the team will be safe, and camp standouts Brandon Rideau and Devin Aromashodu will be secure as well.

However, if the Bears decide to put either Iglesias or Knox on the active roster (Iglesias is the more likely candidate for that as the team may not want to expose him to waivers), either Davis, Rideau or Aromashodu would be a casualty of the numbers game.

Other tough choices

While the numbers game will lead to difficult choices among some young hopefuls at receiver, veterans may be the main sufferers of that game at other positions.

At defensive tackle, Dusty Dvoracek is currently getting lots of work with the first unit, but could actually be auditioning for his job with all the depth at the position. Assuming Tommie Harris is physically able to be placed on the active roster, he will join Anthony Adams, rookie Jarron Gilbert and second-year player Marcus Harrison as virtual locks to make the final cut to the 45-man active roster, as the Bears are unlikely to expose Harrison or Gilbert to waivers by placing them on the eight-man practice squad.

That could squeeze Dvoracek out the door.

At linebacker, Hunter Hillenmeyer could be in a similar situation, as he is no longer competing for a starting outside spot and has been relegated to backup middle linebacker duties. Currently, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Nick Roach, Pisa Tinoisamoa and Jamar Williams all seem to be ahead of Hillenmeyer in the linebacker pecking order.

Injury updates

* Tight end Greg Olsen slightly tweaked his hip Wednesday but isn’t expected to miss much time.

* Tommie Harris (knee, hamstring) was in pads but once again withheld from team drills.

* Danieal Manning (hamstring) sat out and Al Afalava took his place at starting free safety, which is what will likely happen if Manning is unable to play in Saturday’s preseason opener in Buffalo. Corey Graham started at nickelback.

* Jamar Williams (shoulder) sat out practice.

* Tight end Fontel Mines suffered a torn ACL in Monday’s practice and will miss the season. He is expected to agree to an injury settlement.

* Long snapper Patrick Mannelly (hip) sat out practice and isn’t expected back before Saturday’s game.

* Zackary Bowman (hamstring) did not return to action Wednesday and also isn’t expected to play in Saturday’s game.

* Ervin Baldwin (elbow) returned to practice in full while fellow defensive lineman Joe Clermond (shoulder) returned to limited action.

With the ball resting inside the 5-yard line, Cutler through a pop fly fade pattern to tight end Greg Olsen in the corner [...]]]> It was a play that the Bears have attempted repeatedly in the years prior to the acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler, but to this point, the play has been executed with limited success.

With the ball resting inside the 5-yard line, Cutler through a pop fly fade pattern to tight end Greg Olsen in the corner of the end zone.

Olsen grabbed the ball in traffic and landed on his back, where he promptly tossed the football 20 feet directly up into the air in celebration.

It’s a play that’s been in the playbook for years, but the components to run the play correctly are finally also in place.

Olsen is entering his third season in the National Football League and seems poised to take the next step up in his development. It also doesn’t hurt at all that his new quarterback is a proponent of throwing to big targets, something the 6-foot, 5-inch, 255-pounder certainly provides.

“We’re just continuing to work, continue to talk and continuing to get on the same page,” Olsen said. “That’s what training camp is for.”

Olsen has started just 11 games in his pro career and to this point has served something of an apprenticeship to veteran Desmond Clark. But that hasn’t been the case this season and Olsen is quickly evolving into Cutler’s favorite target.

There was little doubt what the quarterback was thinking as that goal line play developed.

“It was a good play, any time you can finish off that two-minute drill with a touchdown, that’s good,” Olsen said. “We work on that play quite a bit as you can see.”

Olsen’s theatrics weren’t limited to his play around the goal line either, he made a great grab in tight coverage by linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, demonstrating that he’s going to be a nightmare for opposing linebackers to try to cover.

“I think we kind of thought all along that we’ve got a chance to be pretty good,” Olsen said. “We’re getting to that point in camp where days are starting to get a little long, but the guys are out here working hard and trying to get better.”

Get out of my way

During team drills, Kevin Jones broke free from the first line of defense and saw only safety Kevin Payne between him and a touchdown.

Although contact at camp is usually limited, Jones plowed right through Payne, knocking him to the ground as he sauntered into the end zone.

It’s yet another good sign from Jones, who is running with considerably more authority than he did last season, when he was still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that he suffered in 2007.

Jones likely won’t be taking away many snaps from second-year standout Matt Forte, he could provide a pretty solid insurance policy as a backup.

Injury update

Tommie Harris missed another practice on Tuesday and almost certainly won’t play in Saturday’s preseason game. In addition, Harris was being fitted with a metal brace around his leg prior to Tuesday’s practice, though he did not wear the apparatus during practice.

Linebacker Jamar Williams also missed practice from the defensive unit with an injury termed “not serious.”

Veteran long snapper Patrick Mannelly also sat out practice with an injury that is being classified as a hip problem. With Mannelly out of service for an undetermined amount of time, the Bears added University of Nevada long snapper J.J. Milan to the roster. Milan has spent time on both the Oakland and Indianapolis rosters but has never appeared in a regular season game.

“I had surgery in March,” Harris said after Monday’s practice at Olivet Nazarene University.

Wait, what?

“(The surgeons) went in and it wasn’t anything major,” said the six-year veteran. “Just some scar tissue.”

Harris gave [...]]]> As it turns out, there was a reason why Tommie Harris has been held out of team drills for the entirety of training camp.

“I had surgery in March,” Harris said after Monday’s practice at Olivet Nazarene University.

Wait, what?

“(The surgeons) went in and it wasn’t anything major,” said the six-year veteran. “Just some scar tissue.”

Harris gave no explanation as to why he and the team withheld the information from the public until Monday, nor did he explain why he suddenly unveiled the news.

“The hardest thing is, knowing how political this business is, and having to wear pads and sit on the sideline acting like I’m going out there and different stuff like that,” he said. “It’s a bit frustrating, but I’m going to hang in there and just see how it plays out.”

On Saturday, coach Lovie Smith said Harris would return to practice in full Monday. However, that was not the case. Smith downplayed Harris’ suddenly unknown status, saying Harris did not get worse since Saturday.

“I wouldn’t say (he had a) setback,” Smith said. “You go through training camp and soreness sets in. That’s all that happens as far as I see it. It’s not like you’ve seen Tommie go down with an injury.”

Throughout the offseason team activities and mini-camps, both Smith and Harris kept the information of Harris’ March surgery from the public. When Harris broke the silence, there was still some confusion in the message.

Harris said a hamstring injury, a common complication during rehab of arthroscopic surgery among athletes, kept him from participating fully in Monday’s practice as expected.

However, Smith said the issue was with Harris’ knee, making no mention of any hamstring issue.

“He has a little bit of soreness in his knee, so we’re holding him out,” Smith said. “We thought he would be able to get a little bit more work in today, but he wasn’t.”

Camp surprises

Harris’ news was a camp surprise, but there have been other, more uplifting surprises as well.

Rookie safety Al Afalava and wide receiver Devin Aromashodu, who was a late season addition to the Bears practice squad in 2008, have made big impressions on coaches, fans and media alike in the first half of camp.

With the safety position still not completely settled, Afalava’s performance in camp has been refreshing and Smith said the rookie hasn’t even showcased his best attribute.

“His strong suit is hitting,” he said. “That’s one part we haven’t gotten a chance to see but hopefully in the game this week, we’ll be able to see some of our (defensive backs) tackle.”

Aromashodu, meanwhile, is a tall journeyman receiver who was on Washington’s practice squad last year. He earned a cup of coffee with Indianapolis in 2007 before being waived and landing on Houston’s practice squad. He spent 2006 on the Colts’ practice squad after being cut by Miami in the preseason.

With no more practice squad eligibility left, this is essentially do or die time for the Auburn alum. He said he’s simply excited for the chance to earn a spot on the active roster and seemed humbled by the sudden notoriety he’s received.

“This is a great opportunity.” said the 6-foot-2 receiver. “It’s a wide open field. I think it’s a great opportunity for all the receivers to learn and work with an All-Pro quarterback.”

Aside from their play, Afalava and Aromashodu are also getting noticed for their unique names, particularly their pronunciations. The phonetic spellings of Afalava and Aromashodu are off-ah-lava and uh-ROME-uh-shuh-do, respectively.

Other Monday notes

* Fontel Mines suffered an injury to his left knee while being wrapped up by safety Craig Steltz and had to be carted off the field.

* Linebacker Jamar Williams hurt his shoulder during individual drills and walked off the field while icing the injury.

* Long-snapper Patrick Mannelly sat out practice with a veteran’s off day.