Williams thrilled about Briggs' return

Lance Briggs' imminent arrival (still scheduled for Sunday) means a lot less playing time for Jamar Williams, who filled in for the AWOL Pro Bowler throughout the off-season.

But even Williams admits Briggs' return makes the Bears a better team, and it could make him a better player.

"I wanted him to come back," Williams said. "He's a great friend of mine, and he's a great player, and I know he's going to help our team out a lot. I don't want anything to be given to me. I know I have to work for everything I get.

"I just knew whatever situation I was going to be put in, I was going to have to prove myself and earn a spot regardless. This is going to make it a little more difficult, but I just want to get as much playing time as I can and come into camp and work hard and hopefully I'll have a spot."

Once Briggs play himself into shape, Williams will be relegated to second team, but he has enough versatility and ability to potentially be the top backup at all three linebacker positions. The experience he accumulated by playing with the starters in the off-season has accelerated his development.

"I benefited hugely," Williams said. "I feel like the coaches trust me a lot more now. For me to go out there and play with the (starters) is a lot of confidence-building for myself (especially) coming off an injury (torn chest muscle in Week 3 last season).

"Lance is a great player, but I just want to get on the field anywhere I can."

Mission man: Demoted defensive end Alex Brown sounded like a man on a mission heading into Friday afternoon's initial training camp practice.

"I'm still pretty upset with it," Brown said of losing his starting spot on the right side to Mark Anderson. "But it's not my call, and it's not my team, so what I do is come here to play and that's what I do."

Coaches love the fact that Anderson registered a dozen sacks as a rookie fifth-round pick. But Brown believes the Bears' staff also appreciates the 19 sacks he's accumulated over the past three seasons, as well as his ability to play the run.

"I believe they like what I do bring to the table," Brown said. "But what I bring and getting a bunch of sacks is completely different. I don't know. We'll see what happens. We'll see if I can make more plays. That's what I've got to go do.

"I've got to come out and have fun and enjoy my time at camp and try to get a little better. I believe I need to get better in every aspect of the game and hopefully I've gotten myself in condition where I can go out and do that."

During Friday's practice, Brown mostly rotated with Adewale Ogunleye at left end in 11-on-11 action, getting some snaps with the first team.

Packing 'em in: Friday's first practice was attended by an impressively large crowd of about 5,000, which was noticeably bigger than for last year's first workout. Fans were already streaming into the closest parking area by 12:30 p.m., 2ˆ¨ hours before practice began.

"There's a lot of excitement," coach Lovie Smith said. "We have a lot of great fans. We had hoped they would come out for the first chance to see what their team would look like this year."