"...where heaven ain't close in a place like this."
Bead Biggs: 10 thoughts on Bears' preseason opener - Ten things to take away from the 31-3 loss to the Broncos in their preseason opener.
How To Watch An NFL Preseason Game - Coach Wiltfong's tips on what to worry about in the preseason, and what not to worry about.
USAToday team report - Excellent summary of Bears news.
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Offensive line
Mike Tice sending messages to Bears offensive linemen - ' “Just some players we thought needed reps, we needed to see,” Lovie Smith said. Fact is, the Bears know plenty about Webb, and the rest of their OL. This was a motivational ploy, and Jay Cutler can only hope the message was received. '
J’Marcus Webb’s presence in Q4 shows Bears’ line has work to do - Mark Potash: The offensive line has two things in its favor: time and Tice.
Back to square one at left tackle - ' Then came the game with Denver, and out popped “Bad J’Marcus" ’ ... hang on, that implies there's a "Good J'Marcus".
OL shuffling continues; Williams back at LT - Moon Mullin: J’Marcus Webb failed to show any clear dominance. In his defenc(s)e, it was Julius Peppers and Corey Wootten he was calling little girlies, rather than the Broncos' 4th- and 5-string DEs.
Is Webb losing his job at left tackle? - Moon Mullin: "The Bears do not have an All-Pro tackle on their roster, if Thursday was any indicator." Obviously not a member of J-Webb Nation or he'd know that he needs to vote his man to the Pro Bowl.
Chris Williams shares first-team reps at LT - Brad Biggs: Chris Williams shares first-team reps with J'Marcus Webb for the first time in 14 days as the Bears' battle for the starting LT job reopens.
Bears giving Williams longer look at LT - In the exhibition opener, Williams played extensively at RT, primarily with the second- and third-teamers. “Coach told me to get some work at left tackle today,” Williams said. “That was it.”
Mindgames with J'Marcus Webb - Kevin Seifert: Mind games are to be used with great care at the professional level, where many players view them as unnecessary and demeaning. Webb might be the exception. Given the importance of his position, and their lack of options, the Bears better be right.
Bears need to start seeing better results from J'Marcus Webb - Brad Biggs: Camp is winding down, and the Bears must provide results, not reasons.
It's only preseason, but Bears' OL a concern - Michael C. Wright: This couldn't be the new O-line friendly system the club raved about executing all offseason.
Garza: O-line needs to get more physical - Expressed frustration about the line making the same mistakes Thursday night that plagued it during the 2011 season.
[Video] CTL on the Bears' performance - Not even Moon Mullin thinks the OL played well, and he's been the sole voice defending them all offseason.
Offense
Vanilla isn't a good flavor for Bears - Moon Mullin: The problem is, the Broncos were vanilla as well on defense. The idea was to get well beyond Hanie and Barber as the No. 2’s. The Bears didn’t show on Thursday that they have that.
Broncos’ Miller has high praise for Carimi - Von Miller: “Gabe Carimi looks like he did in college and he was a beast in college.”
McCown: Alshon Jeffery “reminds me a lot of Larry Fitzgerald” - The former four-time South Carolina state champion in basketball said “It helps me shielding off defenders, so it’s just like going up for a rebound.”
Jeffery picks up in practice where he left off in game - Larry Mayer: Rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery followed his excellent performance in Thursday night's preseason opener with an equally strong effort on the practice field Saturday.
Rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery continues to make plays - Brad Biggs: UDFA WR Chris Summers showed up on tape with a 28-yard reception, the longest play of the night for the offense, in the loss to the Broncos.
Rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery off to a strong start in preseason - Matt Bowen: Did some decent things using his size to create leverage in the passing game. Now it's back to work for the rookie.
Woeful running game in exhibition opener won't cut it in regular season - Brian Hanley: J'Marcus "Striving for excellence!" Webb, who is better at spouting cliches than playing left tackle, might need his T-shirt business as a fallback career sooner than later.
Urlacher kneewatch 2012
Urlacher back, but not all the way - Was one of five Bears' LBs who sat out Saturday afternoon's practice, making way for the team to sign LBs Xavier Adibi and K.C. Asiodu.
Brian Urlacher back at practice, still not participating - Lovie: “Brian Urlacher is back, after he’s taken care of some business,"
Urlacher vows to be ready for season opener - Vaughn McClure: Was excused from the team for personal reasons unrelated to his knee.
Urlacher: 'I'll be ready to play, for sure' - Moon Mullin: Brian Urlacher was very clear when giving an update on his knee, sharing that he'll for sure be ready to play in the Bears opening game.
Brian Urlacher pledges he will ‘be ready’ for season opener - ‘‘The first four or five days it felt pretty good, and then it got sore and started swelling,’’ Urlacher told reporters. ‘‘So I’m taking some time off right now.’’
Bears' prospects are all about the offense - Zach Zaidman: Bottom line? How many points the revamped offense can put up may determine just how far the Bears go.
Defense
Bears promote McClellin, move Idonije inside - Moon Mullin: Shea McClellin produced in Thursday night's preseason opener, and the Bears have rewarded him with a promotion to the first team nickel pass rush. Israel Idonije moved inside to DT.
Light bulb snaps on for Bears rookie Shea McClellin - Moving closer and closer toward the situational-pass-rusher role many think will be his best chance to produce. Also, camp notes. Brian Price left practice early after suffering a stinger.
DT Stephen Paea hurts left ankle - Stephen Paea sat out of practice Sunday after suffering a left ankle injury near the end of a workout Saturday.
Bears hope hits at DT do not affect roster shape - Moon Mullin: A pair of Bears DTs -- Stephen Paea and Brian Price -- are dealing with injuries that could not only impact the depth chart but the entire roster numbers crunch.
Paea's ankle injury increases focus on battle for backup spot at DT - Brad Biggs: Bottom of the depth chart is crowded at tackle for what appears to be one roster spot.
LB injuries move Thomas to first team - The Bears are so banged up at LB that J.T. Thomas worked with the first team. Bears add two LBs and a DE.
Camp notes
Camp Chatter: Competition picking up at nickel back, LT - Moon Mullin: A training camp that was expected to have competition at only a few positions is now seeing competition at several.
[Video] Kip Lewis, Moon Mullin on practice - Spirited practice, especially in red zone.
4th-string QB Matt Blanchard is looking to buck the odds - The sight of Matt Blanchard warming up with Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell and Josh McCown at Bears training camp elicits two obvious questions: Who is Matt Blanchard? And where did he come from? (A. His parents.)
Photos - Bears training camp - A Johnny Know sighting! [typo, I left it in]
Photos: Broncos 31, Bears 3 - From ChicagoBears.com.
Photos: Broncos 31, Bears 3 - Peter King was right, Jay does have good hair.
Bears won't look the same once regular season starts - Laurence Holmes: "Lovie Smith keeps things close to the vest in the exhibition season, and the team won't unveil its true nature until the games count." I dunno, Laurence. The OL couldn't pass protect last preseason and then unveiled its true nature, when the games counted, by continuing to fail.
Developing depth should be Bears' top priority during remainder of training camp - Fred Mitchell: Bears' dismal showing was more a reflection of the team's precipitous drop-off in talent when a first-stringer is unavailable.
Bears must avoid key injuries for any chance at successful 2012 season - Mike Mulligan: It always has been about gifted front-line players in the Lovie Smith era. The 2012 Bears will be only as good as injuries allow them to be.
Everything else
Lovie Smith not fretting about contract - “When I look at Mrs. McCaskey, I never see disappointment. I see faith as I lead her football team." Forgot to add "I've been avoiding her since 2006."
Emery instrumental in Brown's success with Bears - The story behind how the Bears wound up taking Alex Brown in the fourth round of the 2002 draft involves first-year general manager Phil Emery, who served as the club's Southeast scout at the time. "In the first three rounds you were always looking for that instant starter"... oh, Jerr-eee...
Matt Bowen: Dog days of training camp no time time to let up - "The exhibition game was bad football. And that needs to be corrected. You still have to execute, put drives together, tackle in the secondary, get a push up front on defense and play much better along the offensive line."
Know thy enemy - ProFootballFocus preview: Green Bay Packers. Five reasons to be confident, five why there's room for concern.
Know thy enemy - Packers sign Cedric Benson.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog: Some clarity on Packers injuries.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog Camp Confidential: Lions. The good, the bad, the ugly.
Know thy enemy - Schwartz takes what positives he can get, even when it's a rookie showing maturity by not responding when a, uh, team captain takes a swing at him.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog CampTour'12: Addressing Lions penalties. And we're not talking about the legal kind.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog: Up and down for Vikings. 49ers 17, Vikings 6.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog: Sluggish Lions start. Browns 19, Lions 17.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog: A shaky debut for Packers. Chargers 21, Packers 13.
[Video] Ex-Bear Anthony Adams shows off his basketball skills - Former Bear Spice Adams is still a free agent and has time on his hands to showcase his comic chops. He posted a video to youtube Sunday that showcases his basketball talent, sort of.
To my mind, the best new band of recent years.