Mirer Not Ready To Panic

Quarterback Rick Mirer isn’t handling the Chicago Bears offense very well, certainly not as well as he’s handling the intense scrutiny of his move to Chicago.

While Mirer, the former Seahawk, perhaps overestimated how difficult it would be to change teams and systems, he came well prepared for the amount of publicity both good and bad he would receive.

And despite his early struggles to learn and lead the Bears offense, he’s shown nary a hint of frustration through the adjustment period.

“I’ve been patient, not everybody else is so patient all the time,” said Mirer, whose progress is being monitored daily, if not on a snap-by-snap basis by some.

“I’ve made progress. There’s definitely a long way to go yet, but we’re getting closer to where we want to be. Sometimes it comes together. Sometimes we’re real close, and it just doesn’t quite look right.”

Mirer is 10 of 17 for 96 yards this preseason.

Switzer gets lesser charge

Barry Switzer was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon, but not the more serious felony of having a loaded revolver in his carry-on baggage at an airport.

Tarrant County prosecutors in Fort Worth, Texas, charged the Dallas Cowboys coach with the Class A misdemeanor for carrying the handgun without a permit. If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Carrying a weapon into an airport is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Morris to get more scrutiny

Prosecutors in Rockwall, Texas, reviewing Bam Morris’ drug case have requested an NFL report that he tested positive for alcohol, which could lead them to revoke his probation.

One condition of the Baltimore running back’s probation following his guilty plea to marijuana possession was that he avoid alcohol. Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow said Thursday he is subpoenaing the league for test results and will review them in a process that could take at least two weeks.

Morris was arrested in Texas in 1996 when police found 6 pounds of marijuana and 1 gram of cocaine in his car. On June 27, 1996, he pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana in an agreement that dropped a charge of cocaine possession.

He was fined $7,000 and sentenced to 200 hours of community service and six years’ probation.

Morris, 24, tested positive for alcohol in January, the NFL said Wednesday.

Brent Jones injures knee

San Francisco 49ers tight end Brent Jones had a small tear in the cartilage of his left knee Thursday after a collision with defensive back Marquez Pope during practice.

“We’re not sure exactly how significant it is at this point,” 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. “The options would be to let it rest and rehab and get him back as quickly as possible or there is a possibility of a scope (arthroscopic surgery).”

Ex-Broncos player loses child

A 9-year-old girl fatally injured in a head-on collision on Interstate 25 near Loveland, Colo., was the daughter of former Denver Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson, authorities said.

Andrea Jackson died Thursday after being removed from life support, said a spokeswoman with Children’s Hospital in Denver.

Jackson, now a football analyst for ESPN, was a linebacker with the Broncos from 1973 until 1986 and was the only player inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame in 1992.