Bears vice president of personnel Mark Hatley was not responsible for drafting offensive lineman Bob Sapp, who was released on Tuesday. Rod Graves, now with the Arizona Cardinals, and coach Dave Wannstedt headed up this draft. But Hatley bristled at the suggestion that would hasten his decision to give up on the third-round draft pick.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re my guys or not,” Hatley said. “I try to evaluate personnel and make a decison on what’s here and who we have to get. It doesn’t matter whose draft it was, this was just the best decision.”
As far as sticking with young players, Hatley said, “Things change and we’re going to go in the direction best for the Bears. And if that means letting a third-round pick go, then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Failure to communicate: Bears coaches were critical of Sapp during training camp for his failure to grasp the system.
“Bob gave us a good effort, but in some offenses, you fit and some you don’t,” Hatley said. “And for some reason, it just didn’t click for Bob here. He did everything he could do, he busted his rear on everything. We just felt we needed to go in another direction.”
Wannstedt said after signing free agent Bill Schultz early in camp, Sapp became expendable. “We didn’t see Bob getting much work this season since Bill Schultz has become the third guard,” Wannstedt said. “We just decided to go in another direction and give Bob a chance to hook on with another team.”
Learning experience: Darnell Autry said he does not have high expectations in terms of playing time at running back this season. “I don’t think I’ll get the time, I honestly don’t,” he said. “I expect that unless Rashaan (Salaam) or Raymont (Harris) need rest, my role is backup. It’s not because I’m a lesser athlete or I’m not doing my job. The system is what it is and my role is what it is, and we have a talented backfield that deserves to play.”
Autry said his biggest challenge will be to keep his head in the game. “You can’t sit back and say, `I’m not going to play, so it doesn’t matter.’ If I do get in, I don’t want to screw up–I want to make an impact,” he said. “I have to be prepared. You can still get cut during the season.”
Proehl gets a role: Wide receiver Ricky Proehl will make his debut Monday night at Bobby Engram’s position, with Engram taking the place of the injured Curtis Conway. Proehl said he is eager to make a contribution.
“It’s an opportunity for me,” Proehl said. “That’s why they brought me in here–(in case) something was to happen to Bobby or Curtis. I feel real confident. The toughest thing for me coming in was learning the tight end and H-back spot. I know the offense, I know what I’m doing on every route, so I feel really comfortable after only one training camp.”
More talk: Bryan Cox’s preseason comment that the Bears needed to shake their fear of Green Bay has been oft-repeated as the Packers game draws closer. But many of his teammates disagree.
“I’m not going to really buy into that,” linebacker Barry Minter said. “Obviously, there’s some problem there. You’re 1-7 against a team in the last four years, so there’s something going on. But I won’t say it’s fear or the mojo or anything like that.”
