Bears

No worries, but Kreutz sidelined

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Bears have no concerns about an Achilles tendon injury that has sidelined center Olin Kreutz to begin training camp.

Camp spotlight QB BATTLE Talk about symmetry. Kyle Orton won the coin flip to start first during the offseason program and Rex Grossman won the coin toss Wednesday morning to work with the first team during the opening practice of the summer. Neither quarterback looked particularly sharp, and there were some miscommunications which can be hung on the receivers just as easily. Nathan Vasher made an easy interception of Grossman in 7-on-7 drills, while Orton made a nice connection with rookie tight end Kellen Davis on a deep seam route. It wasn't anything offensive coordinator Ron Turner was overly concerned about. He expects the action to be crisper in a few days when the players are readjusted after a month off. Grossman made a couple nice connections with Mark Bradley, but the action will be better defined in full pads.

Hester's risky business

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- As much as you might admire Devin Hester as a player, like him as a person and respect his Stick-It-To-The-Man negotiating tactics, understand this about his decision not to report to training camp in a demand for more money: It's either a bold act of genius or an act of complete madness.

Williams gets started with $13 million deal

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- When the Indianapolis Colts report to training camp today, defensive end Dwight Freeney is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a torn foot ligament.

Bears' first-round pick signs, avoids holdout Chris Williams almost learned a new word today: Holdout. But as the prized left tackle said three months ago when the Bears drafted him 14th overall, it just isn't in his vocabulary.

Turnover's a good thing There's nothing like the start of training camp to get everyone pumped up. Take Bears coach Lovie Smith, for instance. He ran through every position on the troubled offense of a year ago, and by the time he was done, he determined he liked it. Or at least Smith had talked himself into liking it Tuesday afternoon, when the Bears assembled at Olivet Nazarene University for the start of a more than three-week stay.

Let the QB circus begin

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Don't look now, but the Bears' quarterback battle is suddenly as conflicted as Two-Face, the latest villain in the new Batman movie -- right down to the coin flip.

Kreutz placed on the physically unable to perform list The Bears' quarterback derby begins this afternoon without the man who is more qualified than anyone to discuss the franchise's carousel over the last decade. Center Olin Kreutz has been placed on the physically unable to perform list and will not be cleared to participate in practices until he passes his physical. Kreutz recently underwent a procedure to remove scar tissue from an Achille tendon.

Urlacher says 9-year deal was a mistake

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- If he had it to do over again, Brian Urlacher never would have signed a nine-year contract in the first place.

Bears try to get Williams signed before 1st practice

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Negotiations for first-round pick Chris Williams carried late into the night Tuesday as the Bears worked to get the left tackle signed before today's 3 p.m. practice.

Rex happy with shot at job he once owned

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Bears quarterback Rex Grossman said he's ''living in the now'' and not concerned about the past or future as he gets ready to begin his training-camp battle with Kyle Orton.

Camp spotlight The Bears return to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais for the seventh consecutive year. Admission and parking is free. ONU is a tobacco- and alcohol-free campus.

Devin Hester a no-show The tranquil start to Bears training camp disappeared faster than a Devin Hester touchdown return today when the Bears special teams ace refused to show up for the opening practice in a contract holdout.

As legacy wobbles, Urlacher forced to compromise Jay Mariotti: He isn't Butkus. He isn't Singletary. Which means he isn't a legend -- nor will he ever be. Brian Urlacher is a joystick attacker and tireless maker of TV ads at a time when fast and sleek sells, all the more convenient when he's the star of middle linebacker theater in Chicago. But to suggest he's an all-time great is to ignore his performance dips and off-field warts.

Bears give Urlacher extension

An offseason plagued by uncertainty finally has ended, but not before the Bears solved their most challenging task.