Starters could play to the half

In the past, Bears head coach Lovie Smith has usually opened the preseason by limiting his starters to about one quarter of action, but a new offense might lead to a new approach.

"We could let some of the guys go a little bit longer than we normally do," said Smith of Saturday's game in San Diego.  "Maybe to the half or something like that."

The Bears practiced in shorts and shells Thursday on a 97 degree day in Bourbonnais.

REMEMBERING RIVERA

Saturday's game against the Chargers will be the first time the Bears have faced Ron Rivera since he became the defensive coordinator in San Diego.

For a variety of different reasons, the Bears defense has not been the same since Rivera was forced to leave the team after Super Bowl XLI.

Rivera was the Bears defense coordinator from 2004-2006.  He is still close to many of his former players on the Bears.

"I talk to [Rivera] a couple times a year. We have great conversations. We talk about football. We talk about life and family," said linebacker Lance Briggs. "Chico's a great coach. [It's] still puzzling why he's not a head coach in the NFL yet."

Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer shares a special bond with his former defensive coordinator.

"We had sort of a unique relationship because I played SAM and he played SAM in the same defense, sort of a generation before," he said. "I feel like he kind of had a similar career to mine in that he was never the superstar and he was always a guy that just kind of showed up and tried to do their best."

THE INTERCEPTOR

Former Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher is now a Charger, but his contributions in Chicago will not be forgotten by his former teammate, Charles Tillman.

"We had some good times. We had some great games. I thought we were a pretty good tandem," said Tillman. "I thought he had a great career here. I think he got a bad rap. People said once he got his contract he didn't work as hard. I didn't find that comment true. When he got his contract, he ended up getting hurt and he tried to play hurt and then in return, it kind of made him look like he didn't know what he was doing."

Chargers head coach Norv Turner said Vasher has had an "outstanding" camp in San Diego.

LOVIE LINE OF THE DAY

Smith was asked whether he would sport a mohawk hairstyle like his linebackers are.

"You've got to have hair to have a mohawk, right? I'm long past mohawk" he joked.

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