Brian Urlacher is tired of hearing people fawn over the Packers and Lions. "It's perfect, and just the way we like it," Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune. "If you look at what we did last year before Jay (Cutler) got hurt, we won five in a row. When Jay went down, you saw what happened after that. When we're healthy, I don't see a better team in the NFC North. "Last year, Green Bay and Detroit were in the playoffs, so they should be talking about them. I don't know if they got any better in the offseason, but I know we got better."

Asked about his contract situation with the Bears on Friday, Matt Forte admitted that he'll likely be playing for the team in 2012. "I don't think I really have a choice, do I?" he said. "Yeah, I'll be here." Most believe he'll be in training camp, but the exact date he'll report remains to be seen. It's going to be a fun season," he said. If the running back signs the franchise tender, Forte will make $7.749 million this season. Forte and the Bears have until July 16 to agree on a multiyear deal.

Brian Urlacher says that his injured left knee feels good and he plans to be on the practice field when training camp opens July 26. The Bears linebacker also acknowledged there may be only "2-3 years" left on what many consider a Hall of Fame career. Urlacher, 34, is preparing to enter his 13th season. He believes this Bears team gives him the best chance for his first Super Bowl victory. "My back feels great, my neck feels good, my muscles aren't pulling anymore, so that's good," Urlacher said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "Everything feels pretty good right now. "I always say (I want to keep playing) two to three more years. It all depends on how I play on the field, because if I don't play good enough, nobody is going to want me. But if I keep playing well and at a high level, then two to three more years at least, I think."

Lance Briggs expects big things in Chicago this season. The Pro Bowl linebacker said it "definitely could be" the best team he's played on after sweeping changes during the offseason. They believe they are a contender, that they're right there with Green Bay and Detroit in the NFC North. "We've been doing that ever since Lovie (Smith) became the head coach," Briggs said. "It was to never forget the ultimate goal."

Brandon Marshall says he has been relying on his natural abilities during his NFL career. "To be honest, (when I arrived in Miami) I was like, 'You know, I need some coaching. Right now, I'm coming off my natural ability.' ... I haven't had a good coach, as far as that receiving position, since I've been in the NFL," the Bears wide receiver said. "As far as technique and someone who understands the game, the last time I had a good receiving coach was DJ McCarthy in college."

Matt Forte is awaiting a long-term contract from the Bears and has hinted he'll hold out if he doesn't receive one. Teammate Jay Cutler recently touched on the running back's contract talks in an interview, something Forte didn't appreciate. Cutler said he "would be shocked if [Forte] doesn't sign his tender by July 15, or whenever it is, and show up." "I don't know, it depends on how we're doing in the negotiations," Forte said when asked if he would sign and be in camp on time. "But it kind of looks bad when other people speak for you. [Cutler] doesn't really know what's going to happen. He's not in the negotiations. He's just being optimistic. He wants me there, I want to be there. But it's just a matter of what happens in the next couple of weeks."

Bears running back Matt Forte said Friday he might hold out of training camp but is optimistic about his ongoing talks with the team. "Me and my agent are talking to the Bears," Forte said. "So talks continue to go on. I'm really optimistic about that part -- we continue to talk."

Almost a week after Nathan Enderle was cut by the Bears, the second-year QB has signed a deal with the Jaguars, and he is expected to compete for a roster spot with fellow QB's Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne and Jordan Palmer, according to an ESPN.com report on Thursday.

Before the Bears came anywhere close to finalizing plans for a refurbished Soldier Field, plans were in the works to build a new domed stadium to the south of the stadium. The project, discussed in 1996, was called McDome because it was to be located next to McCormick Place, a convention center. One sports-based consulting expert says such a stadium would have brought multiple Super Bowls to the city by now. Marc Ganis, president of SportsCorp Ltd., told the Chicago Tribune that politics got in the way of a domed stadium. "Had Chicago and Illinois built the McDome (in 1996), the original domed stadium planned for next to McCormick Place, I suspect we would have had at least two Super Bowls already," Ganis said. "It was extremely short-sighted; it was extremely narrow focus. ... It would have cost (less than what it eventually) cost simply to upgrade Soldier Field. It would have been a terrific financial and tourism boost for the city."

The Bears signed T Cory Brandon and CB Cornelius Brown on Friday. Brandon entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers out of Oklahoma in 2011. The 6-7, 324-pound OL spent the 2011 preseason with the Buccaneers appearing in all four preseason contests as a reserve tackle but was waived on September 3. Brown originally joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2010 out of the U. of Texas-El Paso. He was waived by the Bears after the 2010 preseason and signed to the Colts practice squad. The 5-11, 198-pound CB was elevated to the Colts active roster in November of the 2010 season and appeared in 10 games with 16 tackles.