Tackle Keith Van Horne said he doesn’t expect to play for the Bears next season.
The 36-year-old veteran likely will retire, although no official announcement has been made.
“I think I am gone,” Van Horne said after Sunday’s 20-6 Bears loss to the Los Angeles Rams. “They (coaches) have got to bring their people in. I have been here for 13 years and they need some youth. That is their prerogative. I can’t be surprised or disappointed by it.”
Van Horne spoke with coach Dave Wannstedt Monday morning. Wannstedt said the word retirement was not mentioned, “but we talked today at length and I kind of got that feeling.”
Veteran guard Mark Bortz, also a member of the Bears’ Super Bowl team in 1985, is an unrestricted free agent, as well.
“I would like to stay here,” said Bortz, who will be 33 on Feb. 12.
Money matters: From the time Jim Harbaugh signed his four-year, $13 million contract last April, he seemed incur the wrath of the public.
“It was never a problem with my teammates,” said Harbaugh. “I expected a lot from the fans, I guess. I felt like I could deal with it and I felt like I did. But I don’t think that was the problem with why we didn’t play well.”
Looking ahead: Wannstedt said he plans to start the Bears’ off-season conditioning program on March 14. Twice-a-week passing drills will take place in April in Lake Forest.
“We are still making some decisions. The next thing on the agenda will be the free-agency market. And the draft will be coming up. And then you have always got the possibilities of trades. We are going to be aggressive with doing the best that we can to keep moving forward.”
The Bears will select 11th in the draft.
