The Bear’s Den: July 27, 2017

First and foremost, the staff of Windy City Gridiron would like to thank all of our dedicated readers who stuck with us as Chicago Bears fans struggled through another seemingly endless off-season. We made it, together, through the Season of Firing; The Dark Of Winter; The Season Of Free Agency in it’s First Wave, Second Wave and Table Scraps forms; The Season Of The Mocks; The Draft; The Season Of The UDFA’s; Rookie Mini-Camp; OTA’s; Veteran Mini-Camp and then, the most horrible part of the year, the Season Of The Lists.

We worked hard to keep you informed, engaged and entertained and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you who stayed the course with us.

Now? FOOTBALL!

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Zeglinski: Players open up ahead of first day of camp - The Rock River Times - A notably jubilant and always personable Akiem Hicks leisurely strolled up to the podium on Wednesday wearing

Zeglinski: Bears last season out of sight, out of mind - The Rock River Times - Robert Zeglinski brings you all the notes from Day One of Bears' training camp.

Biggs: Bears hopeful Kyle Long, Danny Trevathan can avoid PUP list - Chicago Tribune -The Bears report to Olivet Nazarene University on Wednesday with the first practice scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Thursday.

Wiederer: John Fox, Mike Glennon, Jerrell Freeman and more as Bears arrive at camp - Chicago Tribune - General manager Ryan Pace and John Fox met with the media first. A handful of players also spoke. Here are highlights from those interview sessions.

Campbell: Improved health a priority for Bears — in camp and beyond - Chicago Tribune
Eric Kush pedaled his bicycle past the gymnasium and a couple of dorms at Olivet Nazarene University on Wednesday morning. Only the Bears offensive lineman was

Stankevitz: Why the Bears are feeling optimistic about their 2017 defense - CSN Chicago
The Bears feel like an injection of veterans into their defense could lead to good things in 2017.

Potash: Is Bears' injury luck changing? Danny Trevathan might avoid PUP list - Chicago Sun-Times - Pace addressed the injury issue pro-actively in the offseason and now we’ll see if it made a difference.

Finley: Bears, DL Akiem Hicks talking contract extension - Chicago Sun-Times - Akiem Hicks wants a contract extension. He could get his wish. The Bears and their defensive lineman are in engaged in discussions.

Finley: Entering Year 3 for John Fox, Bears know 'focus now is winning games' - Chicago Sun-Times - Asked how he would consider Fox’s progress, besides wins and losses, Pace pointed out the Bears are in “Day 1 in a long process right now."

Mayer: Glennon relishing opportunity of lifetime - ChicagoBears.com - Mike Glennon’s trip to Bourbonnais Wednesday was a special one because it marked the first time in his five-year NFL career that he arrived at training camp as a starting quarterback.

Mayer: Bears making changes to reduce injuries - ChicagoBears.com - After placing 19 players on injured reserve last season, the Bears are implementing some changes in an effort to thin out the crowd in the training room this year.

FIshbain: Different type of pressure on Glennon, Howard for 2017 Chicago Bears season - Pro Football Weekly - Two most important Bears answered questions at first day of training camp

Hub Arkush: Chicago Bears are clearly Ryan Pace's team as training camp gets underway - Pro Football Weekly - Pace continued an offseason in which he has taken ownership of the Bears

Eurich: Mike Glennon says being the Bears starter is a dream - 247sports - Mike Glennon is excited for his dream opportunity with the Chicago Bears.

White: This Offseason Ryan Pace Took the Only Gamble that Really Matters - Da Bears Brothers - Pace will either be a genius with the conviction to get his man, or another name Bears fans curse as we bemoan the futility of our favorite franchise.

Finley: Bears starter Mike Glennon knows Mitch Trubisky chatter inevitable - Chicago Sun-Times - Mike Glennon has been compared to Mitch Trubisky every day since the Bears drafted the rookie second overall, and will continue to be.

Morrissey: Best for Bears, Mitch Trubisky if he doesn't play in '17 - Chicago Sun-Times - Rookie's development will be more solid with a redshirt year.

WIederer: Mitch Trubisky will begin waiting game as Bears begin training camp - Chicago Tribune - Rookie Mitch Trubisky's grand entrance onto the stage as the Bears franchise quarterback will not come during training camp. It may not come in 2017 at all.

Biggs: John Fox wants better Bears passing game, a challenge with so many new faces - Chicago Tribune - The Bears' wide receivers are either young and inexperienced (Cameron Meredith and Kevin White) or new (Markus Wheaton, Victor Cruz and Kendall Wright).

Haugh: John Fox reports he likes his roster, and he must win with it or ... - Chicago Tribune - No Bears coach has survived three losing seasons and Ryan Pace would have to find compelling reason to make John Fox the first if team's as bad as expected.

The coolest Bear arrival in Bourbonnais was...the punter? - CSN Chicago - We break down the coolest and the most, well interesting, Chicago Bear player arrivals to training camp in Bourbonnais, IL.

Boden: Bears appear ready to keep Akiem Hicks close to mom - CSN Chicago - The Bears appear ready to keep Akiem Hicks close to his mom, which is with the Bears here in Chicago — where she's from.

Strotman: Why this year feels different to Bears head coach John Fox - 'There's a lot of optimism' - CSN Chicago - John Fox said the best roster he's had with the Bears is a huge reason why he feels confident about this year's team improving from a year ago.

Boden: Are Ryan Pace and John Fox feeling pressure to win in Year 3? - CSN Chicago - How much pressure are coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace going into Year 3 after a combined record of 9-23 in the first two seasons of their tenure?

Stankevitz: Why the Bears are feeling optimistic about their 2017 defense - CSN Chicago - The Bears feel like an injection of veterans into their defense could lead to good things in 2017.

Mayer: White will not be limited in training camp - ChicagoBears.com - After missing 28 of 32 games over his first two NFL seasons, receiver Kevin White will hit the ground running Thursday when the Bears conduct their first training camp practice.

Adam Hoge’s Bears Blog - WGN Radio - Hoge’s 10 Bears Things: Hicks ‘Completely Open To Ending Career’ In Chicago

Fishbain: Pace optimistic about health of the team going into camp - Pro Football Weekly - Bears may not have to put as many big names on the PUP list

POLISH SAUSAGE

What’s the weather like in Ken’s yard today (i.e. his new weather station) - Seriously, you can’t get any more Polish Sausage than checking the weather at Ken’s house, can you?

Sessler: Eagles cut former first-round pick Marcus Smith - NFL.com - The Philadelphia Eagles have parted ways with former first-round pick Marcus Smith, the team announced on Wednesday. The move comes after the DE's three lackluster seasons with the team

KNOW THY ENEMY

Hanzus: Martellus Bennett forced to sleep in locker room - NFL.com - Martellus Bennett got to Packers camp late Tuesday night, meaning he was locked out of his assigned room. This gave the world of social media a golden opportunity to enter the Marty B. experience.

Western: Mike McCarthy addresses Letroy Guion & running backs in first presser of Training Camp - Acme Packing Company - The Packers’ head coach gave his initial insights on his team on the day when players report for camp.

Reisman: Lions, Patriots to hold joint walk through in Detroit - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions will hold a second set of joint practices this year.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Witfong's Bears Camp Preview 2017: Nickleback battle and another veteran bubble guy - Windy City Gridiron - In Lester’s latest T Formation Conversation Podcast, he previews Chicago Bears camp by discussing the position battle he is most excited for, and talking about one of his favorite veterans that may be released.

Link: Chicago Bears Training Camp Presser Live streaming updates (open thread) - Windy City Gridiron - John Fox and Ryan Pace will meet the media today in Bourbonnais

Link: John Fox says this is he best roster in 3 years - Windy City Gridiron - John Fox and Ryan Pace met the media today in Bourbonnais. Catch the highlights here!

Wiltfong: Madden reveals their rookie ratings, Mitchell Trubisky is a 77 - Windy City Gridiron - Madden NFL 18 just revealed their rookie ratings. See some of their reactions right here.

WIltfong's Chicago Bears 2017 Position Battles: Who will be the third quarterback? - Windy City Gridiron - Today we’ll start our in-depth look at all the training camp position battles for the Chicago Bears. We begin our 11 part series at quarterback, where the only real battle taking place is for the...

Sunderbruch's NFC North Roster Comparisons: Front 7 - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears have traditionally been a team that played physical defense. However, in recent years the defense has been a weakness. Is this the year that changes?

FANPOSTS

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