Bears training camp officially opens this afternoon with a three o’clock practice. Fans will be greeted to a spectacular day. It’s a sun-splashed, breezy, clear morning in Bourbonnais.
STILL MISSING
Despite negotiations that continued into the night, there is still no agreement between the Bears and number one draft choice Chris Williams. The first round left tackle from Vanderbilt vowed to avoid a holdout, but might miss at least the first day. There’s still time for agent Bill Johnson to do what’s best for his client and get him signed and in uniform. Williams will not start camp as the first string left tackle. That belongs to veteran John St. Clair.
HAPPY MIDDLE MAN
Ran into Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher at breakfast this morning. He’s thrilled with his new contract extension and pleased the negotiation is over. This marks the fifth consecutive season that Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Hunter Hillenmeyer enter camp as the starting linebackers. You’ll be hard pressed to find a starting trio in the league with as much longevity.
BRADLEY READY
Receiver Mark Bradley had an ear-to-ear grin this morning on his way to the first team meeting with head coach Lovie Smith. After arthroscopic knee surgery knocked Bradley out of the off-season program, he’s expected to be cleared to practice this afternoon. Injuries have limited his playing time over his three-year career. This is the most important camp of his career.
MONEYBALL
There are 22 current Bears that have had their contracts extended at least once, in some cases twice under the leadership of General Manager Jerry Angelo.
·Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Israel Idonije, Alex Brown, Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Lance Briggs, and Mike Brown on defense.
·Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, Terrence Metcalf, Desmond Clark, Rashied Davis, John St. Clair, Adrian Peterson, and Jason McKie on offense.
·Patrick Mannelly, Brad Maynard, and Robbie Gould on special teams
HESTER NEGOTIATIONS
After the Bears finish the contract for rookie tackle Chris Williams, they will continue negotiations with two-time Pro Bowl return man/receiver Devin Hester. It is proving to be a difficult negotiation with agent Eugene Parker in terms of how to define Hester’s value. There’s no player like him in the league. Hester feels he should be paid like a first round rookie receiver, but his inexperience at the position gives the Bears pause in terms of contract value. Hester’s rookie contract runs through 2009.
FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS
Depending on their 2008 performances, the next targets for potential contract extensions20may be defensive end Mark Anderson, defensive back Daniel Manning, and veteran defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. All of their deals run through 2009. This is the final year of starting strong safety Brandon McGowan’s contract. New running back Kevin Jones, receiver Brandon Lloyd, and quarterback Rex Grossman are all working on one-year contracts which means big seasons could result in big dollars.
Tommie Harris Suspended Saying nothing is bigger than the team, Bears head coach Lovie Smith suspended three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris for the rest of the week including Sunday's game at Detroit for breaking an unspecified team rule.
Sept. 23: Receiver Bradley Doesn't Pass A rocky four-year stay in Chicago ends for receiver Mark Bradley, waived by the Bears not even a month into the regular season.
Sept. 18: More On Injuries TORN CARTILAGE Receiver Devin Hester revealed that he is suffering from torn cartilage on the left side of his ribcage. MORE
Sept. 17: Injuries, Injuries PAIN IN THE SECONDARY Injuries ravage safeties in the NFL. It happens every season. MORE
Sept. 10: Adewale Ogunleye Honored DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye was named the NFC Defensive player of the week after collecting 3 tackles plus 3 tackles for loss, including a safety in a tone-setting effort against the Indianapolis Colts.
Sept. 9: Running Into the Spotlight IMPRESSIVE Running right into the national spotlight, Bears running back Matt Forte' is no longer an unknown.
Sept. 1 -- Bears Select Captains CAPTAINS NAMED
Under head coach Lovie Smith captains are voted on by teammates every season on the Monday before the opener. Today, quarterback Kyle Orton joined center Olin Kreutz safety Mike Brown, linebacker Brian Urlacher, and long-snapper Pat Mannelly. Orton’s selection holds valuable significance. He starts at the position of leadership on offense and it says a lot about how he’s perceived in the locker-room.
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August 25th -- Grossman Assesses Situation GROSSMAN ADDRESSES HIS SITUATION Still surprised by the decision to go with Kyle Orton as the starting quarterback for the season opener, Rex Grossman vowed to work diligently in his role as backup.
August 24th - First Cuts FIRST CUTS Four players were released trimming the roster to 75. Seventh round rookie receiver Marcus Monk, safety Josh Gattis, defensive back Leslie Majors, and undrafted rookie receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen
August 19th - Injury Update, Long Snapper INJURY UPDATE
Bears defensive end Mark Anderson suffered a minor setback last Saturday in Seattle. He required right thumb surgery this week and will miss Thursday’s clash with San Francisco.
August 18th -- Orton Wins the Competition ORTON WINS THE COMPETITION With exactly 21 days before the regular season opener against the Colts in Indianapolis, Kyle Orton was named the Bears starting quarterback.
August 14th - It's Over IT'S OVER
Training camp officially came to an end this afternoon in Bourbonnais after a practice that prepped the Bears for Seattle. Virtually every player wore someone else's uniform.
Bears Camp Update -- August 14 -- Play Time PLAY TIME It looks like you might see Lovie Smith’s starter play into the third quarter Saturday in Seattle. Smith said most starters will play at least a half, possibly more.
Early in practice during a special teams drill, starting strong safety Brandon McGowan went down with a right ankle sprain. Trainers wrapped his foot ending McGowan's day.
August 9, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp-- Captain Ogunleye CAPTAIN OGUNLEYE In a veteran move by a defensive leader, Adewale Ogunleye gathered the defensive line together after Saturday night's practice. While Ogunleye spoke, the other 12 listened. Some of the lineman described the impromptu speech as 'internal business.'
August 3, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp 'WE NEED TO BE SHARPER MENTALLY'
Getting a day off was beneficial to the offense. After getting a stern message in meetings from coordinator Ron Turner, the unit responded with a focused and crisp practice.
August 1, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp -- 'Family Night' FANS SWARM 'FAMILY NIGHT' WORKOUT.
Nearly 25,000 fans paid their way into Soldier Field for the annual “Family Night” Bears practice. It was a lively crowd who showered stars like Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester with loud ovations during team introductions.
July 31, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp -- No storm NO STORM A severe storm was predicted to roll through Bourbonnais, but it fizzled out allowing the Bears to get in a shortened 90-minute session.
July 28, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp -- Steam Bath STEAM BATH
Players were greeted by an early afternoon blast furnace really for the first time since practice started last Wednesday. It’s the type of weather for which the Texas born and bred Lovie Smith has been hoping.
July 27, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp -- Devin in Heaven DEVIN IN HEAVEN
After missing four days of practice, Devin Hester showed up freshly minted and financially secure for the next six years, in full pads with white socks pulled high over his calf to his knees.
July 27, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp -- Under the lights NIGHT LIGHTS
A full pad practice under the lights brought out the best in the Bears Saturday night. An energetic, and physical nine-on-seven inside run drill was spirited and set the tone for practice.
July 25, 2008 -- Bears Training Camp -- HE'S BACK As much as a surprise as it was to hear that Devin Hester was holding out, it was equally surprising to see Hester at breakfast this morning in the dining hall.
July 23rd, 2008 - Bears Training Camp - WILLIAMS AGREES TO TERMS WILLIAMS AGREES TO TERMS
First round draft choice Chris Williams agreed to a five-year contract this afternoon, so there will be no hold out by the rookie out of Vanderbilt. The deal is reportedly worth $16.0M with about $10.0M in guarenteed money. He is expected to practice this afternoon.
July 23, 2008 - Bears Training Camp IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK Bears training camp officially opens this afternoon with a three o’clock practice. Fans will be greeted to a spectacular day. It’s a sun-splashed, breezy, clear morning in Bourbonnais.
Jeff Joniak's Bears Blog WBBM's Voice of the Bears Jeff Joniak will be blogging from Chicago Bears Training camp! Click here to read his latest entry
Tommie Harris Suspended Saying nothing is bigger than the team, Bears head coach Lovie Smith suspended three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris for the rest of the week including Sunday's game at Detroit for breaking an unspecified team rule.
Bears' Lloyd, Tillman Injured Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd leaves with knee injury, Charles Tillman with shoulder injury.
Bears Outlast Eagles, 24-20 Quarterback Kyle Orton Threw to Three Different Receivers for a Career Three Touchdowns in the first Half, Then Defense Settled In.
No Charges For Ex-Bear Cedric Benson Texas juries decline to indict on charges of boating while intoxicated, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated.
Losing Hester Could Be Painful For Bears Blowing a 14-point lead in a 20-17 loss Sunday at Carolina stung, but losing their record-setting return specialist could hurt more.
