JB Blanchard

<p>If the Bears keep three quarterbacks – “as we plan on doing,” coach Mike Ditka said – they will keep Mike Tomczak. </p>

<p>One of the reasons Walter Payton was such a great running back was his versatility. He was fast and slippery, but he could also run through defenders with his brute strength. </p>

<p>The only injury coach Mike Ditka mentioned from Saturday night was Ron Rivera’s hip pointer, which he said wouldn’t keep Rivera out of any games. “I’m sure we’ll have some suspicious injuries since we’re cutting 20 guys,” Ditka said, “but we’ll just have to let them heal up on the bus home.” Tomorrow is the deadline for the Bears to trim their roster to 60 from 82, but Ditka plans to do it today. </p>

<p>Mike Singletary was put on the “Reserve – Did Not Report” list,meaning he is not in camp and does not count against the Bears’ 59-man roster. The other holdouts, Al Harris and Todd Bell, do not count because they don’t have contracts. </p>

<p>Gary Fencik says he knows how to prevent future standoffs over contract renegotiation. </p>

<p>Another All-Pro on the Bears’ defense wants his contract improved, and might leave a bigger hole than Mike Singletary or Todd Bell if he walks out in a dispute. </p>

<p>Mike Singletary won’t cost the Bears a roster space until he plays in a game, so they didn’t have to make a cut for him to practice today.</p>

<p>The Bears didn’t renegotiate Mike Singletary’s entire contract, but they agreed to renegotiate the last third of it. </p>

<p>Buddy Ryan wants it known that he misses Al Harris, too. “I don’t understand why people have a low value of Al’s contribution to the team,” says Ryan, the Bears’ defensive coordinator.</p>