"...where the stars are blazing like rebel diamonds."
Tice wants a better outing from offense - Mike Tice expects the Bears offense to perform at a higher level Saturday night against the Redskins than it did in last Thursday night's loss to the Broncos. Well, could it get much worse?
Peter King's MMQB - Notes from Bourbonnais: For the first time in any of our lifetimes, the Bears are north of meh at wide receiver. [Video] Team report.
Pat Mannelly returns after ACL tear - It's why he's Awesome, with a capital A.
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LT battle
Williams and “the other player” will share No. 1 LT vs. Washington - Moon Mullin: Mike Tice said the team was going to go with a timeshare between Chris Williams and "the other player" (meaning J'Marcus Webb) at first-string LT in Saturday's preseason game.
Competition for starting LT job open again - Brad Biggs: Unhappy with the play of J'Marcus Webb, Mike Tice will give Chris Williams another look in the battle for the starting LT job.
Protecting Jay Cutler is a team effort - Fred Mitchell: "Based on sacks allowed in previous seasons, it may take a village." Or a nation, Fred. A J-WEBB NATION.
The Bears are hopeful for some J’Marcus Webb development - 'Through his legion of loyal Twitter followers, with T-shirts and shout-outs, J’Marcus Webb is cultivating a personal brand as the leader of ‘‘Webb Nation.’’ But on the football field, the only brand Webb is cultivating is Brand X.'
Mike Tice makes sure players know where they stand - When Tice was informed by a reporter Webb has a kind of "swagger" off the field, Tice cracked, "I wonder why."
Cutler says he's confident in O-line - Jay Cutler said he's not worried about the Bears' offensive line.
NFCN Blog: Bears' LT situation becoming a spectacle - Kevin Seifert: There continues to be little doubt that Tice is putting heavy pressure on Webb to even out his performances. It hasn't happened yet, and Williams' return to the left tackle mix makes clear that the Bears believe they have other options.
Competition between Williams and ‘The Other Player’ is back on - Adam Hoge: Mike Tice liked how Chris Williams played at right tackle in the first preseason game and he once again is giving him the chance to beat out Webb for the starting LT position.
[Video] Moon Mullin on what to look for in OL battles - Expecting to see LT rotation continue in preseason game against Washington; Spencer at LG will also be under scrutiny.
Camp notes
Roster squeeze coming at tight end, fullback - Moon Mullin: Mike Tice's offensive philosophies will likely mean tough roster cuts coming to the TE and FB positions. RBs holding their own in blitz pickup drills.
Camp notes - Toeaina's opportunity; Wootton needs to play with better pad level; Eric Weems still hanpered by ankle injury; and more.
Steltz continues to impress in camp - Dane rejoices!
Toeaina has chance to make impression - Fractured hand contributing to slow start in training camp. Competition won't be reopened.
Camp chatter: Now THAT is a quarterback-receiver bond - Moon Mullin: Nothing is more important to a quarterback than chemistry with his wide receiver, and Jay Cutler knows exactly what Earl Bennett is going through as a new father.
Bears roundtable - Matt Bowen: 'They're going to run the ball like crazy'. Brad Biggs: "There's going to be questions about the defense this season. There have been moments in training camp where WRs have gone right past Charles Tillman." [Audio] There's a massive amount here, well worth the listen.
Bears big problem isn't Urlacher's injury - Rosendoom moans about the DTs.
Armed with some extra weapons, Jay Cutler has no excuses - Joe Cowley thinks people have been making "excuses" for Cutler?
Bears are gaining on Packers - Reggie Hayes: The Bears should stage an epic battle with the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions for NFC North supremacy. The winner, if it emerges without too much wear, has a legitimate chance to reach the Super Bowl.
[Video] Kip Lewis, Moon Mullin on practice - Intense practice, people getting drilled; still some jobs that could be won, especially in the trenches; UDFA rookie WRs are big and still playing hard.
[Video] Bowen, Biggs break down Bears practice - Steltz at safety for Wright in Sunday's practice; camp notes.
Injury could hurt LB Dom DeCicco - Dom DeCicco suffered a knee injury that could affect his roster status, with six names in the mix for possibly one spot.
Quiet Alshon Jeffery lets his play do the talking - Unlike many NFL wide receivers, Alshon Jeffrey doesn't say much. For the Bears — an organization that rarely puts up with players with character issues — that’s likely what caught their eye.
Adam Hoge’s Training Camp Notebook - Bears get physical in night practice; offense up and down.
Emery: Bears Expect Championship Run - While Bears general manager Phil Emery won't come out and say his goals are championship or bust for the 2012 season, he knows that's exactly what the Bears are capable of.
Bear Facts: WR Devin Hester - No word from Dionne Miller on Hester moving to LT.
Everything else
UNC reviews possible post of Julius Pepper’s college transcript - North Carolina is investigating how what appears to be a transcript for former football star Julius Peppers surfaced on the university’s website. Agent defends Peppers’ college record.
Benson and the Packers? - Matt Bowen: The veteran RB is expected to sign in Green Bay and that creates some questions from my perspective. Eager to prove himself.
Football Outsiders' Wisdom of Crowds 2012: QBs and RBs - If Jay gets 3,728 passing yards with 25 TDs and 17 INTs, that's not too bad compared to what we're used to from Bears QBs.
'OK' rookie, let's see you do it again - Matt Bowen: 'Consistency' is the goal with these rookies in August.
Know thy enemy - NFCN Blog Rookie Buzz: Packers CB Casey Hayward.
Know thy enemy - Calvin Johnson sat out Monday morning's practice, but not because of an apparent finger injury; Nick Fairley still too inconsistent for Lions. Hey, both his arrests were for DUI. That's consistent.
This is quite depressing, but the video is quite fun. I'm so conflicted.