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Chicago Bears: RB Anthony Thomas, who was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2001, had a disappointing 2002 and so far there has been little indication this year will be much better. That's because Thomas has carried the ball only nine times this preseason. In an attempt to get QB Kordell Stewart more acclimated to the offense the Bears haven't been focusing on their ground game, which is why Thomas might play the entire first half and possibly log more carries tonight against New England. "No number is too many for me, I just have to go with what the coaches say," Thomas told the Chicago Tribune. "I haven't emphasized [the number of carries], it's all y'all guys [in the media]. It's nothing I was surprised about."

Miami Dolphins: RT Wade Smith, who is in the final year of his contract, has informed the team that unless he gets a new contract in the next month, he isn't going to discuss the issue again until he becomes a free agent. ''I don't want to be thinking about it during the season,'' Wade told the Miami Herald. "I'll probably wait until the third or fourth regular-season game, and after that, that will be it. If [a new contract] doesn't get done by then, it doesn't get done. I have enough stuff going on in my mind preparing for each opponent each week and I don't want to be thinking about a contract or anything like that." Wade also said he's ''a little upset'' a new contract is not yet complete.

New York Giants: With nobody in the organization able to long-snap a football, the Giants claimed rookie Carson Dach off waivers from Chicago, according to the New York Daily News. Ryan Kuehl, who signed as a free agent to alleviate their problems at the position, is out with tendonitis and C Chris Bober, who handled the snaps on field goals and points after touchdowns in place of Kuehl, bruised his ribs last weekend against the Jets. Backup LB Nick Greisen, who was making the snaps on punts, pulled a hamstring last weekend. Dach, who played in one preseason game with the Bears, will handle the Giants' snapping duties in their preseason finale in Baltimore tomorrow night.

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