CLEVELAND – On crutches again, Montario Hardesty hobbled toward the stadium's exit after his first NFL game for a doctor's appointment.

Charles Tillman, CB

On the play of the first-team defense tonight

“We just wanted to come out and start fast and getting a turnover on the first play is the best way to start fast. I’m pretty happy about our performance.”

On if Kevin Malast should get the game ball for helping the first-team defense off the field in one play

“Yes, I recommend him getting the game ball if we win this game. I thought it was a great job on his part, being tuned in and that was a key first play. It was a great move on his part. He did a nice job filling in for Brian Urlacher.”

Earlier in training camp, general manager Jerry Angelo said he didn’t believe Major Wright would be able to start after breaking his finger and missing the final three preseason games. His opinion hasn’t changed, although the rookie could assume a starting role later in the season.

CLEVELAND — If nothing else, Todd Collins gave the Bears peace of mind Thursday night.

Much of the roster is already set, but Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and the coaching and scouting staffs will use tonight’s preseason finale to figure out how to pare their roster from 75 to 53 players.

“We probably have more decisions with this roster, than past rosters, with those fringe players,” he said, “and some of it will be decided tonight. We want to use tape as the barometer, not our gut feelings.

“So we want to get through this game, and a lot of those fringe players will play a lot of football tonight, and some of those will be answered.”

Angelo also said the team will not keep four quarterbacks, and he suggested that Todd Collins would be the backup. That means sixth-round pick Dan LeFevour will not make the roster.

Angelo also said he doesn’t think rookie Major Wright will be able to start right away, given the time he’s missed.

“He was on course,… maybe he would have been that exception to the rule, as a rookie, that could come in and start,” Angelo said. “Safety is a tough position to come in and start at. It’s not like the corner position.”

Here is video of Angelo talking about the offensive line.

Former NFL quarterback and former NFL analyst Sean Salisbury dumped on one NFC North quarterback and gushed about another.

During an interview on 411mania.com, Salisbury called Jay Cutler “overrated,” although he expected him to improve under Mike Martz.

“Mike Martz is demanding of his quarterbacks and Jay Cutler should get better. I think he gets a little lazy with his mechanics. I think he’s overrated now,” Salisbury said. “I’m a little bothered by the mental part of it. I think there’s always an excuse.”

Asked about the Bears’ Super Bowl chances, Salisbury said, “Just being honest from a quarterback position and what I see, that’s not a Super Bowl team and he’s not a Super Bowl quarterback.

“Super Bowl talent, yes, but the demeanor and the excuses, he has a lot to prove this year. He has to prove that he can go four, five, or six games in a row without throwing interceptions and without forcing it.”

Meanwhile, Salisbury is the latest to jump on the sizeable bandwagon of Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. Salisbury said Rodgers is a top-five quarterback.

“I think he’s got the demeanor of a superstar and the poise of a superstar,” Salisbury said.

In fact, Salisbury said he would “not be shocked if he’s the MVP.”

It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Salisbury, after his ouster from ESPN. But, Salisbury never was one to mince his words.

The following odds come courtesy of www.Bodog.com

The following odds come courtesy of

Blog reader Bill Holland emailed me with a great idea.

He wanted to know who has stood out to other Bears fans.

But here’s the thing: subtract the Pro Bowl players, and the entrenched starters.

Without further ado, here are his thoughts, and we would like your take, too.

From Bill: I have really taken notice of undrafted rookie free agent DT Mick Williams, particularly his explosiveness, aggression and ability to instinctively play his gap responsibilities when he’s been in at the three-technique.

He has outplayed bigger names like Melton and Gilbert, and has certainly
deserved a longer look on Thursday night in Cleveland. Another player I love who curiously continues to get minimal time in the preseason games is CB Woodny Turenne. Unlike some of our corners he plays tight coverage and seems to play with excellent instincts. He really needs to have more opportunities out there in the game situations to show all his ability.

James Marten has also looked physical at guard, and certainly LB Brian Iwuh has been impressive. I think it should be interesting to see Josh Bullocks on Thursday night for the first time. When you look at the free safety position, he might be the most natural
fit there athletically after Major Wright.

It seems Jay Cutler is not the only one running in circles on the Chicago Bears. Bears’ management has joined Cutler and decided to run around as well.

Right back to where they started. 

Bears camp has attempted to fool the public into believing there is a spot for Greg Olsen in Mike Martz’s system. A friend to Cutler and one of his favorite targets, Olsen was supposedly going to have a spot. 

The Bears need Olsen because they lack receiving weapons.

Now it would seem Olsen could be on the move either because there is no place for him or the Bears’ blocking is so bad, the team needs to sacrifice a position for a better blocking tight end.

On Saturday afternoon, the 53-man roster is due and as reported, the Bears have been going around the league to see if the team can get a draft pick for the players about to be cut. 

Usual stuff.

However, a league source told Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times that Olsen is still available.

Olsen trade talks were sparked in March and a trade seemed to be on the table to send Olsen to the New England Patriots, but nothing solidified. The Patriots went on to draft a tight end in the second and fourth rounds of the draft.

Now, with Chris Williams continuing to struggle, it would seem Williams, the 2008 first-round pick, may cause the trading of Olsen, the 2007 first-round pick. 

Bears sure know how to pick them.

Williams, along with the offensive line as a whole, has become so bad that the Bears may have to play veteran tight end Brandon Manumaleuna solely to have any kind of running game and to keep Cutler alive.

All of this would mean no real place for Olsen.

Problem in trading Olsen is the fact the Bears overrate him as being worth a second-to-third-round draft pick rather than his projected value of a fifth-round draft pick. Mix that with the fact Cutler really likes him and you have someone who is hard to move.

Regardless of what plays out, it would seem if Olsen is to stay, which one would assume he will, he will not be used too much in the offensive scheme because of the lack of blocking and the fact Martz is not going to run two tight end sets.

It would seem the phasing out of Olsen has already begun as he was not targeted on one play in the last preseason game.

Something tells me the Bears offensive line may be sidelining more players before this season is over.

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