[CBFF] Another Bears DB on IR

[Tim Lovell]

So, it's now which Top 10 pick do we get in next year's draft - with hopefully an eye on Brian Brohm! ;-)

Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com> wrote:  It's so ridiculous at this point you almost have to start and laugh.

Jerry

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Monday, October 1, 2007
Bears reserve DB Payne out for season with torn ACL
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The rash of injuries that left the Chicago Bears without a single 
starter in their secondary during Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions has 
now claimed one of the ailing unit's top reserves as well.

Rookie safety Kevin Payne, who started his first regular-season game on 
Sunday but was forced from the contest in the second quarter, has been 
placed on the injured reserve list with a broken right arm. The move 
ends Payne's season after only three appearances. He joins veteran Mike 
Brown, who opened the year as the starting free safety, on injured reserve.

Brown suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the season opener.

Chicago may promote rookie safety Josh Gattis from the practice squad 
but could also consider going outside the organization to sign a free agent.

Payne, 23, is a promising young player who figures prominently into the 
Bears' plans for the future. A fifth-round draft choice from 
Louisiana-Monroe and the 167th player chosen overall, Payne had two 
tackles in the three games in which he played.

The Bears feel that Payne, who signed a four-year, $1.815 million 
contract this spring, possesses prototype safety skills, and that he 
will be a starter in the future. The plan was for Payne to primarily 
contribute this season on special teams before challenging for 
significant playing time from scrimmage, but his role was increased as 
injuries mounted.

In his two college seasons at safety, Payne started in 20 of 24 
appearances and had 185 tackles, seven tackles for losses, six 
interceptions, four passes defensed, one sack, three forced fumbles and 
two fumble recoveries. Payne began his career as a tailback and actually 
played there and as a slot receiver his first two college seasons. He 
rushed for 1,234 yards and eight touchdowns and had 54 catches for 607 
yards and four touchdowns, appearing in 22 games on offense.

Payne has excellent physical dimensions (6 feet, 220 pounds) for the 
safety spot and good flexibility. At the combine workouts, he was 
clocked at just 4.60 in the 40-yard dash but then ran in the high 4.4s 
during campus auditions.

The Bears play at Green Bay next Sunday and hope that some of their 
starting secondary players are back for the contest against the 
pass-oriented Packers offense. The status of cornerbacks Charles Tillman 
(ankle) and Nathan Vasher (groin) and strong safety Adam Archuleta 
(hand) won't be known until later this week.

Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

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