Whigham's hits keep on coming

Veteran Larry Whigham was the starting free safety in practiceWednesday morning.

The Bears benched rookie Bobby Gray for the start of Friday's gameagainst the Jacksonville Jaguars (7 p.m., Ch. 2, 780-AM) to get MikeGreen the time he needs at strong safety before the season begins.With Mike Brown out for the exhibition season with a broken finger onhis right hand, Green has been playing free while Gray has beenimpressive at strong.

Now Green will play the position he is slated for Sept. 8 againstthe Minnesota Vikings, and Whigham will get some more exposure.Surely, Whigham must be the biggest free safety in the league.

Two-hundred and 13 pounds this morning," he said. Everybody thinksI'm so damn big, but I think I just look bigger than I really am."

He certainly hits big. Whigham made a name for himself at thestart of training camp last summer when he laid out receiver D'WayneBates in Platteville, Wis. His second Pro Bowl season was marked withnumerous special-teams highlights. His hit on Friday in St. Louisknocked the helmet clear off Rams running back Lamar Gordon.

Don't look for Whigham to be getting any larger. His club-mandated weight is 215.

The fine is $969 per pound, per day," Whigham said. You makemoney, you don't want to give your employer back his money. Hell no.Then you're damn near working for free out here."

Whigham did not believe any of his teammates tipped the scales tooheavy during the weekly weigh-in.

If they're over, they're pretty dumb fellows," he said.

ON ONE: Rookie guard Terrence Metcalf could have taken the easyout--blaming the crowd noise in the Edward Jones Dome led for histhree false starts on Friday. But Metcalf didn't take that crutch. Hesaid his problems were a mixture of nerves and learning the differentcadences used by backup quarterbacks Chris Chandler and Henry Burris.He was flagged twice with Chandler in and once with Burris.

Offensive coordinator John Shoop can often take an in-your-faceapproach, and Metcalf believes that is what he needed.

He lets you know what you've done wrong," Metcalf said. It doesn'tmatter who it is, he gets on everybody. That's the best thing abouthim. It's not [that] he talks to the rookies one way. He talks toeveryone that way and lets everyone know how he feels.

There's nothing harsh about it. If he came at me soft, I'd go outthere and make the same mistake. What result would he get? I'm goingto go out there and make sure I don't make that same mistake so itwon't be me he is talking to."

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The Bears depart for Decatur early thisafternoon and hope their second adventure there and in Champaign isless criticized, or at least a little smoother. Many players, unawareof the distance between the hotel in Decatur and Memorial Stadium,fumed at the game-day commute. Jauron said no changes in procedureare planned, not even for the hourlong bus ride. The team plans toarrive at the stadium two hours before kickoff.

I think we'll be better," Jauron said. I think the trip will befaster just because we're all better at it and we know exactly whatwe need to get done."

CONGESTION SUGGESTION: Police and team officials noted heavytraffic backups in and around the University Avenue exit fromInterstate 57 before and after the exhibition opener Aug. 10. Thereare two suggested alternates for drivers from Chicago going toFriday's game. The first is exiting on Interstate 74 (north ofUniversity) east and exiting at Lincoln and taking it south toMemorial Stadium. Drivers also can pass University and exitMonticello Road heading east. Turn left (north) on Route 45 andproceed to stadium parking.