Archuleta admits he had poor '07 season

For the second straight season, Bears safety Adam Archuleta failed to hold on to a starting job, losing his spot to Brandon McGowan after 12 games.

"A very disappointing season all the way around," said Archuleta, who was benched last season by the Redskins and then traded to the Bears. "But adversity is nothing new, and we get a better opportunity to go back and work this off-season and make it better."

Archuleta did not come close to living up to his three-year, $8.1 million deal with the Bears, so he might not be back next season.

"I'm a firm believer that what's supposed to happen will happen," said Archuleta, a stand-up guy who never ducked criticism or questions. "I've made my bed and I'll lay in it. I'll take it in stride, and I'll keep working to make things better. I really didn't hold up my end of the bargain. I'm just not happy with some of the things I did this year. Just disappointment overall in my play."

Better health: The mission for 2008 is clear for nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek, who missed all of his rookie season in 2006 with a foot injury and played just the season opener in '07 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

"I've got to stay healthy and stay on the field," said Dvoracek, a 6-foot-3, 303-pound third-round pick. "That's the hardest part. Once I'm on the field, I can play the game of football. I can play at a high level. I've just got to get myself back rehabbed right and stay healthy."

Coaches had high hopes for Dvoracek this season after he won the starting job in training camp, and they're still encouraged about his future.

"They told me they loved me as a player, and what I bring on the field as a leader," Dvoracek said. "They're excited about me, and I'm excited about next year. I guess I showed them enough that they want to keep me around."

Not worth it: Right tackle Fred Miller was one of the offensive linemen who was heavily criticized this season, specifically for his pass blocking and numerous false starts. He turns 35 next month, and with two years left on a five-year, $22.5 million contract that will count $4.5 million against the 2008 salary cap, he's a likely casualty.

"I don't worry about it because I'm far enough in my career where I don't have to," Miller said. "Maybe some of the younger guys do, but that's just part of the NFL. You've got to expect it. When things don't go the way that you want to, of course there's going to be some changes. You're just going to have to deal with it."