Updated: Lovie Says He And Taylor Had 'Misunderstanding'
Updated August 29, 2011 at 4:02 p.m.
(CBS) Bears running back Chester Taylor was not released Monday, as even his own agent reported.
According to head coach Lovie Smith, the two had a conversation Monday morning about Taylor's future and there was some sort of misunderstanding.
"I guess there's a misunderstanding on exactly what we talked about," Smith said, adding that he never told the running back he was being released. "Chester Taylor is still a part of the team."
Those comments conflict with what Taylor's agent, Ken Sarnoff, wrote on Twitter earlier in the day. According to Sarnoff, "Lovie Smith told Chester Taylor this morning that he is being released."
http://twitter.com/#!/KenSarnoff/statuses/108225832069238786
But, about an hour later, Sarnoff said he was told by the Bears that Taylor had not been released:
http://twitter.com/#!/KenSarnoff/statuses/108240240375906304
Taylor was not at practice Monday as a result of the confusion, but Smith said he expects to see the running back in practice Tuesday. Still, it seems clear that Taylor is not a part of the Bears future and it would be surprising to see him play Thursday against the Browns. General Manager Jerry Angelo is likely trying to trade Taylor and if he were to get injured, the Bears would have to pay him this season.
Despite being listed as Matt Forte's backup throughout the preseason, Taylor has received less carries than Marion Barber and Kahlil Bell in the first two preseason games and didn't play at all Saturday night in Nashville. Barber has looked like the better running back and Bell contributes on special teams so Taylor's possible departure comes as no surprise.
Taylor signed a four-year, $12 million contract before last season but only averaged 2.4 yards per carry last season. $7 million was guaranteed.
