"Terrence is our left guard!"
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From
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsSt ... ry_id=4057
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Hampered by a nagging shoulder problem, veteran left guard Ruben Brown on Thursday was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Since signing with the Bears as a free agent in 2004, the 6-3, 300-pounder has started all 45 games he’s played, including the last 32 straight. A respected team leader, Brown helped the Bears win back-to-back NFC North titles in 2005-06 and reach the Super Bowl last season.
Ruben Brown has been selected to nine Pro Bowls in 13 NFL seasons with the Bears and Buffalo Bills.
“Ruben has done an awful lot for us,” said coach Lovie Smith. “We’ll miss him a lot. Hopefully he can get the shoulder taken care of and come back stronger than ever.”
Smith revealed that Brown’s injury will require surgery, but that the 35-year-old plans on returning to action in 2008 for his 14th NFL season. Brown signed a one-year deal with the Bears this past March and is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 campaign.
“He definitely wants to continue playing,” Smith said.
Last season, Brown was selected to his ninth career Pro Bowl and first as a member of the Bears. He had been chosen eight times in nine years while playing for the Buffalo Bills.
“That always hurts, losing a leader like Ruben and a Pro Bowl-caliber player,” said center Olin Kreutz, a close friend of Brown’s. “That’ll hurt any position, especially an offensive line. I’ll miss Ruben. But just speaking team-wise, we’re all going to miss him.”
Brown played with pain for most of the season, but he never missed a start.
“He definitely was playing hurt,” Kreutz said. “It’s just what kind of guy he is. He’s a warrior. He couldn’t even use his arm most of the time in the fourth quarter, but he was just going anyway. He would have to rest his arm on somebody. He couldn’t really use it.”
Replacing Brown at left guard will be Terrence Metcalf, a sixth-year pro who has started 20 of 70 games played since being selected by the Bears in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
“Terrence has been around here a long time,” Smith said. “With our offensive line staying intact for the most part, he hasn’t gotten a lot of playing time. [But] it should be a pretty easy transition with him moving in. The players know him. He knows the system and what we’re trying to do. Hopefully we can get the same good play from that position.”
Metcalf made 17 straight starts at one point, opening the final five games in 2004 at left guard and the first 12 contests in 2005 at right guard. The 6-4, 318-pounder is slated to make his first start Sunday in Oakland since the 2005 season finale in Minnesota.
“Just to be able to play with the guys again is a good opportunity,” Metcalf said. “We all wish the best for Ruben, but it happens in football and we’re going to pray and hope the best for him.
“I’m pretty confident in what I do. I know I can go out there and do the job. I’ve studied football. I know the plays. I know what we’ve got to do. I know this offense, and if you know what you’ve got to do, you go out and you play better.”
Metcalf lost his starting job to Roberto Garza heading into last season. But the Mississippi product never complained, accepting his role in part due to the camaraderie among the linemen.
“It would have been difficult if the guys around me had made it an issue,” Metcalf said. “But it wasn’t a difficult situation because we all know we’re talented and all the guys respect what happened. We clown around and say what we say, but we’re all cool. It wasn’t a real difficult issue to go through. It’s football, and we know the nature of the business.”
On the move: The Bears made a handful of other roster moves Thursday, elevating center/guard Anthony Oakley from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, placing running back P.J. Pope (chest) on the practice squad injury list and signing defensive end Chris Frome to the practice squad. Frome originally joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame on April 30 and was waived Sept. 1.
Health update: Wide receiver/return specialist Devin Hester practiced without limitations Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s workout because he was sick.
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee), cornerback Nate Vasher (groin), safety Brandon McGowan (elbow) and linebacker Rod Wilson (neck) all missed practice Thursday.
Smith anticipates that Harris will play Sunday against the Raiders.
“Whenever a player doesn’t practice it’s a concern, but we think he’ll be OK,” said the Bears coach. “I think he’ll be on the practice field [Friday] getting some time.
“When you have a little bit of time, you take as much time as possible to try to let him get in the best possible shape to make this run. That’s where we are with Tommie. There isn’t anything serious going on or anything like that. He should be on the practice field [Friday] and we expect him to play and play well this week.”
Smith isn’t as optimistic about Vasher, who has missed the last five games.
“I would say that it is unlikely [he will play in Oakland],” Smith said. “He is making progress. [But] when you’re dealing with a muscle, it’s hard to know exactly when you’ll get over the hump completely. That’s about all I can really say right now. He’s getting better.”
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