Walker hopes to play against former team
Darwin Walker was able to participate in Wednesday's practice on a partial basis after missing last week's game with a sprained knee, and he hopes to be healthy enough to face his former team Sunday.
"It's special because I had a great career in Philadelphia," said Walker who played the previous six seasons with the Eagles, starting 75 games. "I enjoyed my time in Philadelphia. I look forward to going back there and playing.
"I don't hold any malice. I'm extremely happy where I am now. I wouldn't take it back for the world, but at the same time, I enjoyed being in Philadelphia and I've got a lot of great memories there."
The Eagles made the playoffs in five of Walker's six seasons and played in four NFC championships. Bears coaches and players have already been picking Walker's brain for inside information on his former team and teammates.
"I think that I may know a few things about a player here or there," the defensive tackle said. "But there's not going to be any ancient Chinese secrets that I'll be able to give away."
Philadelphia fans, who once booed Santa Claus, are notorious for verbalizing their emotions, both positive and negative. As a former Eagle, Walker isn't expecting to be cheered.
"I know I'll probably get a few (boos)," he said. "But that's Philly. You take it as it comes. The Philly fans will get a lot of flak. If you lose they hate you, but when you win, they love you just as much or just as passionately as they hate you. So you can't argue. You just take it as it comes."
Hot shoeing: Quarterback Brian Griese is playing it close to the vest this week, but he's doing it in entertaining fashion.
Griese has helped the Bears put up 85 points in his three starts. But this week he'll have to deal with myriad blitzes from Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, so he was asked if he preferred maximum protection on pass plays or sending out a full complement of receivers to choose from.
"Well, I know what I wouldn't do," a smiling Griese said. "I wouldn't tell you the answer to that question."
"What's your personal preference?" Griese was asked.
"I wouldn't tell you that either," he said. "Why would I tell you that? Are you from Philadelphia? Good question, though."
Shout out: Tommie Harris implored fans not to abandon the team and thanked some for their support.
"Fans out there … I know the reporters and the media really don't care about us," Harris said. "But everybody out there who are Bears fans, continue to stick in for us; and thank you guys who stayed there and watched that Minnesota game. A lot of people who said they were fans left, but thank you all who stayed."
Injury update: Guard Ruben Brown (shoulder) joined defensive tackle Darwin Walker (knee) as a partial participant in Wednesday's practice, while Tommie Harris (hamstring) and cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) were held out.