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Imagine Brian Urlacher wearing a uniform other than the customary Chicago Bears blue and orange.

While that's likely difficult to envision, Urlacher, who enters the final year of his contract understands the reality he could very well be playing for a different team in 2013, and despite his desire to remain with the club, the linebacker finds the prospect of free agency somewhat exciting.

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Former Vikings tight end Jermaine Wiggins joined "Chicago's Gamenight" to discuss playing for Mike Tice and Matt Forte's contract status.



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Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless and Herm Edwards debate whether the Bears can win their division this season.

LAKE FOREST -- Perhaps in other cities this week, there has been a crush of media coverage and genuine fan interest for their NFL team's optional workouts.

But probably not.

Around New York Jets camp, one of the bigger stories Wednesday originated in Fort Meyers, Fla., where, on a $5 bet with a friend, a graduating high school senior attempted "Tebowing" on the stage prior to getting his diploma.

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears announced the signing Wednesday of defensive tackle Nate Collins to a one-year contract.

Financial terms weren’t immediately disclosed.

A two-year veteran, Collins played in 13 games over the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars after coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2010 with the New York Giants. A former standout at the University of Virginia, Collins posted 10 tackles and half a sack to go with a fumble recovery and one pass breakup.

Collins seemed to be a promising young player for Jacksonville, but the Jaguars rescinded an exclusive-rights free agent tender offer in March to the defensive tackle less than a month after a Virginia state trooper arrested and charged him with possession of marijuana.

Collins was set to appear in court on that charge on April 19.

With the signing of Collins, the club’s current roster now sits at the 90-man limit.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- As expected, Matt Forte was not present at the Chicago Bears' second organized team activity on Wednesday, which allowed free agent addition Michael Bush to continue taking the first team reps at running back.

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Michael Wright and Jeff Dickerson report on the latest Bears news during their second OTA of the offseason.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears offensive line took on multiple looks Wednesday during organized team activities at Halas Hall, leaving uncertainty about where the pieces will eventually fit.

Even quarterback Jay Cutler intimated that veteran center Roberto Garza appears to be the only player up front with his job secured for 2012.

“Right now, it’s hard to tell,” Cutler said. “The new CBA limits what we’re able to do until training camp. So (we) can’t really get a good look at those guys, and I don’t think it would be fair to any of those guys competing to say where they’re at until we get in camp, get the pads on to see and we see what we’ve got. I think all those guys except for ‘Garz’ have a chance to compete and at the end of the day, we’ll see what best five we have.”

The team definitely kicked off the search during Wednesday’s session, and as expected veteran Chris Williams -- a starter the last two years at left guard -- moved over to left tackle, where he took first-team reps along with J’Marcus Webb. It’s apparent there’s a position battle brewing at left tackle, and it’s likely the loser in the derby takes on the swing role.

Originally drafted in 2008 to be the left tackle of the future, Williams missed the last seven games of 2011 with a wrist injury, but expressed excitement about finally taking the field with the rest of his teammates.

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears wideout Johnny Knox plans to eventually make a full recovery from a fractured vertebra he suffered on December 18 versus the Seattle Seahawks that required surgery, but the fourth-year receiver could not rule out the possibility of being forced to miss a large portion -- if not the entire 2012 season -- as he continues to rehab daily at the team's practice facility.

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler never called former offensive coordinator Mike Martz inflexible, but the inference could be made based on struggles from 2011 coupled with the current state of the offense, which now seems reliant on input from a variety of sources.

Cutler called the current situation at Halas Hall “a breath of fresh air” Wednesday after the club’s second session of organized team activities, and explained how his history with quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates -- whom he worked with in Denver -- plays a role in the construction of the new offense.

“I think Jeremy has a really good feel for what I like to do and what I don’t like to do,” Cutler said. “There were plays out here today (where) I told them, ‘I don’t like them. Let’s think about getting rid of them.’ He’s fine with that and (new offensive coordinator Mike) Tice is fine with that. So it’s a give and take, and that’s a breath of fresh air around here; being able to give ideas. Everyone gives ides and let’s pick the best ones that work for everybody.”

Josina Anderson reports from Bears camp on the status of contract negotiations between Matt Forte and the Bears and how the team has tried to improve the offense.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher remained a spectator as the club began organized team activities on Tuesday but the veteran expects to be completely healthy when the team opens up training camp in late July.

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Former Chicago Bears 2007 third-round draft choice Garrett Wolfe is headed to the CFL after agreeing to terms on a two-year contract to play for the Montreal Alouettes, the team announced last week.

Wolfe, 5-foot-7, 186-pound tailback, was a member of the Bears from 2007-2010 where he carved out a nice role on special teams, recording 48 special teams stops during his final three years in Chicago. However, despite being the all-time leading rusher at Northern Illinois University with 5,164 career yards, Wolfe was used sparingly on offense during his time with the Bears, carrying the ball 72 times for 282 yards and one touchdown.

The Bears failed to tender Wolfe after his contract with the club expired following the 2010 season and he was unable to catch on with another NFL team last summer following the lockout. Wolfe was also involved in a highly publicized dispute at a Miami nightclub in May, 2010, however, he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in the matter by the Miami-Dade State's Attorney office.

The Alouettes first 2012 preseason game is scheduled for June 14 versus Winnipeg. The club opens up the CFL regular season on July 1 against Calgary.

The revelation made by Tampa Bay veteran tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. on Monday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to trade or release him could lead the Chicago Bears to perform their due diligence regarding the player.

Winslow told “The Opening Drive” on Sirius XM NFL Radio the Buccaneers informed him of their intentions to trade or release him. The Bears reportedly participated in trade talks with the Buccaneers for his services prior to free agency, "but they didn't take the bait."

"(I) got the call on Saturday (from the Buccaneers) that they’re looking for somebody else,” Winslow said. “(Coach Greg Schiano was) kind of upset that I wasn’t there working out with the team in the offseason and then the first week of OTAS. But look, I’ve been there the last three years, and I’ve had a successful career so far. You just don’t get rid of one of your best players because of that. He said he’d help me out with the trade. It’s kind of shocking, but that’s what it is.”

Reached earlier Monday, Winslow’s agent Drew Rosenhaus declined comment.

An eight-year veteran, Winslow possesses immense physical talent that would seemingly make his acquisition by the Bears a no-brainer. After joining the Bucs in 2009 through a trade with the Cleveland Browns, Winslow has averaged 73 catches for 792 yards and four touchdowns.

However, recurring knee issues -- which have made him unable to practice consistently over the years -- likely raised concerns for the Bears and diminish Winslow’s value, along with the tight end’s current sizable salary. Winslow’s contract pays him base salaries of $3.3 million, $4.5 million and $5.5 million over the next three seasons.

So Winslow would likely have to agree to restructure his contract to make a trade with Chicago work. That means there’s a good chance the Bears would simply -- and smartly -- just wait for the Buccaneers to release Winslow.

It’s also important to note that Bears coach Lovie Smith on multiple occasions has expressed confidence in current starter Kellen Davis (also represented by Rosenhaus), not to mention the club also added to the position through the draft with fourth-rounder Evan Rodriguez.

Interestingly, the Bears traded away the player -- Greg Olsen -- who might have been the best fit for what new offensive coordinator Mike Tice would like to do schematically. The Bears secured a pair of draft picks in a trade with the Carolina Panthers for Olsen.

At the time of the trade (which former general manager Jerry Angelo said Olsen actually requested) it was believed the tight end wasn’t an ideal fit for the system employed by former coordinator Mike Martz.

Now that Tice is directing the offense, the Bears seek a legitimate “F” tight end capable of posing matchup problems for defenses in the passing game, and Winslow certainly fits that description. Considering Winslow likely will be released, Chicago’s chances of landing him -- provided the club is interested -- will hinge on whether it is willing to outbid other potential suitors.

If there’s considerable demand for Winslow’s services on the open market (which isn’t likely), the Bears -- still looking to sign franchise-tagged running back Matt Forte -- could be somewhat limited by their dwindling cap space.

"NFL Live's" Cris Carter discusses Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall's best attributes.