Not long after taking over starting quarterback duties for the Chicago Bears, Chad Hutchinson has been cut from the Bears roster. Hutchinson, demoted on Sunday to fourth string after two shaky outings as the Chicago Bears' starter, was cut Tuesday, two days before the final preseason game. Hutchinson was 5-for-8 for 40 yards with two interceptions and three sacks against the Colts in his first start. Hutchinson was given the starting spot after Rex Grossman broke his ankle Aug. 12.

Chicago Bears top pick Cedric Benson has finally agreed to a five-year contract, the team said. The running back is the final first-round pick in this year's draft to agree to a contract. He is expected to sign a deal worth about $35 million with between $17 million and $17.5 million guaranteed. Benson missed four exhibition games and three weeks of training camp. The Bears play their final exhibition game on Thursday against the Cleveland Browns. His contract talks had stalled over his insistence that he be paid in line with the salary of last year's No. 4 overall draft pick.

The Chicago Bears No. 4 draft pick Cedric Benson left Chicago after a talk with Bears? general manager Jerry Angelo on Thursday without making any progress. His agent, Eugene Parker, spoke with contract negotiator Cliff Stein on Friday, their discussions were of no substance and no progress was made in bringing the only remaining unsigned first-round pick to terms on Day 34 of the impasse. It's at least a positive that they spoke. Before Thursday, Parker and the team had gone 11 days without communicating.

After making a quick stop to the Bears camp Thursday that resulted in a face-to-face with general manager Jerry Angelo, there is little progress to report concerning Cedric Benson?s holdout. "Cedric was in town anyway and it just provided the two sides a chance to eyeball each other, that's all," Parker said. "That's about all there is to say about it." The Bears first-round pick is now on day 33 of his holdout with little progress made. The Bears have offered Benson a five-year contract and there are indications the proposal includes about $17.5 million in guarantees. Angelo said last week the Bears have already made their best offer and might begin to take money off the table given what he termed Benson's "considerable loss of value." It is not known if Chicago officials have followed through with that threat.

Rex Grossman, otherwise known as the three-time ex-starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears, is not on the active roster. He is injured ? again. He is a going to be a non-factor this season. He might as well be a ghost, phantom, specter, poltergeist, banshee, whatever. Chad Hutchinson will take over the reigns of an offense that many think will stumble, bumble, and crumble without their unproven leader. One thing is for sure, and that is a great running attack can offset some troubles that are in the passing game. The current starting tailback, Thomas Jones, is a good running back. He is a good runner, a good pass catching back, and a good blocker. But, with the situation behind the center, the Bears need to be great at running back. That chance lies with Cedric Benson, their unsigned fourth pick in the NFL draft.

Upset and frustrated that running back Cedric Benson is still a holdout and the only first-round draft pick without a contract agreement, the Chicago Bears have made their final offer to the No. 4 pick. "After missing all of training camp, we want to make it abundantly clear that the Chicago Bears have made their best and final offer to Cedric Benson," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement released by the team. "No dollars are left on the bargaining table and at this point the only contract discussions that will be entertained will be reflective of the considerable loss of value to the club created by the players' extended absence," the statement said.

The Chicago Bears are leaning toward placing quarterback Rex Grossman on the IR after his surgery to repair a broken left ankle while also receiving work on his fibula. The move would keep Grossman out the entire 2005 season. "We're talking about that, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself until I hear from the doctors," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "I told Rex this. I said, 'Rex, we're going to do everything we can to make sure you continue your progress with us.' But our first priority is what's in the best interest of our team. He understands that's the position we're going to take."

With Chad Hutchinson taking snaps as the Chicago Bears new #1 quarterback after Rex Grossman broke his left ankle over the weekend, the Bears signed Jeff Blake to a one-year contract worth $750,000. Coach Lovie Smith relayed that Blake will compete with Kurt Kittner for the third-string QB job. "Chad's our starter; it's as simple as that," Smith said. "But you need three quarterbacks. Chad isn't looking over his shoulder. He's our guy. And we can't wait to see him lead us."

When a football team goes four starting quarterbacks over the course of a 16 game season, then there is a problem. Now with Grossman out for 2005, the Bears turn to backups Hutchinson, Orton, Kittner and Dinwiddie to steer the Chicago ship in the right direction. CHAD HUTCHINSON: Originally slated to begin the season as the number two quarterback on the depth chart. He led the Bears in TD passes last year with four. Hutchinson looked more than adequate in leading the offense at the end of last year, and would have done better if it weren?t for a horrendous offensive line that gave him no time to throw. Hutchinson has a very strong arm that is quite accurate. KYLE ORTON: The rookie will most likely make the team as the third quarterback. Threw for 31 TD?s vs. only 5 INT?s as a senior at Purdue last year. Known for his very strong arm, Orton may have a future with this team and with Grossman down becomes the #2 QB. KURT KITTNER: Playing this past season in NFL Europe, Kittner lead Amsterdam to the Europe World Title. Played under Ron Turner at the University of Illinois. He has to really open some eyes with spectacular play if he wants to make this team. RYAN DINWIDDIE: Gained some experience last season with the Hamburg Sea Devils NFLEL. Like Kittner, Dinwiddie doesn?t have much of a chance to make the team.

Rex Grossman, who played only three games last season before being derailed by a ruptured right knee ligament, will be out three to four months after breaking his left ankle early in the second quarter of Friday night's 17-13 preseason loss to the St. Louis Rams "I'm hurt and I'm going to get better," Grossman said. "That's the only thing I can do, so that's all I'm focusing on is getting healthy again and going from there. "All I can do is be positive and know that I've got another tough challenge in front of me. I feel like I've been through hell and I'm going to come out of it and good things are going to happen."