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Can Cutler shoulder the load? - Rick Morrissey: At the end of every season, we’ve been able to point to why it wasn’t Cutler’s year. More of the pieces are supposed to be in place this season. But that preseason has sent public confidence levels tumbling.
Jared Allen hopes to be old jeller for Bears - Mark Potash: The answer to virtually every question about the Bears’ beleaguered defense starts with Allen and Briggs performing at a high level.
Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Veni, vidi, vici. Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts. Den pic in hi-res.
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Bears-Bills
Bears plan to rotate safeties Sunday - Larry Mayer: The Bears plan to have Ryan Mundy, Danny McCray and Chris Conte share reps at the two safety positions in Sunday's season opener, assuming Conte is cleared to play.
Musical chairs for Bears at safety - Bob LeGere: Ongoing evaluation at safety will go on a little longer for the Bears, who intend to rotate three or four players at the safety positions on Sunday. Jeff Dickerson: Trestman stresses need to preserve McCray and Mundy for special teams.
Expect to see safety committee vs Bills - Adam L. Jahns: Regardless of last season’s woes, Conte still has the most starting experience of the group but it remains to be seen if he has established any chemistry with the others.
Bears might rotate safeties vs Bills - Rich Campbell: Bears have mixed and matched safety pairings throughout the preseason, so McCray and Mundy are confident a rotation would not have a negative affect on the defense. [I'd be more worried about their play than their feelings. - Den]
Know thy enemy - ChicagoBears.com: The Bills comes to Soldier Field to open the 2014 season, bringing one of the league's top D-lines along with an exciting rookie receiver. EJ Manuel, Doug Marrone ready for Bears.
Know thy enemy - Dan Durkin: Biggest issue facing Bills on offense is the slow development of EJ Manuel.
Know thy enemy - Adam Hoge: If the Bears can stop the run, they shouldn’t have a problem outscoring the Bills, but being able to stop the run is no guarantee.
Game preview - Not-Hub Fishbain: Who has the edge, Bears or Bills?
[Video] SportsTalk Live - Looking ahead to Sunday. With so much uncertainty still remaining, why did the Bears have their starters take preseason game 4 off? [KAPCON: 4]
[Video] - Moon Mullin previews Bears-Bills. How much of a concern is Jordan Mills for Sunday?
[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Trailer for the Bears match-up with the Bills at Soldier Field. Photos: Bears billboards.
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Bears-Briggs
Lance Briggs skips practice to open his restaurant - Michael C. Wright: Asked whether he understood how his absence -- on the first day of preparation for Sunday's matchup -- could draw criticism, Briggs remained defiant.
Urlacher: Lance Briggs' day off is overblown - Tony Andracki: Future Hall of Famer says Briggs has proven himself during his 12 years in the NFL [with Audio].
Briggs brushes off criticism of absence from practice - Dan Wiederer: Bigger picture issue revolves around whether players might start taking advantage of Trestman’s leniency, especially after an established leader appeared to do so.
Briggs not wrong, but perception is important - Michael C. Wright: This situation isn't a big deal - but for the coach and the player, it's not a good look.
Serving up some Bears controversy - Mike Imrem: Defensive star Lance Briggs went on the offensive, offensive guru Marc Trestman went on the defensive and the Bears' controversy officially became a "gate."
What do hand-wringers know that Trestman does not? - Tim Baffoe: To demand that Marc Trestman needs to earn the right to let players he trusts do some non-football things is undermining an adult presumed by his superiors to be capable and responsible.
[Video] SportsTalk Live - Does Briggs incident set a dangerous precedent? [KAPCON: 4]
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Bearsss
Undrafted Perry speeding to special teams role - Not-Hub Arkush: Senorise Perry’s home run speed combined with his youth gives him the greatest upside of any returner currently on the Bears.
Christian Jones knows it's all about production - Brad Biggs: Unlike a lot of every-down players in college, Jones had experience on special teams at Florida State. He kept a hand in it all four seasons and was on the kickoff and punt teams as a senior last year.
Team notes - Bob LeGere: Lance Briggs tackles controversy; DeCamillis high on Sherrick McManis; Jared Allen appreciates QB stability; injury news.
Team notes - Adam Hoge: Safeties to be rotated, Briggs missing a one-hour practice with zero install not an issue; injury news and more.
Team notes - Adam L. Jahns: Marquess Wilson eager for Nov. 9 return; Kelvin Hayden returns with no hard feelings; EJ Manuel downplays information gleaned from Jordan Palmer; injury updates.
Team notes - Not-Hub Fishbain: Bills prepare for 'improved' Bears defense; safety rotation; Bills returners challenge for DeCamillis' unit [Giggity]; injury news.
Team notes - Rich Campbell: Special teams counting on Sherrick McManis; Bills' potent running game requires highest level of attention from Jared Allen; injury news.
[Video] - Dan Durkin on Briggs, the safety rotation, and level of concern for the Bears' special teams.
[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright discusses where the Bears need to improve.
Urlacher: Cutler can put it all together in '14 - Scott Krinch: Jay Cutler has never been in a better position to succeed than he is right now, and former teammate Brian Urlacher is a believer.
Bears mailbag - Brad Biggs readers' Q&As. Why was Kelvin Hayden and not an O-lineman signed to replace Marquess Wilson?
Really? - Andy Benoit: Before the arrival of Marc Trestman and Aaron Kromer, Matt Forte had never actually been taught proper blocking technique or recognition.
NFC team-by-team preview - Sam Farmer's reasons for gloom and reasons for optimism. AFC teams.
Power Rankings - As the Bears prepare to take on the Bills in the 2014 season opener, ChicagoBears.com takes a look at what national media outlets have to say about the Monsters of the Midway.
NFL Health & Safety - Larry Mayer: The Bears conducted a free safety clinic for about 100 mothers of Chicago-area youth football players Tuesday night in the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall.
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Polish sausage
Know thy enemy: Lions - Dave Birkett: Calvin Johnson thinks 2014 is Lions' best chance to win a Super Bowl.
Know thy enemy: Packers - Mike Bauman: Move aside Cowboys -- the Packers are America's Team. Peter King: Ted Thompson opens up about his 10-year tenure as Green Bay's GM.
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