The Daily Journal/Mike Voss

But practices can sort those things out. This year, Arrival Day was more Gossip Girl than SportsCenter.

As the players reported to camp on Thursday, the hot topic [...]]]> There are all sorts of pressing questions that need to be answered at the Chicago Bears’ eighth training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.

The Daily Journal/Mike Voss

But practices can sort those things out. This year, Arrival Day was more Gossip Girl than SportsCenter.

As the players reported to camp on Thursday, the hot topic was the Brian Urlacher-Bobby Wade-Jay Cutler controversy that flared up Wednesday in which Wade, the former Bears receiver, claimed on a radio show that Urlacher called the new Bears quarterback a stronger word for “wuss.”

As it turns out, Urlacher did call him that, just not in the manner Wade claimed he did in a now infamous radio interview.

“Jay called me up, (and) I said, ‘what’s up (expletive)? What are you doing?’” Urlacher joked while giving a quick press conference from a golf cart parked outside Parrott Hall. “It’s so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did, and then here we are.”

Urlacher admitted seeing Wade in Las Vegas over the weekend, but denied referring to Cutler as that vulgar term. He added that he didn’t know why Wade said he used that word, other than speculating that “maybe he’s jealous because we have a good quarterback now.”

Bears quareterback Jay Cutler meets the media for the first time in Bourbonnais on Thursday afternoon. The Daily Journal/Mike Voss

Urlacher seemed agitated that the controversy has been pursued so ardently by Chicago media outlets since it broke.

“Can we quit talking about it now? Can we just talk about football now?” he asked after the question-and-answer session started with three straight queries regarding the topic. “It’s all anybody has been talking about the past couple days and I’d just like to talk about football now.”

Cutler seemed apathetic to the controversy.

“Brian’s the first one I heard about it from,” he said. “We laughed about it. I didn’t put any stock into it.”

Also, Cutler and Urlacher both denied reports that the two were involved in an altercation after an organized training activities (OTAs) workout and had to be separated.

“I didn’t even practice this summer, so I don’t know how I’d fight the guy,” Urlacher said, referring to a groin injury that kept him out of the OTAs and minicamp. “We have no problems.”

Cutler has taken criticism for his attitude while the quarterback for Denver and also since being traded to the Bears, but several teammates on both sides of the ball defended the new QB on Thursday. Also, Cutler contradicted suggestions that he spurns requests for autographs by posting on Twitter “excited for camp, once again everybody — practice will start at 3 pm (today) at ONU, great time for children, autograph session follows.”

Checking in

The players had until midnight to report and by the early evening, several notable Bears had not yet arrived, including Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs, Matt Forte, Orlando Pace and Alex Brown.

No big news was learned from those that did arrive in the afternoon, though there were a few interesting moments.

• Offensive tackle Chris Williams and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison both sported PimpStrong T-shirts. PimpStrong sells black bands similar to the yellow “livestrong” bands made famous by Lance Armstrong. On the website pimpstrong.org, viewers are encouraged to “wear the black band and show your support for the PimpStrong Movement and the fight against being broke.” It also claims the band is “worn by ballers, playaz, and just straight-up fly folks.”

• Devin Hester did not arrive in his outlandish Louis Vitton car but instead showed up in a more modest but still flashy Cadillac Escalade, stating “I’m a little older. That was more for a younger guy, so I went to something a little simpler.”

• The affects of the economy may not have reached the players, but they seem to have reached media covering the camp as the contingent at arrival day was smaller than previous years. Also, fewer media will be staying on campus, with some choosing to commute and other staying off-campus in hotels. Nearby construction has made parking a bit tricky for media staying on campus. One reporter was told that “they don’t think my car will get towed if I keep it (behind the media dorm). They don’t think. So that’s reassuring.”

Here and there

Other tid-bits from arrival day:

• Cornerback Charles Tillman was put on the preseason physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but coach Lovie Smith said he expects Tillman to be ready for the season opener at Green Bay on Sept. 13. Zack Bowman is expected to fill in his sport while rookie D.J. Moore, Corey Graham and Trumaine McBride will also get looks. Graham was expected to compete for a safety position, but with Graham needed at corner, Danieal Manning will now shift from nickelback to safety.

• Smith was coy about various position battles, not giving any clues as whether Harrison, Dusty Dvoracek, or third-round draft pick Jarron Gilbert would be lining up next to Harris with the first unit at today’s practice.

• Smith also praised the facilities as Olivet Nazarene University during his press conference, stating “If you have to go away to training camp, this is a great set-up. We’ve enjoyed our time here. They do a good job helping us get better.”

• Kevin Jones arrived to camp healthy this year after coming in off an injury last season. Though he’s solidly behind Forte on the depth chart, Jones sounded eager about his opportunity to help the team reach its high expectations, adding that he’s in much better shape now than this time last year. “I’ve been able to full out train and run without worrying about any injuries,” he said.

• Fullback Jason McKie, entering his seventh training camp at ONU, pontificated the changes in his career and the team over the various camps. “Each one has been different,” he said. “It’s definitely been a journey. Some of the other veterans that are still here, we’ve jelled. We’re family now.”

• Greg Olsen was followed by a film crew from NFL Network, which tracked his trip from Chicago to Bourbonnais. Olsen will be blogging during camp at golsen82.com.

Contact Asst. Sports Editor Rob Laird at rlaird@daily-journal.com or by calling 815-937-3390.

BOURBONNAIS — Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has shot down reports of a rift between new quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher, saying they’re simply not true.

“That’s no story,” Smith said Thursday, when his team reported to [...]]]>

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith addresses the media on Thursday afternoon. The Daily Journal/Nicholas Holstein

BOURBONNAIS — Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has shot down reports of a rift between new quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher, saying they’re simply not true.

“That’s no story,” Smith said Thursday, when his team reported to camp. “You’ve got questions about what’s going on?”

Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler’s manhood during a conversation on a trip to Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a stronger version of the word “wimp” during the interview that had to be edited out.

Chicago radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.

Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, saying “Me having to be restrained? That’s funny.”

The Bears have high expectations after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a falling out with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.

His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith’s mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.

“There’s no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year,” Smith said. “No more than that. We can’t spend a whole lot of time on something that isn’t true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it’s a non-issue.”

In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.

Smith said another quarterback — Michael Vick — deserves one, although he doesn’t see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.

“I think Mike deserves a second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society,” Smith said. “He deserves a second chance. As far as we’re concerned, we like this team that we have right now.”