Brian Urlacher checked into the Bears' training camp Tuesday night with a new contract, declaring he was healthy and ready to play.
Urlacher, a six-time Pro Bowl linebacker, signed a one-year extension earlier in the day.
"It feels good because I did have four years left on my contract, we all know that. They didn't have to do anything; that was obviously a nice deal they offered me,"
Urlacher said. "We ended up getting it worked out."
Asked if he thought it would get done before training camp — the Bears' first practice is today — Urlacher said he was no sure.
"I really didn't know. It kind of dragged on all summer long, as we all know. … It was more publicized than it should have been, I think, but I'm glad it's done."
Ravens have 3-way QB competition
WESTMINSTER, Md. — All three Ravens quarterbacks seem to genuinely like each other, which makes for a rather friendly competition in their bid to claim the starting job.
On the first day of training camp Tuesday, Kyle Boller, Troy Smith and Joe Flacco spoke about working together to make Baltimore a better team. They insisted that the three-way duel would only serve to improve each of them in the days leading up to the Sept. 7 opener against Cincinnati.
"Any way I can help Troy and Joe out, I'm going to do it,"
said Boller, whose 42 career starts is 40 more than the other two quarterbacks combined.
Extra points
● A QB competition will heat up the Bears' training camp, and coach Lovie Smith said there was no perceived favorite between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.
"It's dead even,"
Smith said Tuesday as the Bears reported to Olivet Nazarene University for a camp that kicks off with a first practice today.
● Seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace is close to returning from a shoulder injury but will not be cleared for full contact at the start of training camp.
Rams coach Scott Linehan said Tuesday the team would be conservative with Pace, who tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the second quarter of the 2007 season-opener against Carolina.
● Bengals coach Marvin Lewis emphatically closed the door Tuesday on the possibility of receiver Chris Henry rejoining the team, which released him in April after he was arrested for the fifth time, and the NFL suspended him indefinitely.
His court case ended in a mistrial, and prosecutors dropped the charges, prompting Henry to seek reinstatement and a chance to play in the NFL again. Lewis said it will not be with the Bengals.
● Patriots offensive lineman Nick Kaczur pleaded guilty Tuesday to speeding in a deal with prosecutors that will put a misdemeanor drug possession charge on hold. The drug possession charge will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for the next six months.
