Crucial fumbles and botched assignments cost the Bears their third straight preseason game Sunday night at Soldier Field.
With a deadline to trim the roster from 76 to 60 players by Tuesday, the 28-17 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) in front of 57,545 fans will mean several players will lose their jobs.
Despite his impressive career credentials, running back Neal Anderson seemed to be auditioning for a job following reports that his name has surfaced as a trade possibility in recent days.
”A lot of people say that this is the week I have to prove myself,”
Anderson said before the game. ”I don`t look at it that way.
”I`ll just go out and play hard. If I go out and gain 100 yards or if I only gain five, you can`t say this is the type back Neal Anderson is or this is all he can do. Hopefully, I will get some opportunities to run the ball more, though.”
Anderson carried the ball 10 times in the first half for only 23 yards.
Anderson, who was hampered by a hamstring injury last season, has had a tense relationship with coach Mike Ditka since he attempted to play injured last year.
”I feel healthy,” said Anderson, a four-time Pro Bowler. ”The hamstring feels real good. And I`m in great condition.
”To me, (the Ditka feud) is not an issue. Both of us are doing our jobs. And I don`t think any of that stuff has caused any problems on the team. Everybody has been focusing on what they have to do, and that is to go out and play football.
”I never lost confidence. I realize I was hurt last year. And when you have that type of an injury, you`re not going to be able to do some of the things that you want to do. And I knew that. I wasn`t fooling myself. But I still thought I could contribute, and I tried.”
Anderson and Brad Muster keyed a 79-yard drive on the Bears` first possession. Anderson carried three times for 14 yards and Muster had two for 29, including a 27-yard TD burst on a third-and-2 situation. Kevin Butler converted for a 7-0 lead with 9:06 left in the first quarter.
The drive included a 21-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh to tight end Keith Jennings. Harbaugh completed his first eight passes of the game.
Led by quarterback Bubby Brister, the Steelers tied the game 7-7 with an 88-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Merril Hoge.
The Bears regained the lead 14-7 just before halftime on an 11-yard pass from Harbaugh to Eric Wright. An apparent 1-yard TD to tight end Kelly Blackwell was nullified when Anderson was nailed for offensive pass interference.
The Los Angeles Rams, in need of a running back, reportedly talked to the Bears about Anderson.
”That (trade report) did not come from the Bears,” Ditka said before the game. ”We talked to some other teams about different players over the period of the off-season. Neal`s name was mentioned by a couple of ballclubs. ”I think the Bears are willing to listen if it is a good deal for everybody. And when I say everybody, I mean Neal, too.
”I really like Neal, regardless of what people think or say. I mean, I have no doghouse. Nobody is in my doghouse. I think it is a matter of performance.
”I have always stood by one thing: You can`t live on whatever you did yesterday. You can`t live on past performances. The game of life and football are synonymous in one way: You have to prove yourself everytime you go out. Whether it is on the football field or the business arena or whatever.
”If he is the best running back we have, then he will be on the field. I want to do what`s best for the Bears and everyone else in our organization does. Right now, I don`t know what is best. I see a couple of other kids running the ball aweful well and I want to be fair to them.”
Harbaugh completed 12 of 13 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown in his first-half stint. Peter Tom Willis took over at quarterback to start the second half.
Tom Waddle led Bear receivers in the first half with three catches for 34 yards. Ron Morris had two grabs for 21 yards.
Butler booted a 33-yard field goal with 9:02 left in the third period to give the Bears a 17-7 advantage. A fumble recovery by Eric Kumerow set up the Bears` 26-yard drive.
The Steelers pulled to within 17-14 when quarterback Neil O`Donnell passed 11 yards to Jeff Graham with 4:32 left in the third quarter.
Willis had been sacked before fumbling into the hands of Levon Kirkland to set up the Steelers` quick score.
Pittsburgh took a 21-17 lead on a 1-yard run by Leroy Thompson with 10:15 remaining in the fourth period. A 31-yard reverse by Dwight Stone set up the score.
