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Madden '08 gets thumbs up from Hester

Posted August 14, 2007 11:00 pm

Reed Schreck

Tuesday afternoon saw the lightest turnout for lunch the Chicago Bears have had all training camp.

The reason? The Madden '08 video game was released at midnight. That was past curfew, so the players waited until they got a break in the morning.

Not surprisingly, guess who got a copy right away - Devin Hester, of course. He's the only player to be awarded a perfect score of 100 for speed.

Hester said he went and got it right after a morning meeting. He played it during lunch, as did other teammates. Hester picked up something to eat while he was out to bring back to his room, thus explaining why he wasn't at the Olivet Nazarene University cafeteria.

"It's kind of what I thought it'd be," he said of the game. "I played a little bit and thought, 'OK, I kind of like it.'"

Hester said he's a better player on the field than at the controls.

"I'm all right, but not one of the main challengers on the team," he said, glancing over at defensive tackle Tommie Harris. "Tommie's the best in Madden."

Harris smiled. He didn't offer an argument.

Bradley banged up

Receiver Mark Bradley went to a trainer's table to get his left knee wrapped early in Tuesday's practice. It's the same knee he had surgery on last year.

"It got a little sore, so I took some time off," he said. "It's just one of those deals where you have to bite the bullet. That was aggravation (last year) that just wouldn't subside. This year, I came out healthy. I'll let it rest up.

"It's just from day one, two-a-days, working hard, competing, pushing Bernard (Berrian), Moose (Muhsin Muhammad) and Rashied (Davis) to try and get back in the starting lineup. I'm just being smart and taking a day off."

Heating up

The team's second scuffle took place late in Tuesday's afternoon drills. It appeared that guard Roberto Garza and backup defensive tackle Antonio Garay were involved. The first skirmish came earlier in camp and included rookie offensive lineman Josh Beekman.

"Yeah, it's training camp," head coach Lovie Smith said. "It gets like that from time to time.

"The competition is furious each day, which leads to some tempers from time to time flaring up a bit. We don't want our guys hurting each other."

Dusty not rusty

Dusty Dvoracek remains listed as No. 1 at defensive tackle, although veteran newcomer Darwin Walker is eyeing the position.

Dvoracek made three tackles in the preseason opener in 14 plays.

"He's anxious to go," Lovie Smith said. "He's been that way in training camp practices also. We brought him here to be our nose guard and take on the double teams, and that's exactly what he's been doing."

What Brown can't do

Defensive end Alex Brown will not be part of the special teams mix, said coordinator Dave Toub.

"He's in the rotation (at defensive end) - we consider him a starter at defensive end," Toub said. "He's a backup for us on kickoff returns, that's all."

Camp sights

Safety Tyler Everett, who had his right foot iced during Monday's practice, also missed Tuesday's drills along with QB Kyle Orton, wideout Muhsin Muhammad and rookie offensive tackle Aaron Brant. ... Brian Urlacher took part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time in nearly a week. At one point he missed three days of practice with what Lovie Smith called "full-body soreness." ... Free agent tight end Fontel Mines, who caught a touchdown pass from Orton at Houston, made two one-handed grabs off throws from Brian Griese on Tuesday. ... Cedric Benson dropped a short pass from Rex Grossman, who later was intercepted by Nathan Vasher.

Reed Schreck is the NFL Writer for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at 815-987-1381 or rschreckrrstar.com.

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