As NFL players and owners inched toward settling their labor contract, a group of about 75 North Shore youngsters gathered one recent morning on a grassy field to practice throwing, catching and running.

If it weren’t for the presence of Chicago Bears’ Chairman George McCaskey, it’s doubtful any of the children would have asked about the business side of the game they love.

The children were halfway through their week at a Chicago Bears Youth Football Camp in Winnetka, learning from former players such as Robin Earl and Emery Moorehead. When McCaskey arrived on July 13 wearing black slacks, a white Bears polo shirt and a cap, they huddled around him to ask about the team.

McCaskey is the son of Bears owner Virginia McCaskey and grandson of George Halas, the longtime owner and leader of the franchise. He became the organization’s chairman on May 5.

He fielded some questions from the youngsters, such as when the Bears’ first game was, when the Packers first became the team’s archrival, who his favorite current Bears player is (Israel Idonije) and why a football team needs a chairman.

Then, a blond boy raised his hand and asked about the status of the lockout — a labor dispute between team owners and the players’ union that threatened to derail the 2011 season.

McCaskey smiled, put his arms in the air and jokingly said, “OK, I gotta go.”

But then he gave the boy an answer.

“There are intelligent people on both sides and they know how important football is to you guys and the rest of America, so I’m confident we’ll have football on time this year,” McCaskey said.

Later, once the children were back assembled in groups and running through drills, McCaskey said the topic is inescapable these days.

“Just about every question is about the lockout,” he said. “People are concerned about how things are going to work out. It’s an intensely personal thing.”

Several boys attending the camp said they were on the players’ side of the lockout issue, saying players need health care benefits due to the physicality of the sport.

“I think they’re getting injured too much,” said Buddy O’Brien, 10, an aspiring quarterback from Wilmette. The teams “should be more aware of the players getting hurt.”

Hugh Jones, 12, of Winnetka, eschewed the argument that players make millions of dollars and know the dangers of football before stepping onto the field.

“It’s not the player, it’s the team” that’s responsible for addressing injuries related to playing football, Jones said.

But O’Brien, Jones and the others weren’t worrying about health benefits on Wednesday morning. They were more interested in learning how to play the sport they love. Both said they’ve played contact football in the past, and they’re learning new things at the camp, like proper stances and conditioning, that will help them in the future.

Not to mention, Jones added, “meeting famous players and playing some games.”

One of those famous players was Emery Moorehead, a former tight end and wide receiver who won a Super Bowl championship with the 1985 Chicago Bears. The Evanston native now lives in the northern suburbs and is a Lake Forest Realtor. He dropped by the camp to chat with the children and give some pointers.

Looking out over the field of children participating in drills, Moorehead noted that they don’t think about things like health benefits and bargaining agreements.

“We didn’t either,” he said. “We just played. But now you become older and see guys a generation older in the condition they’re in and it gets you thinking.”

He said it’s important to take care of the players’ health concerns after they’ve spent years making the NFL what it is today.

“It takes a toll on your body,” Moorehead said. “You don’t realize when you’re young. Look at Earl Campbell and some of those guys. They’re walking with walkers. They’re a tough gang.”

For more information about the Chicago Bears Youth Football Camp program, visit prosportsexperience.com/bears.