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Chicago Bears: Coach Lovie Smith wants a quick, active and attacking team, and those attributes aren't normally found in people who are losing the battle of the bulge. So Smith laid down the law in his most pointed comments since becoming the franchise's front man. "There will be no fat guys on our team," Smith told the Chicago Tribune. "You watch our practice and you'll see why. You can't make it through without being lean and able to run." Smith already has asked 272-pound DE Alex Brown to lose weight and gain quickness necessary to play his aggressive, gap-control system.

Denver Broncos: The chances of LB Al Wilson being designated as the team's franchise player increased Thursday. The Broncos will tag Wilson by Tuesday's deadline because talks for a long-term contract have gone nowhere. "At this point, based on where we are today and what I've gotten back from them now, that's the only direction I have to go," GM Ted Sundquist told the Rocky Mountain News. The franchise tag would pay Wilson $5,834,000 on a one-year contract. Sundquist, who is negotiating for the team, said the team has "pretty much" reached the financial ceiling on any offer to Wilson.

Miami Dolphins: CBs Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain are one of the best tandems in the league, but they may not be together come next year. Gene Burrough, Madison's agent, said he expects Miami to release his client if he and the team are unable to work out a new contract. ''It's understood that if you don't get it done, they're not going to keep him, that's a fact,'' Burrough, who met with the Dolphins late Thursday night, told the Miami Herald. "They can't afford to pay any player more than $8 million against the salary cap. That's 10 percent of your cap on one guy.'' Although Madison isn't gone yet the Dolphins have contacted the agents for at least two prominent cornerbacks who will be free agents.

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