Bears' first-round pick signs, avoids holdout

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- 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.

Williams came to terms on a five-year contract today before the first training camp practice at Olivet Nazarene University. It's not yet known if the necessary paperwork and physical will be completed in time for him to participate.

Just having Williams here at the beginning of camp is a plus for an offensive line that is being rebuilt. The biggest part of the makeover involves him nailing down the position on the quarterback's blind side, allowing veteran John Tait to make what should be a seamless transition back to right tackle, where he played most recently in 2004.

John St. Clair is expected to begin with the first team at left tackle, but Williams should be worked in quickly and ultimately St. Clair could figure in competition for the left guard position that is also up in the air.

``You start from the bottom no matter who it is,'' coach Lovie Smith said of Williams' position on the depth chart. ``We haven't seen you, we don't know enough about you. You work your way up from there. Now, when you draft a player like Chris you have an idea what he should end up. It's a contact sport. We've never seen Chris Williams in pads. So we have to at least see that and put him through some of those paces and go from there.''