Q. What role do you feel you will be able to play in the development of Rex Grossman?
A. I worked with Steve McNair at Houston. I worked a little bit with Michael [Vick] in Atlanta. What I did for them, I’m not sure. But I hope I gave them some sort of a positive experience.
Q. What are your thoughts on the hiring of Lovie Smith as head coach and the virtual overhaul of the Bears’ staff?
A. After having a talk with him, I think he is a real positive leader.
Q. You are 38 and have played for seven different teams over 16 seasons. How many more years do you hope to play?
A. Beyond 2004, I really haven’t thought too much about it. But I feel good and I have been having a good off-season.
Q. The NFL allows for an extra minicamp session for teams with a new head coach. How much of a benefit will that be for the Bears?
A. It is going to be good for the whole team, and especially a lot of the young guys like Justin Gage, Brock Forsey and Rex . . . and a lot of the young linemen. The more experience you can get on the field, either practice or game situations, always helps.
Q. Was Kordell Stewart thrown into a no-win situation last season?
A. It’s hard to say because I would have loved to have been thrown into that situation when we started the season. Anytime you get an opportunity to play, it’s a good situation. They wanted to create some situations for him to run the football. . . . I believe in the NFL that it is hard to force that issue. If you can make a play running like Michael Vick can do in Atlanta, or Donovan McNabb . . . that’s a big bonus. But to try to create something, that is difficult to do in the NFL. It was hard to try to design a lot of runs for him.
Q. You were thrust into the starting role last season after Stewart was hurt and ineffective. Do you think you should have been the starter from the beginning of the season?
A. I always feel that way. I know I still can play at a real high level. I definitely believe I would have been deserving of playing.
Q. Do you think some coaches are biased against older athletes when it comes to giving them opportunities to play?
A. It’s a natural feeling that when a guy gets older he is over the hill. But I have never let my age affect me one way or the other. I never bought into that.
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