BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – A quarterback competition promises to heat up the Chicago Bears’ training camp, and coach Lovie Smith wanted to make it clear there was no perceived favorite between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.

“It’s dead even,” Smith said Tuesday as the Bears reported to Olivet Nazarene University for a camp that kicks off with a first practice Wednesday.

“I think it will be a great competition between Rex and Kyle or Kyle and Rex, however you want to say it. The guy who ends up winning the position, we feel real good about him leading us where we want to go.”

So who gets the first snap with the first team on Wednesday?

“Practice is tomorrow at 3 (p.m.). See you there,” Smith replied.

Smith wouldn’t set a date for deciding the starter, even if he has one in mind. He said teams generally like to have their starters play together for the third preseason game. The Bears begin their preseason schedule Aug. 7.

“As far as competition when it goes, I want the players to think they have as many chances as they possibly can to prove they deserve to be in a certain position,” Smith added.

One guy who isn’t in the Bears’ picture is a player who has beaten them often – Brett Favre. He and the Green Bay Packers are embroiled in a rift after he decided he wanted to play again and not retire.

“Brett Favre is one of the all-time great players to play our game for a long period of time,” Smith said. “I assume he’ll play for the Packers this year. If not there, I assume somebody out there, I don’t who that is.”

The Bears have plenty to sort out during training camp other than the battle between Grossman, who led the team to the Super Bowl two years ago but whose career has been characterized by erratic play, and Orton, who started 15 games in 2005 and the final three last season.