Another chance? Sign Brown up

BOURBONNAIS -- For seven years, Mike Brown worked with his teammates to reach the NFL promised land.

But when the Bears finally arrived there last season, it was without their Pro Bowl safety.

Brown suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Bears' 24-23 comeback victory over the Cardinals and spent the remainder of the season as a cheerleader, not the role he envisioned for himself when he fantasized about his career.

"When you first come into the league, you always want to have a ring on your finger and play in the Super Bowl," Brown said. "We made it, but I wasn't able to play in it, so it was the most disappointing thing that's ever happened in my athletic career."

It was the third straight year that an injury ended Brown's season, and he's missed 28 of the Bears' previous 48 regular-season games. So, if the Bears had decided that Brown wasn't part of their future, even though he's signed through next season, it wouldn't have come as a shock.

"I've been around this business a long enough to know that if you're not on the field on a consistent basis, then your time with that team, or your time in the league in general, is limited," said the 29-year old. "You only get so many opportunities, and they run out pretty quickly."

But guys like Brown deserve more opportunities than most players.

He's always had a knack for being around the ball and making big plays, as evidenced by his franchise-record 7 career defensive touchdowns (4 on interceptions and 3 on fumbles).

Every coach he's ever played for has praised his smarts and ability to quarterback the secondary and get everyone positioned correctly.

He's a team leader by example, and he's not shy when it comes to verbalizing, even when it's critical.

"It seems like I'm a big part of this team, and I feel like I am," Brown said. "I feel like my teammates respect me in that way, and the coaches and management know what I bring to the table. I'm delighted to have this opportunity -- it wasn't guaranteed."

So Brown's still in the starting lineup, where he's been since about 15 minutes after he was drafted in the second round out of Nebraska in 2000.

The only difference is he's back at free safety after spending the previous three seasons at strong safety.

Traditionally strong safeties have more run-stopping responsibilities and play closer to the line of scrimmage, while free safeties help more in pass coverage.

Newcomer Adam Archuleta is considered a better fit at strong, but Bears coaches don't see the situation as a problem, even though both safeties are considered more physical hitters than rangy pass defenders.

"Mike has played both positions before, and I don't think it's really a big deal with him going strong or free," said Bears defensive backs coach Steven Wilks. "When he's in there, we feel very confident that he's going to do an outstanding job for us, and we just want to keep him healthy."

Brown sees good things for the new safety partnership after working in the off-season and through the first week of training camp with Archuleta, who entered the league a year after him as a first-round pick of the Rams -- where he played three years under Lovie Smith.

"It's always easier when you know someone knows what they're doing," Brown said. "The communication was real good right when he came here. We work well together, we both know the defense, and we picked it up really quick."

Brown has a tendency to get a little worked up, even in practices, as he did the other day, but having another experienced veteran in the backfield will keep the operation running smoothly.

"Sometimes I was talking too much or forgot what coverage we were in, and (Archuleta) let me know with a little hand signal or whatever," Brown said. "That's the key, to keep everybody on the same page, and he's able to do that."

When all the pages are turned at the end of the season, Brown is looking to be an active participant when the Bears return to the Super Bowl, which will be played in the Cardinals' Glendale, Ariz., stadium, not far from Brown's hometown of Scottsdale.

"That's pretty cool, right in the home state," Brown said. "Trust me, I've heard a whole bunch about that already, but we've got a long way to go. I have another opportunity, and I'm going to take advantage of it."