Bears Prepare for Life Without Walter Payton

It’s been 2 1/2 years since the Chicago Bears tasted Super Bowl glory, and Coach Mike Ditka is hungry for another feast.

But there are many questions for the Bears, who have won four straight Central Division titles, as they prepare for their first season in 13 years without Walter Payton, the NFL’s all-time rusher.

“The only unanswered question that bothers me is, ‘Can we win the Super Bowl?’ ” Ditka said. “Nothing else matters.”

The Bears open training camp Friday at Platteville, Wis., and 93 players have been invited to report. The first exhibition game is Aug. 6 against Miami at Soldier Field.

They will spend three weeks in training camp and a week in Goteborg, Sweden, where the Bears play an exhibition contest Aug. 14 against Minnesota.

During the long, hot hours, surrounded by the farms of southwestern Wisconsin, the Bears will prepare for another NFL season with these thoughts in mind:

--Can young tailbacks Neal Anderson and Thomas Sanders fill Payton’s shoes?

--Has quarterback Jim McMahon recovered from his dislocated shoulder?

--Are first-round draft picks, fullback Brad Muster of Stanford and wide receiver Wendell Davis of Louisiana State, ready to make an immediate contribution?

--Will defensive tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry win his battle with the bulge?

--How will the defense play without Wilber Marshall, who signed with Washington, and Todd Bell, who joined Philadelphia?

Even though there still are 12 unsigned veteran free agents, including quarterback Mike Tomczak and wide receiver Willie Gault, competition for roster spots should be fierce.

Offensive tackle Jim Covert said the Bears “somehow . . . got off track last season” when the team lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Redskins.

“But I think we’ve got a great attitude going into camp,” he said.

Ditka says McMahon’s health won’t be a concern.

“If Jim is healthy, he’ll have a fine year,” Ditka said. “I have a feeling this year he’s going to be on the field all the time. I don’t think he’ll be hurt.”

Ditka says the quarterback job belong to McMahon--as long as he’s healthy. Backing him up will be Mike Tomczak, Jim Harbaugh and rookie Jeff Burger--not necessarily in that order.

Backfield coach Johnny Roland says the team will miss Payton’s talent and leadership, but he feels Anderson and Sanders are ready to contribute.

“They’ve got athletic talent, and I think they will continue to make me look pretty smart,” Roland said.

Ditka says rookies Muster and Davis have “a tremendous opportunity” to play a big role this year.

Flaps over Perry’s weight will once again be a regular topic in training camp.

Perry weighed 377 pounds during a mini-camp in May, and Ditka says he must be at or below 320 pounds in order to practice with the rest of the team at training camp.

If Perry weighs more, he will be required to condition on his own until he slims down.