Lovie's plan: Rest and conquer
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<p align="justify">The calendar says Veterans Day comes in November. Lovie Smith unofficially recognized a version of it Tuesday regarding his Chicago Bears at training camp.
<p align="justify">In fact, look for Smith to follow the routine on most days when the team has morning and evening practices.
<p align="justify">Which veterans are sitting out can usually be identified by the floppy beige safari hats they're wearing. Safety Mike Brown wears one when he's given a rest, as he was Monday. Linebacker Brian Urlacher and offensive tackle John Tait sported them Tuesday morning with the sun shining brightly.
<p align="justify">Wideouts Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian kibitzed along the sidelines. They went so far as to swap jerseys, Muhammad wearing Berrian's No. 80 and Berrian donning Muhammad's 87.
<p align="justify">Even quarterback Rex Grossman's workload was lessened, as he only conducted one series. He didn't even wear his customary long white sleeves under his orange jersey at Olivet Nazarene University.
<p align="justify">"The morning session is set up for the younger players to get the bulk of the work," Smith said. "It will always be like that."
<p align="justify">Brown endorses the time off with pay plan.
<p align="justify">"It's the beauty of having some years under your belt," he said. "Coach Smith is a great coach. He wants us to work hard in training camp. He also wants the whole team to come out of training camp healthy because it's the games that count."
<p align="justify">Brown probably gets the most days off, having dealt with three season-ending injuries the past three years.
<p align="justify">"It's pretty cool, man," he said of the lighter load. "You can't get mad at having a day off now and again. It's all good.
<p align="justify">"They have a plan for me. I just follow it day by day. The only day I'm promised is the day it's the day. I don't really look too far ahead into the
<p align="justify">schedule. I know I've got a couple of more days off in training camp to keep me healthy, rested and what not."
<p align="justify">Muhammad is given the most days off among the receivers. Easily.
<p align="justify">"Just getting a little bit of extra rest," said the 34-year-old. "Sometimes the veterans need some more rest than some cerebral work out there. So I was out there just doing a little coaching, taking some mental reps.
<p align="justify">"Lovie's good about that. He does a great job resting the veterans when they need some rest and making sure guys aren't overworked. The intensity level is really high when we're working at practice."
<p align="justify">Then there's fifth-year linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who hasn't enjoyed such a day yet. He laughed when asked why he hasn't had one.
<p align="justify">"I have no idea," he said. "It's not up to me. I don't know; it doesn't matter. I'll ask for one when I feel I need one."
Staff writer Reed Schreck can be reached at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.</font>