"The thing hes got

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Bulls Taj Gibson Jersey . -- Chester Taylor was back practicing with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday, and he took the blame for a misunderstanding that left him thinking he had been cut. The veteran running backs mea culpa is the latest twist in an odd saga that is widely expected to end with the team parting with him. It hasnt happened yet, though. Taylor left Halas Hall on Monday after meeting with coach Lovie Smith under the impression that he was no longer in the teams plans. Yet there he was Tuesday. "I just took the words the wrong way," Taylor said, referring to his conversation with Smith. "It was just a mistake." Either way, he still appears to be on the outside looking in at running back. Taylor did not play in last weeks pre-season game at Tennessee. Instead, the Bears went with Kahlil Bell as the third running back behind Matt Forte and Marion Barber and Taylor just watched. That did not sit well with Taylor and he made that clear to reporters after the game. On Tuesday, he reiterated he was disappointed but added he would like to remain in Chicago. "Of course I want to play," he said. "Im always disappointed when Im not playing but I understand the decisions they make and Ive just got to deal with it." As for his status with the Bears, he said, "I dont want to be released. I like it here in Chicago. Im going to continue playing and see what happens." Offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz said he "absolutely" expects Taylor to play against Cleveland in the final pre-season game on Thursday. How much remains to be seen. Smith had little to say about Taylor on Tuesday, other than, "Hes one of the guys in the mix, just like everybody else." The Bears could also be trying to salvage a trade involving Taylor, who was brought in to push Forte last season. Instead, he struggled in a big way, running for just 267 yards while averaging a career-low 2.4 per carry. That clearly wasnt what Chicago had in mind when it signed him in 2010 to a four-year, US$12.5 million contract with $7 million guaranteed. That same day, the Bears landed the big free agent prize in Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers along with big blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. Peppers delivered as expected as Chicago won the NFC North at 11-5 and advanced all the way to the conference championship game. The other two, however, came up short. Manumaleuna got released last month, and if there was any doubt Taylor was on shaky ground, that got washed away when Barber signed a two-year deal after his release by Dallas. Plus, Bell is a special teams contributor and hes leading the team with 131 yards rushing on 28 attempts this preseason. "I feel like Ive done the things necessary to prepare myself to be successful when I get an opportunity," he said. "So Im here, and Im still loving it, and when I get a shot, hopefully I can produce." For Taylor, getting released sooner rather than later might make it easier for him to latch on elsewhere. To that, he responded, "I dont know, Im here right now so I cant be released sooner." As for all the recent drama, he said hes moved past that. "Yeah, Im out here practicing, trying to still get better," Taylor said. "Im out here, so its behind me right now. Im just focused on the game." Notes: While Martz said QB Jay Cutler probably wont play Thursday, the head coach was noncommittal. The tight-lipped Smith said he has made a decision but would not reveal it, asking, "How long have we been together?" Martz was more forthcoming, saying, "Probably not. Hes right now playing very, very well. His last two games were exceptional games, so Im very pleased with where he is. The line has really made terrific progress. So were happy. If we felt like we needed the work, certainly, we would do that. But at this point, I dont see the need, and Ive talked to Lovie about that." ... DT Anthony Adams (calf) expects to start practicing next week and be ready for the season opener against Atlanta on Sept. 11. DE Corey Wootton (right knee) hopes to be ready for the Falcons game, although he hasnt practiced since the preseason opener against Buffalo. He was injured covering the opening kickoff against the Bills and underwent arthroscopic surgery. ... Asked about former Bears DE Alex Brown getting released by New Orleans on Tuesday, Smith called him a "lifetime friend." Could Chicago be a fit for Brown? "Weve seen Alex. Alex has been here before. We like our guys we have right now." Bulls Pau Gasol Red Jersey . A report posted on the Denver Posts website Monday night says Roys younger brother, Stephane Roy, leaked the impending announcement. Bulls Pau Gasol Jersey . Komisarek has one-year and $3.5 million remaining on his five-year, $22.5 million contract, with a cap hit of $4.5 million. The 31-year-old defenceman was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Leafs in 2009 and played parts of four seasons with the club. http://www.bullsofficailonline.com/ . As many as 15 teams were in the mix for the 24-year-olds services. Miller played four seasons in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, accumulating 42 goals and 114 assists in 141 games.BALTIMORE -- Jake Arrieta couldnt get his mind right on the mound and had difficulty throwing pitches over the plate, and now the Baltimore Orioles right-hander will attempt to rectify those shortcomings in the minor leagues. Arrieta was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, one day after he walked five and hit a batter over four-plus innings in a 7-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baltimore recalled right-hander Alex Burnett from Norfolk to fill out a weary bullpen. Burnett was claimed off waivers from Toronto on April 12. Although Arrieta gave up only two hits against the Dodgers, he was charged with five runs and needed 91 pitches to get 12 outs. The 27-year-old Arrieta is 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA in four starts and has walked 16 in 19 innings. "I just wasnt doing my job well enough. Thats the bottom line," he said before clearing out his locker. "The team needs me to be better." Arrietas discussion with manager Buck Showalter on Monday centred upon the pitcher getting his mind right. "We talked about high anxiety situations and he pretty much asked me, Why do you have high anxiety in any situation with the stuff you have?" Arrieta said. "Basically, I told him that I just want to be wwhat my team needs me to be. http://www.bullsofficailonline.com/. Sometimes I create the anxiety for myself. So I just need to limit that." Arrieta retired the first six batters he faced Sunday, but it all came apart after that. "I let previous instances creep up in my thought process sometimes," he said. "I think thats where things go awry and thats where the walks come in. Im not giving up many hits, just putting them on base for free. Ive just got to command the ball better in the strike zone. Thats pretty much it." Showalter said, "The thing hes got to solve is the mental side of it. He knows he can help this club win. We know he can." The Orioles played a doubleheader Saturday and got only four innings from Arrieta on Sunday, so the bullpen needed another arm. To make room for Burnett, Arrieta had to go. "Hes being sent out because we need a pitcher in the bullpen," Showalter insisted. "We needed an arm." Burnett was 4-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 67 appearances with Minnesota in 2012. He had three scoreless appearances for the Tides this season. "Its been going well, and Ive been pitching pretty good," Burnett said. "Im happy with the way things are going right now." ' ' '