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Chicago Bears: GM Jerry Angelo would like to find another quality runner to challenge RB Anthony Thomas for carries in the team's backfield, and he has his eyes on supplemental draftee Tony Hollings. Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel called Hollings "a home-run hitter" and is enamored with the converted defensive back. "He definitely has shown ability to be a difference-maker,'' Gabriel told the Chicago Tribune. A spring report from National Football Scouting, Inc., one of two combines NFL teams use to rate prospects, awarded him the second-highest tailback score, ninth overall, in an early projection for the 2004 NFL draft. Dallas, Houston, New England and Tampa Bay have also shown significant interest in Hollings. If the Bears lose out on Hollings, RB Jamal Anderson is a possibility. The team has talked to the agent for former Falcons running back, but is still concerned with the health of his knees.

Miami Dolphins: Patience really is a virtue. Exclusive rights free agent DE Adewale Ogunleye held off signing the one-year tender of $375,000 the team offered him earlier and now he stands to make a little more money with the injury to DE David Bowens. ''His role is certainly magnified sans David Bowens,'' Ogunleye's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told the Miami Herald. "Bowens would be the top backup and be the first guy off the bench for Wally. Without David Bowens, Wally is going to play a lot more this year than they anticipated.'' Ogunleye had 9.5 sacks for the Dolphins last season and Rosenhaus is optimistic negotiations will progress quickly and his client will report to camp in time. ''We have discussed a long-term contract, but that's not likely to happen at this time,'' said Rosenhaus. "In lieu of that, we have discussed a one-year deal. What we're currently hung up on now is incentives. . . . We're tying to reach a happy medium on an incentive package. Hopefully this is a deal that can get done in the next week or two.''

Pittsburgh Steelers: TE Mark Bruener said he is "getting pretty close" to accepting a pay cut that will guarantee that he arrives for the start of training camp July 25. "I plan to be there on the 25th and take part in the run test on the 26th," Bruener told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Most of the terms of Bruener's new deal, which has not been finalized, were unavailable, but the Steelers were hoping to reduce his scheduled $2,050,000 base salary to about $750,000. The Steelers need to create enough cap room to sign their last three draft choices -- S Troy Polamalu, LB Alonzo Jackson and QB Brian St. Pierre. Bruener said the reason he decided to accept a reduced salary was because of his desire to play for a winner. "The opportunity to play for a great team that, in my mind, is a Super Bowl contender," he said. "The opportunity to play with the guys I played with for the past eight years. The city of Pittsburgh is such a great football city."

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