Bears’ Rodriguez apologizes; GM Emery disappointed
Second-year fullback-tight end Evan Rodriguez has a lot of work to do between now and the start of the regular season — not just on the field and in the classroom.
He has to make amends for last week’s DUI arrest.
“I apologize to the whole organization and my family and my teammates,” Rodriguez said after Tuesday’s practice. “I know I made a poor judgment that night.
“I also have to earn my teammates’ trust back and the coaches’ trust back. I can say a whole bunch of words, but I have to lead by my actions.
Rodriguez also was arrested in March for misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence and disorderly intoxication, but those charges were dropped.
Bears general manager Phil Emery expressed disappointment with Rodriguez after the first incident.
On Tuesday, Emery said: “Evan is a very likable guy. We have talked. I’m disappointed. I would use the word ‘extremely,’ and we’ll leave it at that.”
Rodriguez’s future with the Bears is tenuous.
“I just have to face the music,” he said. “Anything that’s going to happen, I just have to handle it and be a man about my whole approach about everything.
“I have to hold myself more to a higher standard and be more accountable for my actions.”
Alternate route:Offensive lineman Gabe Carimi has opted to work out on his own in Arizona while missing all of the voluntary off-season workouts and practices. But the 2011 first-round pick remains in contention for a roster spot, according to GM Phil Emery.#147;Gabe is doing what he feels is best for Gabe,#148; Emery said. #147;We#146;ll welcome him with open arms when he comes. I look forward to seeing how he#146;s doing.#148;Next week#146;s minicamp is mandatory, but Emery didn#146;t say if Carimi would be there.#147;That#146;ll be up to Gabe,#148; he said. #147;I#146;m assuming that he will be. Certainly he wants to play and wants to play well. I think that#146;s why he#146;s approached his training that way.#148;Taking a look:Some big-name quarterbacks will be visiting Halas Hall later this week for workouts, led by former No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell, who was a bust with the Oakland Raiders.Jordan Palmer, the brother of current Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer, also will visit, as will former Buffalo Bills starter Trent Edwards.All three were drafted in 2007, Edwards in the third round and Palmer in the sixth. Edwards has started 33 NFL games; Palmer has never started.Russell was cut by the Raiders in May 2010 and has not played in the NFL since. As recently as last year his weight was over 300 pounds, but he has dropped 40 since announcing a comeback. His career passer rating is 65.2.There has been no indication that coaches are dissatisfied with current backup quarterbacks Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard, but neither is entrenched.In a tight spot:Tight end Gabe Miller will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL#146;s policy on performance- enhancing substances.Miller, a fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011 who spent most of last season on the Bears#146; practice squad, is far from a lock to make the final 53-man roster.The position includes starter Martellus Bennett and backups Steve Maneri, Kyle Adams, Brody Eldridge and Fendi Onobun. Fullback Evan Rodriguez has played some tight end in the past as well.