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Chicago Bears backup running back Kahlil Bell re-signed with the club on Wednesday.

Bell signed the low tender offer worth $1.26 million over one season, as opposed to a long-term deal. The Bears tendered a qualifying offer to the veteran back in March.

Bell broke the news on his Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon.

"Just re-sign[ed] with the Bears today going on year number 4!!! God is so great. Blessed beyond belief!!!"

Bell appeared in 13 games with the Bears last season, including three starts, and rushed for 337 yards.

The Chicago Bears tendered a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Kahlil Bell on Monday, meaning the team will be able to match any offers made to the running back.

Bell appeared in 13 games with the Bears last season, including three starts, and rushed for 337 yards.

The low tender is for $1.26 million, according to a source familiar with the situation.

This is the second installment of a 10-part series that reviews every Bears position group on offense and defense, while also taking a quick look at potential free agent targets and the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.

Matt Forte shook off disappointment in contract negotiations and trepidation about his long-term future with the franchise in 2011, and put together his first Pro Bowl campaign before a knee injury knocked him out of the last five games.

All throughout last season and thus far this offseason, contract negotiations between Forte -- a pending unrestricted free agent -- and the Bears dominated most discussions regarding the franchise. The question now is whether the sides can consummate a deal. New general manager Phil Emery declined to tip the club’s hand in negotiations, which are expected to pick up in the coming days.

Team president Ted Phillips said there’s no way the Bears let Forte hit the open market.

“We’d like to [work out a long-term contract with Forte],” Phillips said. “But as Phil [Emery] pointed out, we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him.”

That’s fine by Forte, as long as the team uses the tag to buy it more time to strike a long-term deal.

The team will have to designate Forte its franchise player -- or work out an extension with the running back -- between Feb. 20 and Mar. 5. If the Bears tag him, they have until July 16 to sign Forte to a new contract.

The running back hinted that “people probably wouldn’t know where I was” if the sides don’t reach a long-term agreement.

THE CURRENT ROSTER

•Matt Forte: Despite contentious negotiations with the team prior to the season opener, Forte decided to prove his worth on the field by out-producing players such as Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson and Oakland’s Darren McFadden -- both earning more than 10 times Forte’s 2011 base salary -- in total yards from scrimmage (1,487) despite missing more than a month of action.

Forte finished the season ranked 10th in the NFL -- at all positions -- in total yards from scrimmage, and led the league in that statistical category prior to suffering a sprained knee on Dec. 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Given the team’s expected shift to more of a run-oriented offense, Forte’s value remains high. Emery has already touched base with Forte’s agent, Adisa Bakari, and it appears the team will finally make a legitimate effort at striking an agreement with the Pro Bowl running back.

•Marion Barber: Barber is set to receive a $100,000 workout bonus this offseason, and is scheduled to earn $1.9 million in base salary for the 2012 season. While Barber has proven to be a dependable backup/complement to Forte, his salary -- although not high -- might be too much because there appears to be a younger, less expensive, and potentially better option waiting in the wings in Kahlil Bell.

Bears coach Lovie Smith pointed out that Barber’s injury history is cause for concern. Lingering calf issues led to Barber being inactive in five games.

•Kahlil Bell: If Bell didn’t outright earn the No. 2 job behind Forte with his play down the stretch, he should at least receive a real opportunity to compete for the spot in training camp.

A restricted free agent, Bell likely will receive a low tender from the team, which might lead to Barber’s departure, especially if the Bears also manage to sign Forte.

Bell averaged 4.3 yards per attempt in 2011 and produced his first 100-yard outing on Christmas at Green Bay. Interestingly, Bell blends some of the attributes of Forte (elusiveness) and Barber (power), which surely bodes well for his future with the Bears. Bell acknowledged that fumbles were somewhat of a problem during the season, but it’s not a situation that can’t be remedied.

•Armando Allen: Could wind up sticking as the No. 3 running back if he can contribute on special teams. He showed promise in the final two games of 2011, rushing 11 times for 40 yards on Christmas against the Packers.

Because of Allen’s size -- 5 foot 10, 190 pounds -- he'll definitely need to use the offseason to add bulk and strength.

•Tyler Clutts: The Bears entered last offseason looking for a true fullback, and they uncovered a gem in Clutts, a punishing lead blocker who can also be a threat out of the backfield (eight catches for 48 yards in 2011).

The lone fullback on the roster, Clutts also contributed on special teams in 2011, making three stops on coverage teams. His role may grow in the new Tice-led offense.

•Robert Hughes: A Chicago native, Hughes spent time last season on the team’s practice squad and might be a longshot to make the 2012 roster. A strong showing in the preseason finale of 2011 led to Hughes winding up on the practice squad.

Bears free agents: Forte, Bell (restricted)

POTENTIAL FREE AGENT TARGETS

None

WHY THE BEARS MIGHT STAND PAT

Even if the Bears don’t sign Forte to an extension, they’ll still be on the hook for approximately $8 million with the franchise tag. Tack on Barber’s $1.9 million base salary and a likely tender offer for Bell, and the Bears will have more than $10 million committed to salaries of running backs.

So if the Bears decide to keep Barber and Bell, don’t expect them to make any moves in free agency at the position. The club may wind up cutting Barber loose and keeping Bell as the No. 2, while adding to the position with a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.

The Chicago Bears got a jump on their own 2012 free agent class when they signed center Roberto Garza, receiver Earl Bennett and offensive lineman Edwin Williams to contract extensions prior to the conclusion of the regular season.

That leaves 14 players (unrestricted and restricted) set to come out of contract when the new league year and free agency begins at 3 p.m. CT on March 13.

Kahlil Bell, RB, restricted: Bell made a strong push over the final three weeks of the season, rushing for a career-high 121 yards on 23 carries versus the Green Bay Packers on Christmas night. He also fumbled the ball three times in the final two games (he lost one), but overall did a respectable job filling in for the injured Matt Forte and Marion Barber. It's unknown if another team will sign Bell to an offer sheet (which the Bears would have the opportunity to match), so right now it appears as if the running back will be back in Chicago for 2012, probably as the No. 2 tailback behind Forte.

Zack Bowman, CB, unrestricted: Bowman intercepted a team-high six passes in 2009 but never recovered after he lost his starting job early in 2010 to Tim Jennings. The 6-foot-1 defender seems better suited to play more man coverage, rather than in Lovie Smith's Cover 2, and would benefit from a fresh start somewhere else. His struggles versus Green Bay near the end of the regular season were grossly exaggerated. Bowman lined up in the required outside leverage technique the Bears were required to play in the red zone on two of those Packers touchdown receptions. Earlier that evening strong side linebacker Nick Roach was handcuffed the same way when Jermichael Finley ran a quick slant into the end zone. The Bears actually changed their red zone defense the following week at Minnesota to take away those quick slants. But by that point, the damage to Bowman's reputation had already been done.

Kellen Davis, TE, unrestricted: A good run blocker, a below average pass blocker and an average pass catcher who managed to haul in five touchdowns. The Bears got rid of Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, in part, to allow Davis to flourish in the starting role. It never really happened. The best overall blocking tight end on the roster is Matt Spaeth, so if the Bears want to bring in a better receiving tight end, where does that leave Davis? But Davis is an excellent athlete and former draft choice, which helps his chances of sticking around.

Matt Forte, RB, unrestricted: Forte sounds as if he expects the Bears to stick him with the franchise tag. But the hope is both parties once again attempt to hammer out a long-term deal in the offseason. Forte bet on himself this season and made his first Pro Bowl. He's one of the top all-purpose rushers in the league, and with the Bears committed to running the ball more in 2012, Forte will continue to be a vital part of the offense. Surely given the importance of Forte to the franchise, the two sides can somehow find a way to reach some common ground. If not, it could be an ugly summer.

Corey Graham, CB, unrestricted: Graham tested the market last year and returned to the Bears. He will no doubt do the same this offseason, as the Pro Bowl special teams standout looks for a spot where he can contribute on defense. But money talks. The Bears better plan to make Graham a sweet offer if they expect him to come back. He displayed an ability to make impact plays during his stint at nickel back, and was supposed to play some safety Christmas night and defend Finley, but the Bears pulled the plug on the idea the Friday before the game. That probably doesn't help the situation from the Bears' standpoint.

Caleb Hanie, QB, unrestricted: Hanie is another player who could probably use a change of scenery after going 0-4 in place of the injured Jay Cutler. Perhaps the quarterback can find the right system that highlights his skills as a runner and on-the-move playmaker. But the first step is making sure to find a spot on somebody's training camp roster and then let the chips fall as they may.

Israel Idonije, DE, unrestricted: Although the Bears need to upgrade at defensive end, Idonije is a relatively productive player whom the Bears should make an attempt to re-sign and keep in the mix. There is nothing wrong with having a 5-8 sack a year guy in the rotation. Idonije is well-liked, plays hard and does a lot of good work in the community. Unless the Bears plan to completely overhaul the position (minus Julius Peppers, of course) then Idonije has a fairly good shot of signing yet another contract with the Bears.

Tim Jennings, CB, unrestricted: Jennings is looking for a significant raise from the $1.9 million base he earned in 2011. Keep that in mind. The Bears probably are looking to pay much more, but Jennings is a good player, especially in this scheme. Sure, he lacks height and drops way too many interceptions. But Jennings solidified one of the cornerback spots the last two years and is an aggressive tackler. For those reasons, the Bears might be inclined to make Jennings an offer. Whether the cornerback deems the offer acceptable is another story.

Amobi Okoye, DT, unrestricted: Okoye showed enough flashes to warrant another one- or two-year deal at moderate pay. He's still young and might be even better next year after a full offseason of working with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. But the Bears will need more than four sacks from Okoye next season.

Chris Massey, LS, unrestricted: Massey walked into a tough spot after Patrick Mannelly was lost for the year due to a torn ACL. He did OK. He didn't botch any snaps. But There won't be a need for Massey if Mannelly is 100 percent by the start of training camp, but it would be wise for the Bears to hang on to the veteran's phone number just in case.

Josh McCown, QB, unrestricted: McCown did enough in the final two games of the year to receive another one-year deal. He should enter training camp as the team's No. 3 quarterback, at the very least. He made the most of the opportunities given to him and should be commended. A good guy who fits in well inside the Bears locker room.

Brandon Meriweather, S, unrestricted: The former Patriot was an expensive mistake to the tune of $3.25 million total this season. The coaches don't seem to trust him. Unless something drastically changes between now and March, Meriweather's odds of returning for a second season in Chicago appear to be remote.

Craig Steltz, S, unrestricted: One of the pleasant surprises of the second half of the season. Despite being buried on the bench for much of the season, Steltz finished with 48 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one sacks and was fourth on the team with 12 special teams stops. Steltz would like to remain in Chicago. The Bears should honor that request and give him a new deal. He earned it.

Roy Williams, WR, unrestricted: The mere notion Williams feels he "did enough" or "made enough plays" when the team failed to make the playoffs is insulting. The only real chemistry Williams showed was with McCown late in the year. News flash: Jay Cutler is going to be the Bears starting quarterback in 2012, not McCown. Williams isn't horrible, but he's not good enough to be guaranteed a roster spot or playing time. The Bears tried that last year and it backfired.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Here are five things we learned following the Bears 17-13 win at the Metrodome.

1. Mike Martz failed to help his cause: The Bears started a policy in 2010 prohibiting members of the media from talking to any assistant coaches after games, so it was impossible to ask Martz why it took so long to give left tackle J'Marcus Webb some help with Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. I wish I knew. When the Bears finally began to double- and triple-team Allen with tight ends Matt Spaeth and Kellen Davis, he became a nonfactor. But before that switch occurred in the second half, Allen had 3.5 sacks, destroying Webb in the process. I just don't trust Martz. He did the same thing in those early-season losses at New Orleans and Detroit: repeatedly calling for deep drops without even the benefit of a chip. I'll give Martz some credit for helping get Josh McCown game-ready the past two weeks, but the coordinator's overall body of work has been below average. There is no need for the Bears to embarrass Martz, just let him gracefully drift off into the sunset and not offer him a new contract. With all the turnover this year in the NFL, maybe he'll be able to land on his feet. If not, it's been a good run.

2. The Bears need to sign Kyle Orton: I think McCown did a solid job given the circumstances. His reward for the last two starts should be the Bears' No. 3 quarterback job next year. The No. 2 quarterback, if possible, needs to be Kyle Orton. That might not happen if Orton gets an offer to start somewhere in the league, but if he is available, pay the man to be Jay Cutler's primary backup. Orton wants to come to Chicago. He is held in very high regard by the veteran players in the Bears' locker room. It's the perfect fit. Time for the Bears to make that happen. They tried to claim Orton off waivers, and it didn't work out. But if Orton hits free agency, the first number to pop up on his cell phone should be from Halas Hall.

3. Tim Jennings made a strong case: Just when it looked like Jennings would not be re-signed, he went out and had a really good game in Minnesota. Jennings always tackles well, but he drops too many easy interceptions. That, and his lack of height are his most notable limitations as a player. Of course you'd like to have more size at cornerback, but shouldn't the Bears at least make Jennings an offer and see what happens? Odds are he'd like to test the open market, so maybe he goes elsewhere based on his personal preference. But based on his play the last two years, I wouldn't be so quick to push Jennings out the door. He's a good player.

4. Kahlil Bell is not ready to be a full-time starter: This is not meant to slight Bell. Like McCown, he made the most of his opportunities the final few weeks of the regular season. But he put the ball on the ground three times the past two weeks. That can't happen. If contract talks with Matt Forte go sideways, the Bears need to bring in another veteran to start or at the very least split time with Bell. Bell, set to be a restricted free agent in the offseason, is a promising player who deserves a more prominent role in the Bears’ offense in 2012. But I would not feel comfortable with him as the Bears' feature back next fall. He should be penciled in as the No. 2 and let's see how things play out with Forte.

5. Brian Urlacher's injury could be a blessing in disguise: Urlacher's left knee injury looked horrible when it happened in the fourth quarter, but thankfully he was able to walk off the field under his own power. However, there has been a trend recently with Urlacher: he's had two great seasons coming off an injury and a lockout. Maybe the time off is good for the middle linebacker. Obviouslyy, Urlacher is going to have to rehab the knee, so it's not as if he's going on some sort of vacation. But would it be the worst thing in the world for Urlacher to rest up and miss the offseason training program and organized team activities? Didn't seem to hurt him this year. Just a thought, because I have a feeling the Bears are going to need Urlacher more than ever in 2012, especially when you take into account the uncertain status of Lance Briggs and the Bears' struggles to draft at the linebacker position.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears running back Marion Barber missed Friday's workout with a calf injury and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at Minnesota, which means Kahlil Bell likely will make his third career start.

Read the entire story.

Josh McCown couldn't deliver a victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but he gave the Bears the spark Caleb Hanie couldn't deliver in four starts. With the benefit of hindsight, should the Bears have started the veteran McCown sooner? And if they did would we be talking about a playoff return for Jay Cutler right now?

Our Four Downs panel weighs in on that and more:

Fact or Fiction: The Bears would have won at least two games with McCown starting after Cutler’s injury.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. That’s impossible to say for sure. How can we know if McCown would have been ready to start before the Packers game? He was coaching high school football until late November. Plus, McCown did not fare well in practice prior to the week of the Packers game, so I don’t blame the coaching staff for sticking with Caleb Hanie until Sunday. If McCown would have played the kind of football he did against Green Bay in those contests versus Kansas City or Denver, then sure, the Bears win. But there is no guarantee it would have happened.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. If you saw McCown shortly after his arrival with the Bears, you would have wondered what he was doing on an NFL roster. It looked that bad at practice, and several players confirmed McCown had been struggling. So I won't question the coaching staff's timing as to when they decided to make McCown the guy. It took McCown some time to get acclimated to playing in the NFL again, and reacquainted with Mike Martz's scheme. Had the Bears gone with McCown sooner, the results would likely have been as disastrous as what we all saw with Hanie under center.

Melissa Isaacson Fiction. Hate these questions! Yes, I said with Donovan McNabb they could have won one or more but wasn’t willing to go any further than one. So am I willing to say McCown would have led the Bears to two victories against the Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos or Seahawks? In the final analysis, it’s not all on the quarterback, which we saw clearly against the Packers. So no, the Bears needed and need more.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. There’s something about a backup performing at a mediocre clip that turns Chicagoans into dreamers. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have been better than Hanie, but it’s not like McCown lit the world on fire against Green Bay. He just wasn’t awful. Maybe the Bears win a couple games with him, but I’m not convinced.

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Fact or Fiction: The blame for another season missing the playoffs falls more on the front office than the coaching staff.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Teams win as an organization, and they lose as an organization. It’s just like blaming Hanie for the Bears failing to miss the playoffs. It’s not just the responsibility of one player, one coach or one front office member. Everybody needs to do their job better in 2012, from the top on down. The front office needs to sign and draft better players, the coaches need to put the players in a better situation to win and the players need to execute better. Blaming just one aspect of the organization is the easy way out. The Bears need to show significant improvement on all fronts. Otherwise, the club will be forced to make radical changes after the 2012 campaign.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. The injuries definitely don't fall on the coaching staff. But the ability to evaluate and acquire quality replacements is the responsibility of the front office, which failed on that front with the backup quarterback situation. The front office seemed to be so hung up on acquiring a player with knowledge and experience in Martz's offense that it reduced the talent pool of potential quarterbacks. You could also look at the contributions of the team's free agent acquisitions in assessing the job done by the front office.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. Though it's not all on the quarterback, GM Jerry Angelo and his staff simply did not leave the Bears with an adequate backup plan. And they did Jay Cutler no favors with a sub-par receiving corps and offensive line, which was painfully obvious after he was sidelined. The coaching staff is certainly not blameless (someone should have reminded Marion Barber to stay inbounds, for example) but the front office is ultimately where the buck stops.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. I think the blame should be equally dispersed between the two camps. The front office deserves blame for not improving the offensive line and adding a better wide receiver. The coaches deserve blame for not adequately preparing a game plan to put Hanie in the right situations. And if Hanie wasn’t capable of running an NFL team, then the coaches should have made sure Angelo understood that.

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Fact or Fiction: Kahlil Bell has shown enough to be the No. 2 running back in 2012.

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Bell plays like a winner. He runs hard, shows good vision and can help out on special teams. He is far more valuable than injury-prone Marion Barber. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d feel entering the season with Barber as the No. 1 in the event Matt Forte is traded or holds out, but as a complement to Forte, Bell is ideal. Another good game Sunday versus the Vikings will no doubt hammer home the point to any Bears fans still on the fence.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. In two starts Bell has performed with significant workloads. But what's also promising is the fact he's so similar to Forte in terms of what he brings to the offense. Like Forte, Bell can be somewhat of a slasher who can also contribute as a threat in the passing game. Bell has also shown he can be an inside runner that can move the pile in short-yardage situations.

Melissa Isaacson: Fiction. Love what Bell has shown so far, but have we not learned enough about backups in meaningful positions to at least have some healthy competition in training camp? Yes, Bell has looked promising and it will be fun to see him in another starting role against the Vikings, but don’t get too carried away with his 121 yards (on 23 carries) against the Packers either as the Bears media guide is full of guys like Brock Forsey, who in 2003 rushed for 134 yards (on 27 carries).

Jon Greenberg: Fact. Bell is fast and Bell is hungry. He could be a No. 1 back in the right system (think Denver during Mike Shanahan’s run), and he easily could be a factor for the Bears next season. And I guarantee you this, Bell will talk to the media after the game.

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Fact or Fiction: Barber and Roy Williams won’t be back in 2012.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Williams is gone. Let’s move the drill. But I can’t totally write off Barber until I know what is going on with Forte. Barber performed at a decent level before the meltdown in the Mile High City, and even in that game he rushed for 108 yards. If Forte gets a new deal, I immediately kick Barber to the curb and draft another running back or perhaps take a closer look at Armando Allen. However, as long as Forte is hanging in limbo, I probably keep Barber and his $1.9 million base salary in 2012.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. My head tells me both won't be back, but my gut says the Bears may try to re-sign Williams as insurance. Williams played his best game as a Bear against the Packers, and really he's been a fairly decent third-down receiver. If the Bears decide to totally revamp the receiving corps, I don't think Williams will be back. But my guess is the Bears won't be willing to spend the money it takes to do that. So if the club adds one or two more receiving threats, it might be a good idea to keep Williams if the front office can get him to agree to a veteran minimum type of deal. As for Barber, I think Bears coach Lovie Smith pretty much said good-bye to him on Monday without actually saying it. He's missed too much time because of injuries, cost the team two games with bone-headed plays, and has been outplayed by Bell, who will wind up being a cheaper option for the team.

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. If Williams is back, then the entire front office needs to go, and I’d be a little worried about Angelo. Williams is an easy call as he was a relatively small ($1.5 million), one-year investment and the experiment obviously did not pay off. As for Barber, the Bears owe him approximately $2 million next season and the Bears will be in for a $2.875 million cap hit. But the injury-riddled Barber has missed four games with a bad calf and had as many negative moments as positives (with the mental gaffes against Kansas City and Denver enough to get a lot of players cut on the spot). There’s not a Bears fan around who wouldn’t say that it’s worth it to eat the $2 million and get rid of two more ex-Cowboys in one fell swoop.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. I don’t see any reason to bring both back. Mental gaffes aside, Barber has been solid, but I think Bell can back up Forte. Williams, a great postgame quote, hasn’t done much to elicit a return. I think the Bears can finish 8-8 without these two. And why wasn’t Sam Hurd included in this question?

STREAKING

1. Josh McCown, QB: Completing nearly 68 percent of his passes for a touchdown with two interceptions, McCown raised questions as to whether the Bears should have gone with him as the starter sooner. McCown appeared to be comfortable in the face of arduous circumstances against the Packers, leading the offense to its best performance -- in terms of yardage -- of the season. A strong outing against the Minnesota Vikings should ensure McCown a legitimate shot in 2012 at the No. 2 job.

2. Kahlil Bell, RB: Bell carried the ball 11 times in the first quarter alone against the Packers for an average of 5.4 yards per carry, finishing with a game- and career-high 123 yards, but with two fumbles. Green Bay’s lousy run defense isn’t an accurate barometer to gauge Bell’s worth, but the running back has proven in two starts that he’s capable of shouldering the load as the featured ball carrier.

3. Earl Bennett, WR: Going into the matchup with the Packers, Bennett had caught just three balls over his past four games. Bennett hauled in only one ball on Sunday, but on that 49-yard reception, the receiver showcased the elusiveness that prompted the team to sign him to an extension recently. With Johnny Knox out of action, Bennett is the team’s bona fide go-to receiver. McCown will likely lean on Bennett even more in the season finale.

SLUMPING

1. Major Wright, S: Wright led the Bears in tackles against the Packers, but his inconsistency has led to too many big plays for opponents. Wright missed a tackle on Ryan Grant in the third quarter that led to a 24-yard gain. Two plays later Wright watched Jordy Nelson blow past him for a 55-yard touchdown. Wright was playing in his first game since returning from a shoulder injury suffered on Dec. 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The rust definitely showed.

2. Zack Bowman, CB: Bowman made his first start since the 2010 season, and acknowledged things didn’t go as smoothly as he expected. The Packers targeted Bowman in coverage for three of Aaron Rodgers’ five touchdown passes, and the corner was called for a pass interference penalty on a play in which Nelson still made the catch. Bears coach Lovie Smith continues to give Bowman chances to win back his starting job permanently, but the corner hasn’t yet taken advantage of the opportunity.

3. Devin Hester, WR: Injuries have robbed Hester of his explosiveness in the return game. He’s definitely shown flashes of the game-changing return man he is, but a tender ankle has taken away his burst and cutting ability. What’s worse is that Hester hasn’t been able to contribute on offense after such a strong showing at training camp that indicated perhaps he had turned the corner as a receiver.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, Chicago Bears running back Kahlil Bell still has hard feelings toward the team that cut him in August 2009.

"Personally, I really don't like Minnesota," Bell said Monday. "I was there for a short stint. It won't take much for me to get motivated for this game."

Read the full story.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Here are five things we learned following the Chicago Bears' 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field:

1. McCown deserves to start at Minnesota: We spent all week bracing ourselves for the worst, but veteran Josh McCown turned in a very respectable performance at quarterback, even though the Bears lost the game by 14 points. With McCown at the helm, the Bears had 441 total yards of offense, won the time of possession battle 35:48 to 24:12 and converted 50 percent of their third-down conversions (6 of 12). Not bad for a quarterback who last started an NFL game in 2007. McCown needs to be commended for injecting some life in an offense that had gone stale for a variety of reasons since Jay Cutler fractured his thumb on Nov. 20. Let him start the regular-season finale versus the Vikings, then make a final determination whether or not McCown belongs on the Bears quarterback depth chart in 2012. Right now, I'd say the odds look pretty good McCown sticks on the roster, but we should hold off until we see a larger body of work. Players who rise to the occasion need to be rewarded, which is why McCown needs to play next Sunday instead of rookie Nathan Enderle. If Enderle had shown anything of substance, he would have been active for the Packers game. I want to see more McCown. When is the last time you heard that phrase muttered?

2. Bell needs a larger role in 2012: The Bears need to hedge their bets in the backfield because of Matt Forte's contract situation, but there is absolutely no question Kahlil Bell should enter training camp as the No. 2 tailback if Forte remains in the roster. Give me Bell any day of the week over injury-prone and football-challenged Marion Barber, who surprise, surprise, missed the Packers game because of a bad calf. Bell ran with a purpose Sunday night, going over the 100-yard mark on 23 carries, while also catching four passes for 38 yards. I even liked what Armando Allen did in a backup role with 11 rushing attempts, and hope to see more of Allen on New Year’s Day in Minnesota. Bell, scheduled to be a restricted free agent following the season, might generate some interest in free agency, so I'll be curious to see what type of tender the Bears place on him in the offseason.

3. The organization needs to think long and hard about safety: You can't tell me the safety combination of the future is Chris Conte and Major Wright. Conte, maybe, although he missed his share of tackles before going on injured reserve with a foot injury. But how can you continue to sell me on Wright? His overall play on the Packers’ first drive of the second half is about as bad as it gets. First, he gives a half-hearted effort and whiffs while trying to tackle Ryan Grant on a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, he gets all turned around and allows Jordy Nelson to beat him deep for a 55-yard touchdown. This is not an isolated incident with Wright. It's happened numerous times in less than two years. Plus, he's always hurt. Put it this way; if Wright wasn't a former third-round pick, would he receive all these chances? No way. Bears need to re-sign Craig Steltz to be the strong and go look for a home-run hitter at free safety, either in the first or second round or in free agency.

4. Bears should have held out Hester: I realize we give players grief for missing time (Barber), but Devin Hester wasn't able to give you anything in the return game because of a bad ankle. It got to the point where he was almost a liability on punt and kickoff returns. If he's that gimpy next week, let Earl Bennett and perhaps Allen handle return duties to close out the season. Hester really hasn't been able to play through these nagging injuries, so sit him down and allow him to heal up for the offseason. Hester said last week that a return man playing with a sprained ankle is the equivalent of a quarterback throwing with broken rings. He was spot on.

5. Jones would be the Bears’ No. 1 receiver: James Jones is basically the fifth option in Green Bay, but they would build him a statue in Chicago. It's a joke. The philosophy about paying wide receivers in free agency needs to change next offseason. Bennett is a good player, but he needs to be paired with a legitimate threat at the position. The quarterback does not make the receiver. A receiver makes himself. Spend the money and get a good one in free agency. That's my unsolicitated -- and probably unwanted -- advice to the Bears.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Third-year running back Kahlil Bell made a strong statement Sunday night that he needs a larger role in the Chicago Bears offense in 2012.

Starting in place of the injured Matt Forte and Marion Barber, Bell ran for a career-high 121 yards on 23 carries while also catching four passes for 38 yards.

"First time he carried the ball at Soldier Field (2009 against Philadelphia) he had an impressive run and he has [run well] every time he's gotten an opportunity," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said. "Kahlil can do everything you want a good running back to do. He can run with power, he can make you miss in the open field, he can catch the ball out of the backfield."

Before the game got out of reach, Bell and fellow Bears running back Armando Allen controlled the tempo of the game in the first half by averaging five yards per carry as the Bears won the time of possession battle in the first half 19:22 to 10:38.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't like running the ball," Bell said. "That's what I do for a living, so it was a good experience to get out there and find a rhythm and get the majority of the carries. I think we had a great game plan."

Bell, a restricted free agent after the season, figures to remain in the Bears’ plans moving forward, especially in light of Forte's contract situation and Barber's uneven play and his history of being injured.

"That's what this business is all about," Bell said. "Getting the chance to showcase your abilities. Tonight I had a good chance to get out there and play and try to make some plays for our team. It's just unfortunate we fell short."

BEARS AT PACKERS
| When: 7:20, Sunday | TV: NBC | RADIO: 780 AM, WBBM & 105.9 FM

BEARS (7-7)

Coach: Lovie Smith | Record including playoffs: 73-59

Career head-to-head record (including playoffs) vs. Mike McCarthy: 5-7

Career record (including playoffs) against Packers: 8-8

Last week: Lost to Seahawks 38-14.

Key stat: The Bears are 11 of 50 on third-down conversions over the past four games. Since losing Jay Cutler to injury, the Bears offense ranks among the NFL’s worst in scoring (31st), passing yards per game (32nd), turnovers (31st) and first downs (31st).

Offense rank: 24th (312.6 ypg)| Defense rank: 17th (353.1 ypg)

Offensive leader: Running back Kahlil Bell makes his second start of the season, a week removed from scoring his first career touchdown -- a 25-yard reception in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Bell is averaging 4.2 yards on 39 attempts, and will see his workload increase with Marion Barber out because of a calf injury.

Defensive leader: Linebacker Lance Briggs leads the Bears in “stuffs” (tackling of a rusher for negative yardage) with 65.6 for 152.5 negative yards since 2003, according to STATS LLC. Seeking a new contract, Briggs has been on somewhat of a tear recently; recording double-digit tackles in six games, including 15 stops on Dec. 11 at Denver.

Streaks
• A loss would put the Bears out of the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years.
• After winning five in a row, the Bears are in a midst of a four-game skid. Until now, the Bears hadn’t lost four consecutive games since 2009.
• The Bears haven’t won a game in which they trailed after the first quarter or halftime.
• Devin Hester hasn’t made a catch in two consecutive games. Before Week 4, Hester had caught at least one pass in 48 consecutive games, which ranked as the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.

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PACKERS (13-1)

Coach: Mike McCarthy | Record: 66-35| Last week: Lost to Chiefs 19-14.

Career head-to-head record vs. Smith: 7-5 | Career record vs. Bears: 7-5

Key stat: A Green Bay victory would give it the distinction of becoming the second team in NFL history to defeat a team four times in the same year. Going back to Week 17 of last season, the Packers have already defeated the Bears three times in 2011.

Offense rank: 4th (397.8 ypg) | Defense rank: 31st (397.8 ypg)

Offensive leader: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs just 99 yards through the air to break the franchise’s single-season passing record of 4,458 yards set in 1983. Rodgers tossed his 40th touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs. Interestingly, Rodgers has put together only one 300-yard passing performance against the Bears.

Defensive leader: Cornerback Charles Woodson is tied for first in the NFL with seven interceptions, and 2011 marks the veteran’s fourth season as a Packer in which he’s tallied seven interceptions or more. Woodson is also the only NFL player to put together four seasons of seven interceptions or more since 2006.

Streaks
• The Packers have won 11 in a row at Lambeau Field and 17 of the last 18. The streak marks the longest regular-season home winning streak by the team since 2001-02 and is currently the longest home winning streak in the league.
• Counting the playoffs, Rodgers has generated passer ratings of 110 or better in 19 of his last 25 starts.
• The Packers have put points on the board on 55 of 59 trips to the red zone this season, which ranks second in the NFL behind the Detroit Lions.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 16:

Busted rivalry: When the NFL released its schedule this spring, many of us had high expectations for a late-December matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Instead, an injury-devastated Bears team will limp north as a (deserved) 13-point underdog. It's possible the Packers will have clinched home-field advantage even before taking the field Sunday night, if the San Francisco 49ers lose Saturday at the Seattle Seahawks. If not, the Packers will attempt to secure it against a team playing without quarterback Jay Cutler, running backs Matt Forte and Marion Barber, and receiver Johnny Knox. Third-string running back Kahlil Bell is expected to start, pairing with third-string quarterback Josh McCown -- who has a history of helping the Packers' playoff positioning. (See: Noooooooooooooooo!) One other interesting bit of history: The Packers are one of five teams in NFL history to open a season 13-0 and then lose in their 14th game. All four of the other teams lost their 15th game, too. That list includes the 2009 and 2005 Indianapolis Colts, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 1998 Denver Broncos.

Packers' run game: For several reasons, Sunday night's game would be an obvious target for the Packers to try to enhance their running game. James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) are expected to return. The Packers will start a makeshift offensive line that likely will include T.J. Lang at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard; the best way for offensive linemen to get comfortable is via run blocking. And it's also worth repeating that the Bears historically have done a good job limiting Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' downfield opportunities. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rodgers has completed only five of 26 attempts on throws against the Bears that traveled in the air 21 yards or more. He's thrown for one touchdown, a game-winner to receiver Greg Jennings in 2009, and two interceptions on those passes.

Detroit's challenge: The Detroit Lions will clinch a playoff spot Saturday if they beat the San Diego Chargers in what will likely be a raucous atmosphere at Ford Field. (There are also several scenarios to clinch this weekend even if they lose. They're noted in this post.) Hopefully everyone knows the Chargers are on one of their annual December rolls. They've won three consecutive games after a six-game losing streak. Since Norv Turner took the head coaching job in 2007, the Chargers are 20-2 in December. This will be no cakewalk.

Big targets: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers struggled earlier this season, but he has been the NFL's most efficient quarterback over the past three weeks based on Total Quarterback Rating. Rivers has hit a groove with a pair of 6-foot-5 receivers that will pose significant matchup problems for the Lions. Malcom Floyd has 11 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns over the past two games, while Vincent Jackson has caught 12 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. Jackson has been sidelined in practice this week by a groin injury. Lions cornerback Chris Houston (knee) clearly wasn't 100 percent last week against the Oakland Raiders, and the team re-signed Brandon McDonald this week for extra depth. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) also remains sidelined, and backup Chris Harris was cleared Thursday to practice following a concussion.

Make it stop: If you're a big-picture observer, you see ample motivation for the Minnesota Vikings to lose Sunday at the Washington Redskins. One more victory by the Indianapolis Colts, in conjunction with two more Vikings defeats, would give the Vikings an excellent chance to secure the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft. A loss to the Redskins would extend the Vikings' losing streak to seven games, tying a franchise record set in their expansion season of 1961. But I'm not sure what would be worse: tying that record or extending their NFL record of games without an interception, which stands at nine. Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman has thrown at least one interception in his past 10 starts, and he is tied for the second-most interceptions in the NFL (18) despite missing three games this season. Something's got to give.

STREAKING

1. Julius Peppers, DE: Peppers dropped Seattle’s Tarvaris Jackson and stripped him to post his 10th sack of the season. Peppers has now recorded double-digit sacks for the seventh time in his 10-year NFL career. In two seasons with the Bears, Peppers has tallied 18 sacks, which is the most in a two-year span by a Bear since linebacker Rosevelt Colvin (21 sacks in 2001-02).

2. Craig Steltz, S: Steltz led the team in tackles, recording eight, according to statistics distributed in the press box. Filling in for Major Wright, Steltz has been a steadying influence on the back end, which is somewhat uncommon considering he’s a backup. Steltz is in the final year of his original rookie contract, and is set to become a free agent after the season so the team will have to make a decision on whether to bring Steltz back. If the Bears are wise, they pull the trigger on that transaction.

3. Kahlil Bell, RB: The No. 3 running back, Bell became more of a focal point of the offense when Matt Forte suffered the MCL sprain against the Kansas City Chiefs. What’s interesting about Bell is he’s delivered every time the team has increased his workload. So maybe he deserves a promotion to the No. 2 role. After all, this team is paying Marion Barber $1.9 million in base salary in 2012 to back up Forte. Maybe that money should be spent elsewhere.

SLUMPING

1. Caleb Hanie, QB: Hanie has thrown nine interceptions in four starts, and watched the Seahawks return two picks for touchdowns. What’s worse is he’s completed 50 percent or worse in three starts while generating passer ratings of 56.9, 23.8, 79.9 and 33.3. For a little perspective, consider the fact that quarterback Jay Cutler threw just seven interceptions despite starting in more than twice the games that Hanie has started.

2. Marion Barber, RB: Barber followed up a 108-yard performance against the Broncos with a 33-yard dud in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It’s bad enough he’s made mistakes that have cost the Bears two consecutive games. But Barber averaged just 3 yards per carry against the Seahawks and his longest run was a 6-yard gain. That’s not sufficient production considering the team needs to lean on the ground game to take pressure off its struggling quarterback.

3. Jerry Angelo, GM: The general manager deserves to take some heat for the way things have unfolded for this team in a couple of areas. Despite Cutler showing that he could go down with an injury in the NFC title game last season, Angelo miscalculated the value of adding a legitimate No. 2 quarterback to the roster. The team’s logic was that none of the available signal callers were familiar with the scheme of offensive coordinator Mike Martz. If that’s truly the case, maybe it points to another issue: that Angelo brought in the wrong offensive coordinator because an offense shouldn’t be so difficult that it limits the talent pool at such a crucial position.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Chester Taylor benefitted from the NFL's business side in 2010, pulling in $7 million, but on Saturday the running back received what he considers a sobering dose of it.

"That's how the business is, I guess," Taylor said. "I don't know what's going on."

Just minutes after the club returned to the locker room after its pregame warmup for Saturday's matchup with the Titans, Bears running backs coach Tim Spencer informed Taylor he'd be standing on the sidelines for the club's 14-13 loss at LP Field, instead of playing.

Bears coach Lovie Smith explained after the game that Taylor's lack of repetitions came as a result of the team's desire to take a more extensive look at third-year running back Kahlil Bell.

"We wanted to take a look at someone else tonight, in particular, Kahlil Bell," Smith said. "Kahlil hadn't gotten an opportunity to play much. We wanted to take a good look at him, [and] we were able to. I think he did a good job of taking advantage of the carries he got."

Truthfully, Bell has received plenty of opportunities to run the ball throughout the preseason; 28 to be exact. New acquisition Marion Barber, who strained his left calf after running once for 2 yards against the Titans, has run the ball 21 times this preseason.

Taylor, meanwhile, has carried the ball just six times.

"Coach came to me before the game and just said I wasn't playing," Taylor said. "He didn't give me any reason or nothing. So I don't know if it's because of my play or not. It can't be from the competition because it's hard to get three carries in a game while somebody else is getting 14, and you're trying to compare that [to evaluate the running back competition]. So I don't know what it's from."

Taylor signed a four-year, $12 million contract last offseason that included $7 million guaranteed to serve as a complementary back to starter Matt Forte. Although Taylor averaged 2.4 yards per attempt in 2010, the team spoke highly in the offseason of the running back's contributions that didn't necessarily show up on the stat sheets.

Taylor played just six snaps against the New York Giants on Monday night, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz said recently that "Chester is having a heck of a camp."

It's worth pondering whether the team plans to pay Taylor $1.25 million in base salary as a backup with players such as Barber and Bell waiting in the wings. Bell represents a younger and cheaper option, considering he's set to make $525,000 in base salary in 2011. After receiving a $500,000 signing bonus to join the team on Aug. 1, Barber will receive an additional $2 million in base salary for 2011.

"I'm disappointed that I didn't play. I expected to play today," Taylor said. "I practice all week, and they didn't give me a heads up or anything. If it comes to them [making a decision to cut me], so be it. I know this is a business. It is what it is."