LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears already were a bit antsy, ready to get through this week and begin their NFC title defense. And that was before Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs left the scene after crashing his new Lamborghini along a highway early Monday morning.
Suddenly, a shortened week felt like a long one.
"We can replace the car," wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "But the most important things are taken care of, that Lance is OK and he'll be on the field."
Briggs abandoned his Lamborghini along the Edens Expressway on Chicago's North Side after crashing into a light pole and concrete bridge support. He said he then panicked, calling a towing company and initially reporting the vehicle stolen before admitting he was behind the wheel. Illinois State Police, however, said they have no records of Briggs reporting a theft.
He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor, and was given two traffic citations. He has an Oct. 4 court date and faces up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for leaving the scene.
Briggs did not say where he had been during a brief address to reporters following Tuesday's practice and answered only one question.
With the attention on Briggs, the focus shifted away from quarterback Rex Grossman and other issues, such as defensive tackle Tommie Harris' status and a running game that seems stuck in neutral.
Coach Lovie Smith said Harris should play after missing the first three preseason games while recuperating from a season-ending hamstring injury.
"He's ready to go," Smith said.
The Bears (3-0) would like the running game, averaging 2.8 yards per carry, to get going, although Smith isn't too concerned. One reason is Cedric Benson, who has 80 yards on 34 attempts, tends to wear down defenses over the course of a game with his bruising style, and starters' snaps are limited during the preseason.
"If you have a physical running game, it may go a while without getting big numbers," Smith said. "But eventually, it'll happen."
And then there's Grossman.
After botching two snaps and fumbling three times in all against Indianapolis, he showed his good and bad sides in Saturday's 31-28 win over San Francisco.
The good: Grossman completed 13 of 20 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Bears grabbed a 31-13 lead.
The bad: another botched exchange with center Olin Kreutz and an interception returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
While fans have debated whether Grossman or Brian Griese should start, a switch probably won't happen anytime soon.
In Cleveland, it might.
Brady Quinn's time will come, but it won't be on Thursday night.
While it's unclear who will start the opener against Pittsburgh, coach Romeo Crennel said Charlie Frye will get the call on Thursday. Derek Anderson will follow him, and Quinn will go third.
"We're going week to week and that could be the same for every position," Crennel said. "I know the position is an important position because he's 'the leader of the offense' and Charlie has been that. But he understands the competition of this game. He understands that you have to prove yourself every day and every week. He's up for the challenge."
It's a challenge that Quinn figures to win at some point. After slipping to No. 22 in the draft, the former Notre Dame star said he's ready to make an immediate impact. He has backed that up in the preseason after missing the first 12 days of training camp in a holdout, going 20-of-31 for 236 yards. He has three touchdowns and no interceptions.
"I feel that I would love to be under center and play, or start, in the opener," Quinn said. "But again, that is not my decision."
The Browns (2-1) have other issues besides settling on a No. 1 quarterback.
Two-time Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley went on the physically unable to perform list to give his surgically repaired knee more time to heal. And cornerback Gary Baxter, trying to come back after tearing both patellar tendons on the same play last season, lashed out at reports saying he had a setback after he missed practice last week.
Left guard Eric Steinbach, the Browns' top free-agent signing during the offseason, will miss his fourth preseason game with a sprained right knee, but expects to be ready for the season opener. Right tackle Kevin Shaffer (concussion) is doubtful.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
