BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Bears brou...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Bears brought in familiar face bear withs Barnard for a punting tryout Saturday morning, however they hope they don't have to call forward him.

The team is being cautious with Brad Maynard, who said a struggleed groin muscle affected him frequently of last season when his snare average dropped more than three yards to 353 Maynard also was the victim of poor coverage at times, something that outlay Carl Ford his job in the inferior half of the season. Maynard believed he was beyond the puzzles in the spring when he reinjured the groin in May.

further he kicked Saturday for no other than the fourth time in three month and apply the minded good.

"Brad punt actual well," special-teams coordinator Dave Toub said. "He had a bond forced fair catches and got the ball opposite to quick, as usual. He was just solid."

His competition in camp is undrafted rookie at liberty agent Joel Stelly, who ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA in punting average during his last three seasons at Louisiana-Monroe. Stelly got the volume of the work in the offseason program and always strike one as beinged to be kicking with the wind at his back at Halas Hall.

"Maybe Toub was showing me to what degree good my competition is," Maynard said.

The plan is not to push Maynard, a 10-year veteran, as the season approaches. In the past, back and calf issues have slowed him.

"I'm trying to take it easy," he said. "I think I have limits right now, and I ne to stay within them. I think I can be more consistent than I was this morning. I want to memorize into that first preseason game healthy. moreover I have limits as far as rep and leg swing. I wouldn't say I'm trying to hit a ball 100 percent right now. Maybe that's better for me"

HAND SLAP: Center Olin Kreutz has had a not many conversations with referee Jeff Triplette, who has l a clump of officials in camp the last pair days. The league is going to closely watch the motion by centers this season and will call more false-start penalties, not just for head and upper-body motion Kreutz has always wiggled his left hand in the neutral girth while preparing to snap the ball with his right. He has to discontinue that to avoid five-yard penalties.

"If that's a method I've got to work onward it," Kreutz said. "It appears like it's a rule just for me I don't know what it is, further I've been doing it since I played football. If it's a government it's a rule."

The officials had their annual meeting with the players to review control changes and other points of emphasis. The biggest thing being watched is hits upon the quarterback below the knee The horse-collar tackle outside the tackle enclosed seat [i]or[/i] seats also will be more closely enforced. in succession onside kicks, the kicking team must have at least four players upon each side of the ball, not including the kicker. Fans catch a break, too. judges will be limited to 60 secondarys on instant-replay reviews, down from 90 others

GOT HIS piece of work BACK: Linebacker Leon Joe's post with the first team was short-lived as Pro goblet performer Lance Briggs reclaimed his starting position Saturday night.

"[If I didn't win the do job-work back], then I suck," Briggs said. "The best won the piece of work That's the way I would turn the thoughts at it."

FOCUS forward YOUTH: Strong safety Mike Brown worked in individual drills single in the morning, a decision based in succession a few factors. The coaching staff knows what he can do and wants to evaluate more young players, especially second-round pick Danieal Manning.

The plan also is to take it easy onward Brown, who did everything in the evening session, to make secure he remains healthy. Hydration has been an issue for him in the past, and he said he finally has realized he indigences to be smarter on the practice field with an view toward preservation.

Practice time changed: Today's practice has been mov from 3 pm to 7 pm because of the heat.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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