"It's important for me to play like a No. 1 receiver," Hester said. "That's my biggest goal. I feel like I have the ability to play as a No. 1 receiver, and I'm feeling real good and confident. Kyle (Orton) is coming out here throwing great passes and organizing the receivers and putting them in the right spots. That's what it's all about, being on the same page as the quarterback."

Asked if Hester could be a go-to guy in the passing game, coach Lovie Smith seemed comfortable with the idea.

"You talked to Devin, right?" Smith said. "What did he tell you? He told you he was the No. 1 receiver, right? He definitely has No. 1 receiver-type ability. At the end of (last) year, Devin was definitely playing like a No. 1 receiver and I'm excited about this second year of him being a full-time wide receiver."

In his last six games last season, Hester caught 25 passes for 347 yards. At that pace over 16 games, he'd have 67 receptions for 925 yards.

--Considering offensive left tackle Chris Williams had back surgery before the preseason even started last year and then sat, watched and rehabbed for seven games before making his NFL debut, it might have seemed like his rookie season lasted forever.

But the first-round pick who is being given the starting job to lose, keeps it in perspective while putting it in the past.

"It wasn't as long for me as it was for (rookie running back) Matt (Forte), who played like 20 games," Williams said. "But still it was a long year mentally because of going through the surgery and all that. It was a lot all in one year, but I'm ready to roll now."

Williams was asked if he had any lingering health problems.

"No, there's nothing wrong," he said. "You want to examine me or something?"

--Unrestricted free agent offensive lineman John St. Clair, who started 16 games at left tackle for the Bears last season, signed a three-year, $9 million deal with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday about the same time the Bears were coming off the practice field at Halas Hall.

The Bears, whose mediocre offensive line has already been weakened by the retirement of right tackle John Tait last week, wanted St. Clair back. They currently have just three tackles on their roster with a combined total of one start in the NFL.

The one start belongs to Frank Omiyale, who was signed early in free agency, but he was working with the second team at left guard Tuesday. Chris Williams, last year's first-round pick, is penciled in at left tackle, so that left Cody Balogh at right tackle on Tuesday. Balogh was undrafted last year and spent the season on the Bears' practice squad.

After Tuesday's minicamp practice, the first of the three-day session, Bears coach Lovie Smith addressed the right tackle position before news reached Halas Hall of St. Clair's signing.

"We would like to sign John, like we've said all along," Smith said. "We hope we can get that done. But we have some options in case John isn't a part of our plans this year."

One option is moving Omiyale to tackle, where he is more comfortable. Another is drafting another tackle early in the draft and signing one of the leftover free agents still on the market.

"It's still the off-season," Smith said. "We keep all options open at all times. We like our group of offensive linemen that we have now. But adding another guy would just make us stronger."

On Wednesday Omiyale was moved to first-team right tackle.

--G.M. Jerry Angelo has hinted that former Pro Bowl corner back Nate Vasher has to be more productive than he has in the past two injury-riddled seasons to regain his starting job from Corey Graham.

Vasher understands the challenge.

"Rightfully so," he said. "I think it's more or less, 'What have you done lately?' You have to go out and prove yourself every year and be able to contribute to the team. It's definitely a privilege to be in the NFL and to play on any roster. I'm going to have an opportunity to come out and fly around before the draft so the coaches can evaluate and see exactly what direction we're going to head."

Vasher missed eight games last season with hand injuries, and 12 in '07 with a torn groin muscle. But he says he can regain the form he flashed in his first two seasons (2004-05), when he had 13 interceptions and played all 32 games.

"I feel great now," he said.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's rumors every single year, whether it's (Jay Cutler) or somebody else. I'm happy with where I'm at. I think the organization is behind me, and I know my teammates are, so that's really all that matters to me. I'm real proud with what I've done early in my career, and I feel like I'm going to be a good quarterback in this league for a long time, so I don't think I have that much stuff to worry about." -- Bears QB Kyle Orton on the Jay Cutler-to-the Bears rumors.