BEARS NOTES: Omiyale takes benching in stride
By TOM MUSICK - Shaw Suburban Media
LAKE FOREST – Bears guard Frank Omiyale envisioned a much smoother transition after he signed a four-year, $11.5 million contract with the team in February.
But six games into his tenure with the Bears, Omiyale was benched last weekend in favor of Josh Beekman at left guard. Beekman is expected to start at left guard once again Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Omiyale admitted Wednesday that his transition from offensive tackle to guard was difficult. He played 10 games at left tackle last season for the Carolina Panthers before the Bears signed him as a free agent.
“I don’t want to say [it was] tough, but it wasn’t easy,” Omiyale said. “That was the job that they put on the table, and I try to do everything I can to fulfill that job. We’ll see how things turn out.”
Mouth guards and justice: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said he would not start wearing a mouth guard despite a helmet-to-helmet hit that caused him to bite his tongue and bleed throughout the Browns game.
“You’ve got to talk a lot,” Cutler said about why he preferred no mouth guard. “I’m not going to pop it in and out whenever we’ve got an audible or something happens. It’s not worth it.”
The NFL issued a $7,500 fine to Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley for his hit on Cutler.
Was justice served to the Bears’ bloodied quarterback?
“No,” Cutler said with a half-smile. “That doesn’t help me out any.”
Bears bits: Wide receiver Devin Hester (ankle) sat out of practice Wednesday, but he said he should be ready to play Sunday against the Cardinals. … In Arizona, receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle) and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (ankle) each missed practice.
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