Don't expect Bears officials to trade up in NFL Draft
INDIANAPOLIS - The NFL Draft starts on Thursday night this year, at least for teams with a first-round pick.
The Bears, however, won't make a selection until late Friday night when they have the 12th pick in the third round, 76th overall.
Some fans would love the Bears to trade up and get in the game a little earlier, but that's unlikely.
"I just don't feel we have enough (trade ammunition) to be able to do that," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. "Those top 40 picks are really coveted by most teams. It's very difficult to get teams to move out of those positions so, in all likelihood, that's not going to happen. We really don't have enough to offer teams, and once teams get fixed on filling their needs and on players (they like) it's very tough to have them move. I've been in their shoes, and I wouldn't do it."
No worries: Assistant coaches Mike Martz, Rod Marinelli and Mike Tice have all been head coaches in the NFL, which might cause a head coach in a win-or-else situation to glance over his shoulder.
But Lovie Smith says that's not a concern.
"It's a great thing," Smith said. "This is the staff that I wanted. I looked at lot of people, the more the better. We're trying to bring expertise. We're bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the group. It's my responsibility to get the best possible guys, period.
"If I had another position (open) and there was another former (head) coach out there that fit that criteria, I would jump on him, too."
Still hoping: There were great expectations for six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher heading into last year's training camp, but they were dashed by a season-ending dislocated wrist in the first game.
General manager Jerry Angelo said the still-rehabbing Urlacher, who hasn't been selected for the Pro Bowl since the 2006 season, can return to that elite level.
"He's in good health," Angelo said. "He was in real good health last year going into the season. He had a real good off-season. But he had a freak injury unfortunately that shut his season down. We're very optimistic getting him back that he's going to be a very good player for us."
Still here: Based on his recent lack of production - just 3 interceptions in three years - since signing a five-year contract extension for $28 million before the 2007 season, Nate Vasher was expected to be cut.
His 2010 base salary is $2.95 million, but the Bears have already paid him $12 million in bonus money, so they've borne the brunt of the financial commitment.
"He's on the roster," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "We paid him his money, so it doesn't behoove us to let him go (now). We're going to take him to training camp. He didn't get a lot of playing time last year, as we all know. When he did play he looked OK to me. We like him. No reason to do anything with him. If something happens in free agency, us wanting to do something, then we'd probably have to reassess our roster. But right now it's business as usual."