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Auburn coach Gray can relate to Hester's role

Posted August 01, 2007 11:00 pm

Reed Schreck

Mel Gray is someone who knows a little something about playing wide receiver and returning kicks.

Unfortunately for the former St. Louis Cardinals star who coaches girls track at Rockford Auburn, the one day he got to visit Chicago Bears training camp, Devin Hester sat out with "general soreness." That's how head coach Lovie Smith explained Hester resting during Wednesday afternoon's practice at Olivet Nazarene University.

"He's another dimension," said Gray, who played with the Cardinals from 1981-82 and was a four-time Pro Bowler. "He should help them tremendously.

"Now, having him at wide receiver and returning kicks is a lot of work. I did both early in the league. Then, after my third year, they gave me a break on kicks once in a while."

Gray was in attendance along with Lamont Jones and about 40 kids from Jones' NFL Flag Football program. Gray will be the guest speaker at the group's annual banquet Aug. 16. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the Rockford Park District or by calling 815-987-1986.

Gray, wearing a yellow NFL Alumni polo shirt, will head to Canton, Ohio , today for Roger Wehrli's induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Gray played with Wehrli in college at Missouri and in the pros.

As for the youth that came with him and Jones, Gray said, "It's a fun time for them. I know they're looking at this wishing one day they might make it and, God willing, hopefully one will."

Where's Wolfe?

Running back Garrett Wolfe remains sidelined by a hamstring injury. His absence is being talked about by coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Rex Grossman.

"We're handling it day-to-day," Smith said. "It's hard to say. He's missing a lot of great work. He's given us signs of something we can use with that quickness. But we need to get him on the field."

Said Grossman: "There's plenty of time. We're here another two weeks. He'll get back out there and get a lot of reps and get going. Until he gets out here, you don't really know what you got."

Wolfe did some full stretching and did some running and cutting at an adjacent field Wednesday.

"I'm doing a little work trying to prepare to come back," he said, adding it's not likely it will be today.

Brown shoes

The fans were clamoring for safety Mike Brown to sign autographs Tuesday. He trudged along, cognizant of the commotion. He stopped. He slowly untied his shoes and removed both lifts. Then he walked over to a young boy and gave him one shoe.

Brown then held the other shoe aloft, pointing it at different areas of the crowd trying to see who was making the most noise. He then gave the second shoe away.

Snuffing smoking

Be forewarned -- no fans will be allowed to smoke at any preseason or regular-season games from now on at Soldier Field.

There will be no designated smoking areas. Violators will be subject to ejection, and repeat violations could lead to loss of personal seat license and forfeiture of season-ticket privileges.

Brrrrr!

That was hardly the case at Wednesday's practice, the hottest of training camp so far. So why did offensive guard Ruben Brown pick that day to first wear a stocking camp to lunch?

"I'm sooo cold," he said, smiling.

Camp sights

Rex Grossman was on target on three deep balls, two to Bernard Berrian. ... Third-string QB Kyle Orton got some reps with the second team for the second straight day. ... Cedric Benson was knocked to the ground on two straight running plays. DE Alex Brown patted him on the helmet after the first time. The next time Benson ran into one of his own linemen. ... Rookie tight end Greg Olsen was sharp working as a reserve snapper - aside from one ball that sailed over the punter's head.

Reed Schreck is the NFL writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.

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