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.
