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Optimism often oozes from the fingertips of reporters tapping away at the keyboard in the minutes immediately after a team makes a draft pick, resulting in sometimes overly-positive grading.

We’re certainly not immune to the phenomenon, or afraid to admit we might have been wrong. So as we prepare to kick off our pre-draft coverage in the coming days, we decided to take another look at the Chicago Bears 2011 draft class and re-grade it.

Here’s what we came up with:

Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Round: 1 Pick: 20 (Overall: 29)
What we said after the draft: Considered one of the more technically-sound prospects among the 2011 class of offensive tackles, Carimi should play a key role -- likely as a starter -- in Chicago's effort to revamp its offensive line. After having to replace 2007 third overall pick Joe Thomas at Wisconsin, Carimi is no stranger to the high expectations he'll face as a rookie.
Initial grade: B+
What we say now: There’s a strong possibility Carimi’s grade would have actually improved, had he not suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice said Carimi was “playing winning football” prior to the injury, which is why the staff is currently pondering moving the rising second-year player to left tackle in 2012 if J’Marcus Webb falters. The team maintains Carimi remains on pace for a full recovery. So if that transpires, quarterback Jay Cutler’s protection should improve this season.
Current grade: B+.

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Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State

Round: 2 Pick: 30 (Overall: 62)
What we said after the draft: Paea fills an immediate need and might one day develop into a starting three-technique defensive end. However, the Bears have a history of being burned by taking players with medical red flags, and Paea is coming off an offseason knee injury at the Senior Bowl. – JD
Initial grade: B-
What we say now: Paea struggled to recover from a knee injury suffered at the Senior Bowl, and endured a few setbacks in transitioning to the pro game. Those early problems led to the team placing Paea on its inactive list for the first five games. Paea made his debut on Oct. 16 against the Minnesota Vikings and posted a sack. Paea finished the season with 19 tackles -- including a career-high five stops against Kansas City -- and two sacks. With Amobi Okoye and Anthony Adams no longer on the roster, Paea’s role could grow in 2012.
Current grade: C+

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Chris Conte, S, California

Round: 3 Pick: 29 (Overall: 93)
What we said after the draft: Conte appears to add versatility in the secondary and a potential contributor on special teams. Having spent his first three seasons at California as a cornerback, Conte moved to safety as a senior and became a first-team all-Pac-10 performer. The Bears aren't concerned about Conte's inexperience at safety because that only adds to his upside.
Initial grade: C-
What we say now: Conte definitely didn’t look the part as a rookie, and could use this offseason to improve his strength. But there’s no denying Conte surprised plenty of observers with his strong rookie campaign. Conte racked up six tackles in his first start, and tacked on his first career interception the next week. In nine starts, Conte contributed 47 tackles and provides a ballhawking element to the secondary. The only concern moving forward would be Conte’s ability to stay healthy. The club placed Conte on the injured reserve on Dec. 19, forcing him to miss the last two games.
Current grade: B

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Nathan Enderle, QB, Idaho

Round: 5 Pick: 29 (Overall: 160)
What we said after the draft: The Bears' thought process behind selecting a quarterback is understandable. Caleb Hanie probably won't be around past the 2011 season, so the Bears likely will be searching for a new primary backup to Jay Cutler. It's better to develop your own young, inexpensive quarterback rather than waste money on a bad veteran backup, a la Todd Collins. Who knows if Enderle will pan out, but Mike Martz does have a nice track record with unknown quarterbacks.
Initial grade: B-
What we say now: Enderle raised eyebrows when former offensive coordinator Martz briefly moved him ahead of Hanie on the depth chart during training camp. That should have been viewed as nothing more than a motivational ploy by Martz, because as the season played out it became clear the team wasn’t confident in Enderle’s abilities. The Bears made that clear when they started Josh McCown less than a month after his arrival over Enderle, who despite being a rookie, had been with the team all season.
Current grade: D

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J.T. Thomas, LB, West Virginia

Round: 6 Pick: 30 (Overall: 195)
What we said after the draft: The Bears brought aboard a durable, three-year starter with plenty of experience on special teams and decent athletic ability. But Thomas lacks explosion (lowest vertical at the combine at 30½ inches), and comes with a blemish in the character department from a 2007 arrest for transferring and receiving a stolen laptop. Given how late the team took Thomas, the character risk would seem minimal.
Initial grade: C-
What we say now: Thomas’ February arrest for misdemeanor marijuana possession now seems to make the initial character red flags valid. But we’ll confine the criticism of Thomas to his play on the field. Thomas caught the staff’s attention early in camp when he was forced to take a good portion of repetitions because the veterans were unable to practice initially due to the rules coming out of the NFL lockout. The problem was Thomas’ practice showings never transferred onto the field. Within the organization, some questioned Thomas’ physicality. Eventually the team gave Thomas somewhat of a redshirt year when it placed him on the injured reserve before the season started due to hamstring and back issues.
Current grade: Incomplete.

The Chicago Bears entered the 2011 season with two backups quarterbacks with zero NFL starts on their resumes and paid the price for it. A year later they have gone from the greenest corps of backup quarterbacks to one of the NFL's most experienced.

After the signings of Jason Campbell as the primary backup and Josh McCown as the third QB, the Bears have 103 career NFL starts behind starter Jay Cutler, a drastic improvement over Caleb Hanie and then-rookie Nathan Enderle a year ago.

"It's nice that [Campbell] has started 70 contests," Bears general manager Phil Emery said Thursday. "And it's nice that he's gotten six seasons under his belt and thrown for over 60 percent, he has 74 touchdowns and he has an 82.8 passer rating. Those are all extreme positives. It's also very positive that he has the size that he has. ... Arm strength is very important because of our weather and the division that we play in. You'll notice that Jay and Jason have big arms. That to me was a prerequisite moving forward."

Campbell, a first-round draft pick by the Washington Redskins in 2005, spent the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, finishing with an 11-7 record in his 18 starts there. His best season came in 2009 when he started 16 games for the Redskins, passing for a career-high 3,618 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Campbell, who will be introduced at a press conference on Friday at Halas Hall, knew heading into free agency that he would sign somewhere as a backup. Bears coach Lovie Smith is happy to have him.

"We did a lot of work on Jason Campbell when he came out of Auburn years back," Smith said Thursday. "Really liked him. I like the guy, the person, him being in the locker room. His size, his poise. His grandmother lives here in Chicago. He's got a lot of relatives here. We thought that he would be the perfect backup for Jay."

The Bears brought McCown back as the No. 3 quarterback after the nine-year veteran had a two-game stint as the starter at the end of last season with Cutler hurt and Hanie benched. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes and threw for two touchdowns and four interceptions in three games last season.

McCown, 32, has started 33 of his 50 NFL games played in nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2002-05), Detroit Lions (2006), Raiders (2007), Carolina Panthers (2008-09) and Bears (2011) after entering the league as a third-round selection by Arizona in the 2002 NFL draft.

"There's a reason we brought back Josh McCown," Smith said. "He did a super job in a tough situation last year. And our fourth quarterback, Nathan Enderle, gets a chance to learn from not only one good quarterback with a lot of experience but three. We feel real good about our quarterback position now."

INDIANAPOLIS -- With the Chicago Bears unable to win a game last year after Jay Cutler suffered his second serious injury in the past two seasons, coach Lovie Smith said Thursday the club plans to take a hard look at the No. 2 quarterback spot leading up to free agency and the NFL draft.

Caleb Hanie and veteran Josh McCown are both unrestricted free agents, which leaves untested 2011 fifth-round pick Nathan Enderle as the only reserve quarterback on the roster.

That will no doubt change.

"First off, each year you learn something," Smith said. "We thought we had a better plan at the quarterback position. I knew how valuable Jay was to us. That won't change. But we do need to get ourselves in a better position at that backup quarterback position. So you start with that.

"We have a lot of options out there. I think this is an attractive place for a quarterback. We're going to look at all people. And I'm talking Caleb, Josh and free agent quarterbacks out there. I just feel like we'll be able to strengthen that position more than we were this past year.'

"I should have mentioned Nathan Enderle also. Nathan by being a rookie and not really being a factor last year, you tend to forget him sometimes. But he'll be a part of the mix also."

McCown, however, might have the best shot to earn one of the backup roles after he turned in a pair of decent performances to wrap up the regular season. But the Bears would be wise to also explore other options, especially free agent Kyle Orton, who might welcome the opportunity to return to Chicago if he can't find work in the league as a starting quarterback.

This is the first 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.

Jay Cutler flashed enough development through the first 10 games of the 2011 to merit inclusion into conversations about the NFL’s elite at the position. Then he suffered a fractured thumb that forced him to miss the final six contests, ruining what seemed to be a promising season.

If anything, Cutler’s injury taught the Chicago Bears the value of keeping a capable No. 2 on standby, considering the team lost five of six down the stretch.

With the team set for the future with Cutler at the helm as the starter, the Bears face a couple of interesting dilemmas this offseason with backups such as Josh McCown and Caleb Hanie set to go into unrestricted free agency.

In addition, new general manager Phil Emery must also determine whether rising second-year player Nathan Enderle fits into the offense the team will utilize under new coordinator Mike Tice, while figuring out whether the quarterback possesses enough upside to warrant a roster spot for 2012 as a developmental prospect.

THE CURRENT ROSTER

•Jay Cutler: Cutler averaged 229.1 yards passing, which ranks as the third-best single-season mark in franchise history, and his passer rating of 85.7 registered as seventh in franchise annals.

Prior to Cutler’s thumb injury, the club ranked sixth in scoring (26.8 points per game), and it seemed the quarterback -- at the time of the injury -- was playing his best football as a Chicago Bear. There’s concern about how Cutler will perform in 2012 playing for his third offensive coordinator in four seasons.

But Tice has been clear about his intentions of catering the offense to fit Cutler’s talents. So the transition should be smooth. Look for the new offense to feature the ability to audible, in addition to several plays with moving pockets to take advantage of Cutler’s mobility.

•Caleb Hanie: Following a promising showing in the 2010 NFC title game with a few shaky performances when given the opportunity to start in relief of Cutler. In four starts, Hanie tossed nine interceptions, and finished the season with a passer rating of 41.8.

Those showings, coupled with the fact he’s a free agent might mean Hanie won’t remain with the team in 2012. But don’t be so fast to make that assumption. Hanie wasn’t an ideal fit for Mike Martz’s offense, but what Tice plans to implement actually caters to what the quarterback does well.

The club likely won’t ever trust Hanie again as the No. 2. But there’s a small chance he sticks as the third quarterback.

•Josh McCown: Played well enough to warrant consideration as the No. 2 behind Cutler in 2012. But the club would be doing itself a disservice if it doesn’t bring in competition from outside for the job.

McCown completed 63.6 percent of his passes in the three games he played (two starts), and showed plenty of poise in the pocket as well as an ability to make things happen with his legs when things break down. It’s likely the Bears will extend McCown an offer to return, but the club could have some competition from other teams based on the way the quarterback performed late in the season.

•Nathan Enderle: Inactive for 14 of the team’s 16 games, Enderle never received an opportunity to play even when Hanie struggled to fill in for Cutler because the coaching staff deemed the rookie unready.

For a brief period during training camp, Enderle moved ahead of Hanie on the depth chart. But Enderle didn’t develop enough -- because of limited repetitions -- to become a realistic option as a backup.

Handpicked by Martz because he possessed the traits to thrive in that pass-oriented system, Enderle may no longer be considered an ideal fit for what the Bears plan to do with Tice as the offensive coordinator.

Bears free agents: Hanie, McCown

POTENTIAL FREE AGENT TARGETS

•Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs, unrestricted
•Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders, unrestricted
•David Garrard, unrestricted

WHY GARRARD MIGHT MAKE SENSE

Unlike Orton and Campbell, Garrard likely won’t be expensive, and he won’t enter a new situation looking to win the starting job. Besides that, Tice is familiar with Garrard from their time spent together with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Garrard, 34, has started 76 career games, with a career completion percentage of 61.6 and a passer rating of 85.8. A 10-year veteran, Garrard has thrown just 54 interceptions in 2,281 attempts. Physically, Garrard possesses many of the traits (strong arm, good mobility, and toughness) that would make him an ideal fit for Tice’s offense.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Chicago Bears fans clamoring to see rookie Nate Enderle make his NFL debut will be kept waiting.

Enderle is inactive Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings, which means Caleb Hanie is the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Josh McCown.

Read the entire story.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The recent demotion of Caleb Hanie in favor of veteran Josh McCown left many Bears fans wondering where rookie Nate Enderle fits into the Bears quarterback equation.

Should Enderle, the Bears 2011 fifth-round draft choice out of Idaho, be given the opportunity to start Sunday night versus the Green Bay Packers, instead of journeyman McCown, who last started a game in 2007.

According to Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the answer is a resounding 'no'.

"It's just too much of an unknown right now," Martz said. "We're trying to win. So he'll have his time, I'm sure, but right now this is the best opportunity for us to win."

Asking a rookie quarterback, with zero regular-season experience, to win on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions seems like a tall order. Enderle has been inactive for 10 game this year and was only listed as the No. 2 quarterback on two occasions (Oakland and Kansas City) before being dropped back to the third quarterback spot last week versus Seattle.

Martz also pointed out Enderle received limited work in the preseason because the organization was trying to get Hanie up to speed to serve as Jay Cutler's primary backup. Plus, due to the NFL lockout, the rookie never had a chance to participate in any sort of offseason workout program before reporting to Bourbonnais.

"I think Nate, physically, has a tremendous future," Martz said. "Caleb didn't have preseason a year ago because he got injured, so we spent all that time with Caleb in the preseason, so Nate didn't get a whole lot of work."

The Chicago Bears' playoff hopes are on life support, their quarterback situation is a disaster and they travel to face a Green Bay Packers team angry after their first loss of the season. Other than that, it's shaping up as a Merry Christmas for the Bears.

Our Four Downs panel weighs in on the Bears' predicament:

Fact or Fiction: Donovan McNabb or Brett Favre would have won at least one or two of the last four

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Forget about Favre. He last played in an NFL game in 2010, so he was never an option, even though he privately expressed interest in speaking with the Bears after Jay Cutler got hurt. McNabb is another story. He started games for the Vikings this year, and I'm quite confident he could have won at least one of these last four games, especially the one versus Kansas City. Failing to take a chance and sign McNabb seems like a costly mistake in hindsight.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. Nobody wants to hear that, but it's absolutely true. Let's look at this realistically. Aside from the beatdown at the hands of Seattle, the Bears were in the position to win games against Oakland, Kansas City and Denver. You can't convince me that McNabb wouldn't have won at least two of those three games. Despite Favre's age, I think he could've won at least one of those outings. So say what you want about those guys being over the hill. But the Bears made the mistake of not seriously considering how much experience could have factored into all of this. The team got too hung up on Martz's complex offense. If it's so complicated it cuts off the talent pool, change it. The Bears chose the system over the players, and honestly, I haven't seen near as many "systems" win football games as I have players. It's the whole Jimmys and Joes vs. X's and O's argument. I think we now know which side wins.

Melissa Isaacson Fact. Considering that one victory in the last four Bears games is not that high a standard, yes, I think one of the two -- even out of shape and not exactly in their prime -- could have eked out a victory against the Chiefs or Seahawks, maybe even Denver or, given the momentum at the time, Oakland. Did I advocate for either of the two at the time? No. But in hindsight, one victory -- which probably would not have been good enough for a playoff berth anyway -- doesn't sound like a tall order for a professional or even formerly professional quarterback.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. I think you could take Brett Favre off his tractor, dress him in tight Wranglers, and he'd still be better than Caleb Hanie. Yeah, yeah, the offense is too difficult. Football is football and two veterans like those could've figured something out. As lousy as McNabb has been the last two years, he's still better than Hanie. I'm not saying the Bears erred by not signing McNabb or trying to lure Favre out of retirement, the timing wasn't good, but let's not pretend they couldn't be better than Hanie.

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Fact or Fiction: Jerry Angelo's legacy will list not having a good No. 2 quarterback as his biggest mistake.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction. Angelo has won four division championships during his tenure as Bears general manager, so let's not make it sound as if there were no positives during his tenure. That's unfair. But if you're looking to pinpoint the biggest mistake; that would be evaluating college players leading up to the draft. There have been way too many misses over the years, particularly in the early rounds. However, I stand by Angelo's decision to begin the year with Hanie as the No. 2 quarterback. The problem was failing to sign an accomplished veteran (McNabb) later in the season.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. Absolutely, it will, right next to the lack of receivers, refusal to budge in the Matt Forte negotiations, and his decisions to not address issues on the offensive line in a timely manner. Having covered the NFL for a long time, I've never seen a collapse this significant. All of it can be traced back to this team's personnel decisions. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that Angelo's free-agent acquisitions have helped this team. But it's been minimally. And get this: Angelo signed Sam Hurd to a deal -- counting the receiver's signing bonus -- that would pay $1.985 million in 2011. Meanwhile, Forte is making $600,000 and begging for a fair-market deal. Not to get too slang here, but where they do that at?

Melissa Isaacson: Fact. But only because he has done it on a number of occasions (though it was obviously most glaring this season). Angelo's biggest mistake, however, is not so easy to narrow down with the number of draft missteps (i.e., Cedric Benson, Marc Colombo, Michael Haynes, Dan Buzuin); offensive line, defensive secondary and wide receiver woes and general bungles. It might not even be his biggest mistake this acquisitions (see: Roy Williams and Brandon Meriweather) but ok, I'll go along with it.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. I think his failure to surround Jay Cutler with a better offensive line and one legit go-to receiver are far more egregious wrongs. I know we're provincial here, but there are plenty of lousy backups out there. That's not to say Angelo shouldn't be judged for this obvious mistake, but I think the dearth of pass-blocking linemen and game-breaking wideouts is worse. You have to plan for success as well as failure. Angelo did neither well.

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Fact or Fiction: The fallout from the Sam Hurd arrest impacted the Bears on Sunday

Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Sam Hurd was an excellent special teams contributor. Right now, you've got several rookies contributing on special teams who really have no business being on the field. Hurd was also the personal protect on punt, an important job in the grand scheme of things. So his loss hurt the Bears on the field versus Seattle. Plus, the whole idea that an accused drug dealer was your teammate for the last five months probably affected some of the players. The whole thing was a major distraction at a time when the Bears simply could not afford another distraction. Hurd didn't cause the loss, but he contributed to it.

Michael C. Wright: Fact. Interestingly, a former Bears player called the day after the Hurd arrest and predicted this would happen. He said to watch the game closely to see if the Bears would make huge mistakes on what should be routine plays. That's exactly what this team did. Once the whistle blows and the players get in between the lines, off-the-field distractions aren't an issue. But where the Hurd arrest came into play in this is in the team's preparation. The fallout from the Hurd arrest hit Halas Hall on a Thursday, which is one of the heavy days of a team's preparation for an opponent. So Hurd affected the cerebral element of this team's preparation. On Thursday and Friday, the Hurd arrest was the talk of the locker room. Players were even asking reporters for details about the arrest. So don't think for a minute that this didn't impact the product on the field Sunday.

Melissa Isaacson: Fiction: Impossible to prove. I may still be persuaded to believe it, however, if not for the fact that the Bears, in their current form, were fully capable of losing to Seattle with the week running smoothly. That said, it was the last thing they needed.

Jon Greenberg: Fiction. I'm sure it didn't help the team's focus during the week, but the writing was on the wall well before we found out Sam Hurd was trying to relive "The Wire." Hurd was the one who got caught up in the "trap game." The Bears just stink without Cutler.

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Fact or Fiction: Nathan Enderle should start at Lambeau.

Jeff Dickerson: Fiction: If Cutler can't go, start Josh McCown and bring in Enderle if things get out of hand. Enderle wasn't a first round pick. He's not the quarterback of the future. He's a fifth-rounder who's never taken a real NFL snap. Don't throw the guy to the wolves and ruin his confidence moving forward. I agree Enderle should play some this year, just not in the first half at Lambeau Field. And that's how it looks like it's going to play out judging from practice this week.

Michael C. Wright: Fiction. My belief is you're conceding the season if you go this route. Look, Enderle is a rookie and shouldn't be given his first action in an environment such as Lambeau Field. That could be overwhelming for a rookie who hasn't yet played in a regular-season game, and damaging for his psyche. The Bears are still in contention for a postseason berth, and until they're out of it, they should be doing everything they can to capture a victory. That means the team should go with the quarterback that gives them the best chance to win. If they truly believe Enderle is that guy, then go with him. But I don't think the Bears are thinking along those lines. Now, if the Bears lay an egg at Lambeau on Sunday, which would put them out of the playoff hunt, I think the team should then see about taking a look at Enderle.

Melissa Isaacson: Fiction: I'd rather see Josh McCown considering that there is little to no chance Enderle will be in the running for back-up duties next season. And throwing in the rookie on national TV Christmas night feels cruel and unusual. McCown was signed presumably to go in if Hanie couldn't do the job. The Bears obviously waited a little long on that one, but let's see him in action already and let Enderle get some time against Minnesota.

Jon Greenberg: Fact. Why not? We've all seen enough of Hanie to know he's not the answer. Starting Josh McCown isn't the answer either. The Bears drafted Enderle for a reason, I assume. You can always replace him with Hanie, if it doesn't work out, which I'm assuming it won't. Heck, I'd like to see Adam Podlesh at quarterback. Maybe he can provide a Hanukkah miracle.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith called Caleb Hanie "our starting quarterback" on Monday, but just as quickly revealed a decision hasn't been made regarding the position, leaving ambiguity as to the team's plans for Sunday's matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears quarterbacks Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown combined to throw four interceptions -- two returned for touchdowns -- Sunday in a 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but coach Lovie Smith wasn't prepared to disclose plans to make a change.

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears named rookie Nathan Enderle to the list of inactives for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, meaning new acquisition Josh McCown will serve as the primary backup for Caleb Hanie.

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears will be without both Week 1 safeties Chris Harris and Major Wright in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers.

That's the upshot of the inactive lists we were just given here in the Soldier Field press box. Brandon Meriweather and Craig Steltz will start at safety for the Bears, who will also be without running back Marion Barber (calf). Receiver Roy Williams (groin) is active and will play.

The Bears do have quarterback Nathan Enderle active Sunday, mostly because injuries at other positions makes him one of their 46 healthy players.

There were no surprises among the Packers' inactive list.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- In a surprise move, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Nate Enderle handled all the reps with the second team, instead of No. 2 Caleb Hanie, during practice on Monday.

Read the entire story.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears sixth-round linebacker JT Thomas flew into Chicago on Tuesday morning -- the first day the team could officially sign draft picks and undrafted rookies -- and left the same night with a contract in hand, having agreed to terms on a four-year deal.

The Bears also came to an agreement with fifth-round quarterback Nathan Enderle, who signed a four-year deal.

Projected as an outside linebacker, Thomas produced 73 tackles as a senior at West Virginia that included seven stops for lost yardage, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles on the way to earning first-team all-Big East accolades.

After making Thomas the 195th overall selection, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo raved about Thomas’ natural skills falling in line with what the club covets in its linebackers.

“He fits us perfectly; he can play all three positions,” Angelo said. “We spent a lot of time on him. We feel very, very good about his fit. Picking up a linebacker was a goal if he was the right one.”

Thomas hasn’t played a down for the Bears, but has already become popular among the team’s fan base for a gesture in generosity in taking a 14-year old Bears fan to a middle-school dance in Morgantown, W.Va.

The act of kindness drew praise from football fans nationally.

With the signing of Thomas, the Bears will turn their attention to third-round pick Chris Conte, second-rounder Stephen Paea, and first-round selection Gabe Carimi.

The Bears, led by contract negotiator Cliff Stein, have earned a reputation for signing draft picks early and getting them to camp on time. But the short timeline between the signing period and Friday’s start of training camp brings minor complications that the team shouldn’t have trouble overcoming.

I read your article about Andy Fantuz attending the Bears workouts last week, but I was wondering if Nate Enderle is also throwing passes at these workouts? Seems to me that if I was a rookie quarterback, I'd jump at the chance to learn from the veterans and throw passes to receivers like Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. -- Vince, Country Club Hills, Ill.
A: No, so far Enderle has not participated in any of the offseason workouts led by Jay Cutler. My understanding is the Bears' fifth-round pick has been working out diligently in Idaho in preparation for the season. However Vince, you bring up a good point. It probably would be a good idea for Enderle to join the workouts, assuming the lockout remains in place for the immediate future which would make these unofficial offensive player gatherings still a necessity. Not only would it be a nice way for Enderle to meet his new teammates, like Fantuz did last week, but he could certainly pick up some things being around Cutler and Caleb Hanie in these practice-type settings. If the lockout continues to linger, I'd say there is a decent chance Enderle arrives in town and begins the process of developing chemistry with the Bears receivers and fellow quarterbacks.

JD, Andy Fantuz? Are you serious? Has the lockout caused you to go mad? Who cares about a CFL receiver who probably won't even make the team. Talk to me about Plaxico Burress or Chad Ochocinco, but not Andy Fantuz. What's wrong with you? -- Jack, Bridgeport, Ill.
A: Jack, what is there to talk about when it comes to veteran free agent wide receivers right now? The Bears can't sign anybody until there is labor peace -- which may be on the horizon -- so why not report on a player you are actually guaranteed to see in action at Bears camp. Nobody is saying that Fantuz is a slam dunk to make the roster or make an immediate impact in 2011, but you have to admit, he's an interesting player with a proven track record of success in the CFL. Now, the CFL is much different from the NFL, but the guy did rack up pretty big numbers the past five years in Canada. So at the very least, Fantuz has my attention.

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he's got the size the Bears are looking for to complement smaller wideouts Hester and Knox. I like the fact Fantuz arrived in town last week to meet Cutler, Hanie and the rest of the wide receivers, and the reviews of his performance were fairly positive. Obviously, he's new to the offense and new to running these specific types of routes, but several players in attendance mentioned Fantuz's impressive size, athleticism and pass-catching ability.

There will be plenty of time to lust after big-name free agents the Bears probably won't sign. You'll get your fill of Burress, Ochocinco, Randy Moss, Santonio Holmes, etc. once the lockout ends. Fantuz isn't a big name, but he's a big receiver who's already under contract with the Bears. We'll see if he pans out, but one thing is for certain: He will definitely be a player to watch in training camp and the preseason.

Is it just me, or did Matt Toeaina have a good year for the Bears last season? I loved watching Toeaina plug up the middle and hope to see more of him next year. Was I seeing things, or is he good? -- Tyler, Kewanee, Ill.
A: Actually, I think Toeaina is a solid member of the Bears yet-to-be-fully-determined rotation at the defensive tackle spot. I've had more than one player tell me in the offseason that Toeaina's improved play was one reason the Bears removed Tommie Harris from the starting lineup for much of 2010. Toeaina signed a modest extension with the Bears prior to the end of last season, so he's clearly in their plans on the defensive line. I don't know if he'll ever reach the level of being considered an elite defensive tackle, but it won't be for a lack of effort. Toeaina has put in a ton of work in the offseason, and he will be physically ready when camp begins. If he stays healthy, I see no reason why he can't mirror or exceed his 2010 statistics of 33 tackles, two sacks and seven quarterback pressures.

Lifetime NIU Huskies fan who's worried about Garrett Wolfe. Will he play again in the NFL? Because right now, I'd say it's not looking good. -- Fred, Hickory Hills, Ill.
A: Fred, I would certainly hope a team signs Wolfe considering his value on special teams, but it's impossible to know for sure until the running back's legal issues are settled. It was obvious Wolfe wasn't in the Bears' plans moving forward when the team failed to issue him a restricted free agent tender before the lockout began, but I always assumed he would latch on to another organization once football related activities resumed. Right now, I guess we can call his football future cloudy at best.

But here is what I do know. We live in a society where people are guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around like it's supposed to be. Up to this point, we've only heard the Miami Beach police's account of what happened that night in the South Beach club. When the time is right, I'm fairly certain Wolfe will tell his side of the story, and then it will be up to each person or NFL team to decide what they believe to be the truth. So until I have all the facts, or at least both sides of the story, I can't say for sure which way it's going to break for Wolfe. But having covered Wolfe since 2007, and I think my colleagues on the Bears beat would agree, the type of behavior Wolfe is being accused of on the night in question is out of his character. That's why I feel strongly there is more to this story than any of us know. I could be wrong, but that's how I feel.

How much roster flexibility will Jerry Angelo have to go after free agents when that time arrives? -- Chase, Chicago
A: Plenty. Right now, the Bears have 47 veteran players under contract, five rookies who will receive contracts, and a handful of players given restricted free agent tenders (Danieal Manning, Corey Graham, Nick Roach, Kahlil Bell, Hanie, etc). So Angelo has plenty of room to re-sign his own veterans, add a few veterans via free agency and fill out the roster with undrafted rookie free agents.

Q: How important are organized workouts during the lockout? Are the Bears and Jay Cutler falling behind? Should I be nervous as a die-hard Bears fan that my team is being lazy in the offseason? -- Christopher (Naperville, Ill.)

A: Should you be nervous about the lack of organized Bears workouts? No. Almost every single player on the roster has been training for the upcoming season since March. Running back Matt Forte and tight end Greg Olsen have been working out together back in Chicago for weeks. Other players like center Olin Kreutz, guard Roberto Garza, linebacker Nick Roach, defensive tackles Matt Toeaina and Anthony Adams, and wide receivers Johnny Knox and Rashied Davis (just to name a few) have spent much of the offseason training at professional off-site facilities in the area. Others like safety Chris Harris, cornerback Zack Bowman, defensive tackle Marcus Harrison and quarterback Caleb Hanie (just to name a few) opted to train the past few months out of state. I’m sure there is a risk that a few players could report to training camp unprepared -- the first practice is scheduled for July 23, lockout permitting -- but the majority will be in shape. Now, would it be nice to see Cutler throwing to the receivers, tight ends and running backs? Sure. Is it vital to the success of the 2011 Bears? No. Be nervous about the NFL being potentially forced to cancel regular season games in the fall because of the labor dispute. Don’t sweat Cutler and the receivers not playing catch and running a few routes in May.

Q: Settle the backup quarterback debate for me. Will Nate Enderle be the No. 2 quarterback behind Cutler in the upcoming season? -- Peter (Madison, Wis.)

A: Enderle will be the No. 2 if Hanie pulls the NFL version of Steve Sax and somehow forgets how to throw a football. I mean that with absolutely no disrespect towards Enderle, but there shouldn’t be any question about whether or not Hanie is worthy of the being the primary backup. Forget for a moment that Enderle is a rookie fifth-round pick out of Idaho who will probably require quite a bit of seasoning before he is NFL-ready; Hanie came off the bench ice cold and almost led the Bears past the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. How can that not buy him the benefit of the doubt from the coaching staff?! The Bears took Enderle for two reasons, (1) Martz likes him, obviously and (2) Hanie is expected to leave via free agency whenever he gets the chance -- probably in 2012. But in 2011, barring an injury or a totally unexpected collapse, the Bears quarterback depth chart will read: No. 1 Cutler, No. 2 Hanie and No. 3 Enderle.

Q: Guys, as a graduate of West Virginia, I’m excited the Bears took linebacker J.T. Thomas in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. What are his chances of playing next year? -- Elliot (Crystal Lake, Ill.)

A: Bears general manager Jerry Angelo probably feels good about Thomas’ chances of making the 53-man roster, since he chose Thomas at No. 195 over a few other linebackers the Bears also liked in the draft. Unless Thomas turns out to be the second coming of Michael Okwo or Marcus Freeman, he should step in and provide relief on special teams while also giving the Bears a little extra depth at the linebacker position. While the Bears are expected to attempt to re-sign Brian Iwuh, it would be nice if the organization could find an eventual replacement for Lance Briggs on the weak side. Don’t get me wrong, Briggs is still a great player, but he’s going to be looking for a new contract in another year or two (Briggs is under contract through 2013) and will be the Bears be willing to pay another linebacker in his early 30s? Anything can happen between now and then, but if Thomas turns out to be a good player, he could figure into the future plans of the organization. Of course, Okwo was drafted in 2007 to be the heir apparent for Briggs, and we all know how that turned out.

Q: What’s the likelihood the Bears bring back punter Brad Maynard? He was terrible last year, in my opinion, and the Bears need to cut their losses and move on. What’s the deal? -- Luke (Waukegan, Ill.)

A: Right now, the odds of Maynard playing for the Bears in 2011 are remote. Although the punter is still regarded in many NFL circles as the best directional kicker in the game, the Bears were unhappy with Maynard’s statistics and performance last season -- 35.2 yards per punt net average. The Bears sound content to move on and sign a new punter in free agency (whenever that begins) to compete with Richmond McGee for the starting job. However, I continue to believe the Bears would be better off bringing back the veteran for another year. Unlike in 2010, not only will Maynard be healthy when the season begins, he’s going to extremely motivated to prove his doubters inside the building wrong. Plus, why make a change at punter in the same year when the rest of the special teams units could undergo a major overhaul depending on the free agency rules put in place for the upcoming campaign. The Bears have a really good thing going with their trio of specialists -- Maynard, kicker Robbie Gould and long snapper Patrick Mannelly --why screw up the chemistry?

Q: I’ve heard you guys talk about the Bears’ need at defensive end. Why? Didn’t they sign Julius Peppers last year? Isn’t Izzy Idonije coming off a career year? That doesn’t make any sense. -- Joe (Niles, Ill.)

A: First off, you can never have too many players with the ability to rush the passer. If anybody knows that, it’s Bears head coach Lovie Smith, who saw the defense fail to consistently pressure the quarterback in 2007, 2008 and 2009. What did those years have in common? The Bears missed the postseason, putting Smith on the hot seat in 2010. Secondly, Idonije, 30, has only been a full-time starter for one season, and while it’s certainly possible he puts together another solid year, to simply assume it’s going to happen would be foolish. Corey Wootton, a fourth-round pick in 2010) is best known for effectively ending Brett Favre’s legendary career, but besides that one memorable snap, Wootton didn’t provide too many other highlights. It would be wrong to write off Wootton after one season, but the Bears need to protect themselves in the event Idonije’s production tails off or Wootton fails to pan out. Plus, Peppers, who faces at minimum a double-team every play, turned 31 years old back in January. Maybe Henry Melton moves outside if rookie Stephen Paea or somebody else locks down the under tackle spot, but right now, that’s impossible to predict. What the Bears need to do, and I believe they will do, is address defensive end in free agency for the second consecutive year.