Bears' Smith confident Idonije can fill role at DE

While Bears coach Lovie Smith said it was difficult to release defensive end Alex Brown, he's confident players such as Israel Idonije and Mark Anderson can fill the void.

"It was really hard to have to let a player like Alex Brown go, but it's a new year, and we're going in a different direction," Smith said Tuesday in his first public comments about Brown, a 16-game starter in six of the last seven seasons. "That allows us an opportunity to release a player like Alex because of what we feel about what 'Izzy' can do, and not only Israel Idonije but also Mark Anderson."

Smith spoke at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, where Idonije was presented with the Ed Block Courage Award, given annually to one player on each NFL team.

"Every day I've been the head coach for the Bears, I've seen Israel Idonije there," Smith said. "(He's done) everything we've asked him to do. We've asked him to sacrifice for the football team so much, so it's only fitting that he gets an award like this. You honor guys based on, not only coming back from an injury, but what they do in the community, and Izzy does quite a bit."

Idonije returned last week from his third trip to Africa, where he donated thousands of pair of athletic shoes and brought along a medical team of five doctors and six nurses to treat patients in Nigeria. He jumped right from that into the Bears' off-season program, and his competition with Anderson to replace Brown.

Throughout his Bears career, Idonije has bounced between end and tackle, gaining weight when he played inside and cutting pounds when he played end. This year he'll play between 260 and 265 pounds. He's weighed as much as 305 in the past. The one constant for Idonije is that he always has to earn a spot on the roster, and this year isn't any different.

"For me, the situation hasn't changed," Idonije said. "I have to come into camp in great shape, and I have to be ready to play and compete.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to play end. That's the goal (for me), to come in and be able to rush off that end, whatever side they ask, and just get after the quarterback."

The Bears still haven't decided which end prize free-agent acquisition Julius Peppers will line up at.

"You have to keep your options open," Smith said. "(At the) beginning of April, I think it would be an injustice to say we're just going to do this right now. That'll all answer itself. "

There are some notable absentees from the voluntary off-season program - restricted free agents Danieal Manning and Jamar Williams - but Smith is satisfied with the overall attendance.

"We would like to have everybody here, every day to get a chance to work together as a team, but it's never like that," Smith said. "We have over 90 percent of our players here, maybe even about 95 percent. That's a great number."