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The Bears Den: September 7, 2012 - Week 1 News and Notes

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"...where you get enough germs to catch pneumonia."

Be patient with Bears offense - Laurence Holmes: It’s easy to imagine that the Cutler-to-Marshall connection will put up highlight plays and a ton of points, but if the Bears stumble on Sunday, don’t be shocked.

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - Discusses when team will wear throwbacks and if baby got back.

USAToday team report - Oh, now they update.

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Urlacher kneewatch 2012, injury updates

Urlacher working his way back from injury - Larry Mayer gets to the truth behind #54's knee situation.

Brian Urlacher ready for Colts - Jeff Dickerson: Urlacher confirmed on Thursday that his left knee problems in training camp were different than the ones he sustained against the Vikings.

Brian Urlacher says he’s ‘not up to speed’ yet - #54 didn't practice on Thursday (coach's decision).

Urlacher is ready to go for Sunday - Kip Lewis: If Brian Urlacher wasn't able to go perform at a high level, he wouldn't be playing on Sunday against the Colts.

Brian Urlacher will be in the starting lineup for opener - Brad Biggs: Remains to be seen if punter Adam Podlesh will be available.

Briggs: If Colts attack Urlacher, 'they will fail' - Moon Mullin: Even though it's clear he will play Sunday against the Colts, Brian Urlacher's ailing left knee is still unproven. Lance Briggs doesn't anticipate any issues.

Urlacher rested, but bigger questions remain - Moon Mullin: Brian Urlacher missed Thursday's practice because of a coaches decision, and while the staff thinks he's ready for Sunday, questions still remain long-term.

Brian Urlacher 'not up to speed,' but knee feels 'good' - Vaughn McClure: Still in the process of getting his conditioning back after the long layoff.

Urlacher held out as precautionary measure - Michael C. Wright: Lovie Smith pointed out the decision to hold out Urlacher wasn’t made because the linebacker suffered a setback or is fighting through lingering soreness.

Brian Urlacher: Sure, he's Brian Urlacher but … - David Haugh: Based on the bravado of Bears teammates, Urlacher quickly removed any doubts that he will return to top form against the Colts despite a left knee that has sustained two injuries in seven months.

Harness could allow Conte to play Sunday - Vaughn McClure: Safety reluctant to use it but may need harness to protect his injured right shoulder in opener. Also, injury updates.

Bears v. Colts

Early test for Webb and Carimi - Kevin Seifert: On an otherwise rebuilding team, Freeney and Mathis present the most notable challenge to the heavily favored Bears.

Prepping for revamped Colts no easy task - Larry Mayer: It's difficult to know exactly what to expect from a team with a new head coach, new schemes on offense and defense and 28 new players on its 53-man roster.

Evan Rodriguez cracks Bears starting lineup - Moon Mullin: In somewhat of a surprise, Evan Rodriguez has become the first rookie from the Bears 2012 draft class to crack the starting lineup.

Bears will use Devin Hester on kickoff and punt returns - The Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri should know to steer clear of the most dangerous returner in league history. Hester took Vinatieri's opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI and returned it 92 yards for a score.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck an X-factor for Bears - Also, injury updates.

Conte familiar with Colts' Luck - While at California from 2007-2010, Conte squared off against the former Stanford QB on multiple occasions.

Bears defense particularly tough in openers - Brad Biggs: Bears have made a habit of stifling some really good QBs the last seven seasons.

[Video] Kip Lewis & Moon Mullin - Discuss Urlacher's knee, Andrew Luck.

Know thy enemy - Key matchup: Colts OLT Anthony Castonzo vs. Julius Peppers.

Know thy enemy - Maggie Hendricks with an in-depth look at the Colts.

Other Bears news & views

In Brandon Marshall, Bears’ offense has elite receiver it lacked - Sean Jensen: Marshall’s career and season numbers would dominate the Bears’ record books. Behold, Bears fans, what a No. 1 receiver looks like.

Brad Biggs on Mully & Hanley - "If you’re only worried about one guy on that OL, you’re going to be OK. If you’ve got two, then you got a real problem.” Worth listening to the [Audio].

Cutler can't block out questions - Rosendoom: Smith’s lame dismissal of statistics revealing that Webb was the worst starting left tackle in the league was an insult to Bears fans’ intelligence. (His) arrogance and public blind defense of his roster is a big reason players love him.

Dan Pompei's Bears mailbag - Readers' Q&A.

[Video] Brandon Marshall ready to call Chicago home - Tells Peggy Kusinski about his journey to the Windy City.

Lou Canellis previews the 2012-2013 Bears - "(Jason Campbell's) career passer rating is better than Cutler's!" ... So... 82.8 is higher than 84.5?

Dionne Miller's 'Happenings at Halas' - September 6 - Aaaand all of a sudden Lou Canellis doesn't seem so bad after all.....

[Audio] The Mike Ditka Show - Da Coach talks. You listen

Everything else

Bears' average season ticket $110 - Third-highest price in the NFL for a family of four to attend a game. You don't get to the top 10 most valuable NFL franchises list without trying.

For what they're worth: Week 1 picks courtesy of Peter King, the USAToday staff, and Sam Farmer (Tribune). CBSChicago panel all think the Bears will beat the Colts. Also, PFF's 2012 season picks.

The 5 worst things about being an NFL Sports Agent - Andrew Brandt: Some of the tougher components of a rewarding career.

Know thy enemies - Steve Silverman: Both the Packers and Lions are formidable opponents. But they have weaknesses that can be exploited by opponents with sharp coaching staffs.

Know thy enemy - After a remarkable eight-month recovery from reconstructive knee surgery, Adrian Peterson says he is recovered and ready to play.

...And finally - Greg Jennings on the Lambeau Leap: “I try to go away from the men because the men get a little grabby. The women get grabby too but them men it’s like come on, really, seriously? I’m another guy.”

London is _just_ like this. Fact. (Bonus: Full-length version by Dionne Warwick.)