Unfortunately for the Bears, Brown has missed 43 of 64 regular-season games over the previous four years with a ruptured Achilles in 2004 (14 games), a strained calf in '05 (four games), a torn foot tendon in '06 (10 games) and a torn ACL in his right knee last season (15 games). Maybe because he has already spent so many months being injured and rehabbing, Brown doesn't waste a lot of time feeling sorry for himself these days.

"There are a whole bunch of sayings," Brown said. "Something like 'You have to cry before you can smile,' and things like that. It's just part of life. It's football, and I love to play, but in the grand scheme of life, it's not really that big of a deal. I still have my health, my kids are healthy; my wife is healthy. Football is a big part of my life, but I realize it is just a game."

Brown won't dwell on it now, but the heartache of being away from the game has been difficult for the emotional mastermind of the secondary to hide. In an interview the day before his teammates faced the Colts in Super Bowl XLI, Brown was moved to tears while discussing how much he missed being part of the action.

Now at 30, the former second-round pick from Nebraska knows time is running out. He's back in the starting lineup, and he'll stay there as long as he's healthy. If it's true that luck evens out, Brown is due to have a stretch of good health similar to his first four years when he played in all 64 games and started 63 of them.

"I go day-by-day," he said. "Right now I'm healthy, but with my past and everything, who knows how long that's going to last. Hopefully it's the whole season. I'm planning on it being the whole season. I'm preparing to play the whole season. That's all I can do. But some things are out of your control. I come out here every day, and I feel blessed to be able to come out here with this team again. I'm just having fun with it."

History shows that the Bears have more fun when Brown is on the field. In the 21 games that he's started the past four seasons, the Bears are 16-5, a winning percentage of 76.2. Without Brown, the Bears are 20-23 since 2004, a winning percentage of 46.5.

"We're definitely a better team with him out there because of all the leadership qualities he brings," said fifth-year cornerback Nate Vasher. "We have to step our game up and play up to his standards. Even as a rookie, I knew when I got into the huddle with guys the caliber of Mike Brown and Brian Urlacher, that I had to play better. He holds us all accountable. He's very vocal; there are no secrets out there with our defense, and we know exactly what's going on, so we're confident."

It's the feeling a defense gets when it has its heart and soul.

CAMP CALENDAR: Players reported to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais on July 22, and the first practice was at 3 p.m. on July 23. Camp concludes with a 3 p.m. practice on Aug. 14.

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