PLATTEVILLE, Wis. Shane Matthews' job isn't easy these days-working his way into playing shape, honing his proficiency at runningthe Bears' offense and keeping up with trade rumors.
But he has help.
"My buddies are always on the Internet, kind of giving me updateson what's going on," Matthews said. "I had somebody call me yesterdayabout me going to Cleveland. They saw (ESPN's) John Clayton sayingsomething about that.
"But it's out of my control. There's nothing I can do about that."
That helpless feeling is one Matthews is getting used to. A yearago he was the Bears' starting quarterback, about to establishhimself in the NFL. He threw eight touchdown passes and threeinterceptions in leading the Bears to a 3-2 record before a hamstringinjury short-circuited his season.
Today he's the third-string quarterback, falling further behindstarter Cade McNown with each day. He knows he has a better chance ofplaying in Cleveland, Tampa or somewhere other than Chicago. He mightbe the only player in the league who hopes the No. 4 guy beats himout.
"It's very awkward," said Matthews, 30, a six-year veteran. "Idon't even know how to approach it. You want to go out and play wellevery time you can. But, realistically, if I'm here, there's a chanceI won't play a down."
Matthews, a Pascagoula, Miss., native, has an easy-going Southerndemeanor that masks an intense pride. "I've proven I can play in thisleague," he said. His chances of doing that this year are slim, andthat's not an easy thing for him to take.
"It's difficult," he said. "But I've been through so much in myfootball career, and I've been screwed every way possible. I know thebig picture: Cade's the guy and they chose Jim to be the backup, andif I'm the third guy, I can live with it. If not, maybe I can gosomewhere else and play."
Maybe. Maybe not. There have been rumors of trade offers forMatthews, offers that might seem more enticing with the developmentof No. 4 quarterback Mark Hartsell. "We're hearing rumbling, but it'sjust rumbling until I hear something concrete," said Steve Mandell,Matthews' new agent. "I wouldn't be surprised if some teams show someinterest."
If something's up, Bears vice president of player personnel MarkHatley isn't saying.
"We've got four quarterbacks, and we'll narrow it down to three,"Hatley said. "We've worked real hard to get our depth (atquarterback) to where it is, and we feel good about that position.
"I don't want to get into the trade possibilities. He's going tobe here. We plan on him being here and playing and helping us win."
Matthews is not asking for a trade, though in the offseason heasked the Bears to let him out of his contract, to no avail.
"I thought if they were going to go with (McNown and Miller) maybethey could let me move on with my career," he said. "They decided notto do that."
It was too good of a deal for the Bears. A right-of-first-refusalin Matthews' contract last year effectively chilled other teams'interest in him. He signed with the Bears for $500,000, with $1million in incentives based on playing time and performance.
"It's an unbelievable luxury," quarterbacks coach John Shoop said.
"We're extremely glad we've got him," Hatley said. "It would beinteresting to see if anybody else in the league has got (as good aNo. 3 quarterback) because I don't think they do. Shane's done a lotof good things. We can win with him."
Matthews has been the ultimate good soldier, working with theother quarterbacks on the nuances of the Bears' offense.
"Shane's been nothing but great to me," Hartsell said. "He's beenmore than helpful."
"He's been a big plus for Cade," Hatley said. "I'm sure if youtalked to Cade, he'd say the same thing."
All Matthews can do is continue to play well and hope for thebest. He knows three quarterbacks played extensively for the Bearslast year. There are no other options.
"It's not like I can play poorly so they can get me out of here,"Matthews said. "You can't do that because any time you step on thatfield, you're auditioning for the entire league.
"I could throw fits and cuss and scream and moan and groan abouteverything, but it's only going to make matters worse. I guess if Idid that, maybe they would run me out of here. But that's just not mypersonality. That's not how I was brought up."
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