Work Long Hours-What do we Do with Our Puppy?!

Question
We recently bought a male english bulldog puppy.  We have had him since 9 weeks old and he is now 12 weeks old.  Due to a recent promotion, he is home alone for 9 hours/day during the week.  We get up at 5:30 and allow him to roam free and play for 2 hours before we leave.  We set up a "front yard" with metal gates outside his wire crate, which contains his bed.  We used to put newspapers in his area since he has been trained on them.  However, he began tearing the papers to shreds--not good since he messed on them.  We stopped, but he still goes to the bathroom, steps on it, drags it in his bed, and has recently begun eating it.  This has been going on for weeks, and we have begun to wonder if we should confine him in his crate while we are out.  We are so afraid he is learning horrible behaviors (although he does not do this when we are home.  We have begun taking him out to go the bathroom so he does not have as many household accidents).  Will he grow out of this behavior?  Is there anything we can do?  Please help!! It has gotten so bad, that my fiance is thinking about finding him a new home, and we love him so much!  Thank you!

Answer
It is always best to confine your pup to a crate or small "puppy proofed" area when you cannot supervise him for his safety and for the safety of your stuff. Since you are gone for so long, maybe you can hire someone to come walk him during the day or put him in a doggie daycare a couple days a week.