NFL Notes: Bears, Chiefs, Dolphins, Saints, & Seahawks

Bears

• Former first-round pick Shea McClellin opened training camp as the team’s starting strong-side linebacker. (Rich Campbell)
• Rookie Brock Vereen opened as one of the Bears first-team safeties. (Rich Campbell)
• Rookie QB David Fales had some “rough throws” during practice and exhibited “below average” arm strength. (Brad Biggs)

Chiefs

HC Andy Reid told reporters on Friday that he doesn’t anticipate using RB Jamaal Charles any less this season than he did in 2013.

“I think he’s got a lot in the tank,” Reid said, via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. “We’re going to keep using him. He’s a good football player and he enjoys playing the game, so we’ll keep getting him the football.“

Charles, 27, played a staggering 87.4 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and ran for 1,287 yards on 259 carries (5 YPC) while contributing another 693 yards receiving on 70 receptions, and scoring 19 touchdowns for Kansas City last season.

Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 running back in the league last year.

Dolphins

Owner Stephen Ross was asked Friday about the speculation that HC Joe Philbin would have to make the playoffs in order to save his job.

“I’m expecting Joe Philbin to be here a long time but every year you want to see improvement,” Ross responded, per Armando Salguero.

Saints

Saints QB Drew Brees told reporters on Friday that he hopes to play another ten years in the NFL.

“No doubt. There’s no question,” Brees said, per Albert Breer. “I’m not getting ahead myself, like it’s a pipe dream, at 45. I understand the challenges that come along with that. But why not? If I can stay healthy, and I’m having fun and playing at a high level, why wouldn’t I wanna do that? The biggest challenge is physically, the maintenance, the recovery, the way you train. You gotta hope that you stay healthy, but why not?“

Brees said that he draws motivation from trying to win and outplaying younger quarterbacks.

“If everything you do, you’re trying to win at, and you’re pissed if you don’t, it becomes your nature,” Brees said. “It is my nature. It’s hard for me not to do that. And that’s what motivates you, and gets you going. I mean, I’m 10 years older than all those quarterbacks, and I’m thinking, ‘Am I gonna let this young punk beat me? I’m not gonna let this young punk beat me at anything!’

“So it’s getting the best out of me. I’m trying to get the best out of them, too. So at the end of the day, we’re both better than we would’ve been otherwise.”

Seahawks

• Seahawks sixth-round pick S Eric Pinkins suffered a Lisfranc injury and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks. (John Boyle)