LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Monday announced their five captains for the 2007 season with players voting for center Olin Kreutz
The only change from last season is Ayanbadejo replacing long-snapper Patrick Mannelly.
 Mike Brown and Brian Urlacher-the Bears' first two picks in the 2000 NFL Draft-remain captains of the defense. |
The NFL announced at its league meetings in May that a greater emphasis would be placed on team captains, an idea that was suggested by players during a meeting of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s new six-member Player Advisory Council.
The purpose of the program is to support and recognize the importance of leadership through the role of the captains, who typically serve as a liaison between players, coaches and management.
The Bears’ five captains have been voted to a combined 16 Pro Bowls, with Urlacher and Kreutz topping the group with six appearances apiece. Muhammad was chosen twice when he played for the Carolina Panthers, while Brown and Ayanbadejo have each been honored once.
Not so bad: Rookie tight end Greg Olsen sat out practice Monday with a sprained left knee he sustained in Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Browns. But the Bears’ first-round draft pick realizes that he’s lucky the injury wasn’t more severe.
“It was unfortunate that it had to happen,” Olsen said. “We’re just thankful it wasn’t anything real serious that would have taken a large amount of time out of the season.”
The Bears have not given a timetable for Olsen’s return and have not yet revealed whether he will miss Sunday’s regular season opener against the Chargers in San Diego.
“We’re just rehabbing it the best we can and just taking it day-by-day,” Olsen said.
Practice makes perfect: After being waived during final cuts Saturday, defensive tackle Antonio Garay didn’t hesitate to rejoin the Bears a day later as a member of the practice squad.
“They obviously want me here; I obviously want to be here,” Garay said. “Right now everyone has just one goal and that’s to win the Super Bowl this year.
“I’m a guy that’s bought into the system here. I believe everything that Lovie has set and put in play for this team is what works. I’m happy to be here.”
But after playing in four games last season for the NFC champions, won’t Garay miss suiting up on Sundays after practicing all week on the scout team?
“Our team is geared up for one thing this year,” Garay said. “It’s a long season, so you never know what will happen. I’m on the practice squad, but in my mind I’m still a backup and whenever I’m needed I’ll be called up.”
Friendly advice: After missing his entire rookie season with a foot injury last year, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek can relate to Dan Bazuin’s situation. The second-round pick from Central Michigan was placed on injured reserve Saturday following a slow recovery from knee surgery.
“I’ll tell you what I told Dan,” Dvoracek said to reporters. “Make the most of it, try to get better at something every day whether it’s in the weight room, your conditioning, watching film or out there on the practice field watching [Adewale Ogunleye], Alex Brown and Mark Anderson. Try to take something from them every day and try to get better.”
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