Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Alfonso Marshall, wide receivers Mark Bradley and Airese Currie, and offensive lineman Roberto Garza and Lennie Friedman are scheduled to join local individuals who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and their families in the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Saturday, March 25 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
 
The Bears players will coach and lead a Punt, Pass, and Kick competition for individuals who have PWS.  After the competition, the Bears players will sign autographs and pose for pictures with the participants.  This event will benefit the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Illinois. 

Although rare, PWS is the most common known genetic reason for life-threatening obesity.  PWS is a complex syndrome affecting appetite, growth, metabolism, cognitive function, and behavior.  It is estimated that PWS affects one in 12,000 to 15,000 births and that up to 80% of those with PWS remain undiagnosed in the U.S.  The syndrome affects both males and females and all ethnic groups equally.  Currently, there is no cure and, to date, no medications or procedures are successful in staving off the hunger.

Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Lake Forest, Illinois (AHN) - Quarterback Brian Griese signs a five-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

Sports Network reports that Rex Grossman will likely remain as starting quarterback in the 2006 season. But Griese could challenge him for the job during training this summer.

Griese started six games for Tampa Bay in 2005 before he was sidelined with an injury to his left knee on October 16. He was then released by the team on March 10.

Last season, Griese completed 112 of 174 passes for 1,136 yards and seven touchdowns.

The 31-year-old played five years for Denver and one with the Dolphins.

Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah retired Thursday because of neck and hip pain the past two seasons, ending a seven-year career with Chicago in which he made the Pro Bowl in 2003.

The 28-year-old Azumah missed most of the pre-season after minor hip surgery and lost his starting job to Pro Bowl selection Nathan Vasher in the final year of his contract.

"This has been a great ride," he said during a news conference. "It’s nothing to cry about or hold my head down to. Just looking at everything I accomplished and achieved, being here with the Bears and how they’ve embraced me, has been tremendous."

Azumah had a career-high 92 tackles in 2002. He had 90 tackles, a team-leading four interceptions and his lone Pro Bowl appearance - as a kickoff returner - the following season.

He missed the first four games of 2004 while recovering from neck surgery, and had the hip procedure in training camp last summer. He appeared in 15 regular-season games, playing primarily in nickel situations, and totalled 45 tackles while averaging 22 yards on kickoff returns.
 

Hip pain was a constant problem, and he injured his neck during a playoff game this season against Carolina. Azumah underwent more invasive hip surgery two months ago.

"I knew I’d be playing in pain," Azumah said. "That was what was understood. I’d be playing with some pain, they’d go in and clean it out and would get me better so I wouldn’t miss the season. . . . I decided to play until, basically, the wheels fell off."

Azumah’s neck also bothered him during the season. He said his hip is fine now and dared reporters to race him in the 40-yard dash.

"My body was talking to me," Azumah said. "I feel like I could go out there and perform at a high level - not the Pro Bowl level I was at. I need to take a different road in life."