Manning a return option



The Bears are experimenting with a kickoff return arrangement that may reduce the number of runbacks for Pro Bowl returner Devin Hester -- and that's potentially a good thing.

Instead of Hester deep alone, Danieal Manning is lining up alongside Hester in a two-returner scheme. With teams kicking away from Hester last season and expected to do more of that this season, the plan is to have Manning in place rather than forcing Hester to run to a side to get the ball before heading upfield.

"We're going to take Devin and have him cover more north and south and be able to get those short kicks, rather than have him go east and west," special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. "If the ball's kicked to Danieal, he'll be able to field it as well. And the short kicks Devin will be able to field better because he doesn't have to worry about going to the other side of the field."

Rashied Davis, who returned 32 kickoffs last season an average of 23.5 yards, also worked in the tandem-return scheme. But the primary goal is to bring Hester and Manning, two of the team's fastest players, to kicks and moving toward goal lines instead of sidelines.

"It's a great thing because we know a lot of teams are going to kick away from me this year and a return is better than no return," said Hester, who averaged 26.4 yards on 20 returns, two for touchdowns. "Danieal has the ability to go to the house with it too."

Paging Rex Grossman

Rare was the week during the 2006 season when Rex Grossman wasn't the dominant topic of discussion, good game or bad. Notable this weekend has been the absence of questions about either Grossman specifically or the Bears' quarterback situation in general.

Grossman is the starter, Brian Griese is No. 2 and Kyle Orton is No. 3. Rookie free agent Chris Leak is No. 4, at least until J.T. Sullivan returns from NFL Europa. Period.

"I feel very good about the position like I always have about Rex Grossman," coach Lovie Smith said. "I'm excited about Rex being in the system, being the starter for a second year in a row. Normally, there's a big gain from the first to second year. That's what we're expecting out of Rex.

Extra point

Practice came to a brief, humorous halt Saturday when the giant inflated Bears head, through which players run on their way into Soldier Field, began leaking rapidly and tipping over as staff scurried to get it under control.

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