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The Bear’s Den, August 3, 2018

Bears look good, bad and indifferent (depending on which player you were watching in HOF game

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NFL: Pro Hall of Fame Game-Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens
Chicago Bears wide receiver Tanner Gentry (19) catches a pass for a touchdown in the second half at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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

BEARRRSSSS / DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Wiederer: Matt Nagy and the Bears show few cards in 17-16 Hall of Fame Game loss to Ravens - Chicago Tribune - Thursday marked the first game Matt Nagy has coached since joining the Bears in January. But it was hardly a sneak preview of what’s to come in the months ahead.

Haugh: Bears’ season won’t really start until Mitch Trubisky plays and Roquan Smith gets to camp - Chicago Tribune - Mitch Trubisky watched wearing a baseball hat but Roquan Smith’s absence cast a bigger cloud over the Bears during Thursday night’s exhibition opener against the Ravens in Canton, Ohio.

Wiederer: Mitch Trubisky doesn’t play in the Hall of Fame Game, leaving starting QB duty to Chase Daniel - Chicago Tribune - Mitch Trubisky did not play in the Hall of Fame Game, leaving Bears fans to wait another week before getting a game-action progress report on him. Backup Chase Daniel got the start and went 8-for-16 for 53 yards in the first half.

Wiederer: Brian Urlacher gives Bears a pep talk before Hall of Fame Game - Chicago Tribune - Bears great Brian Urlacher gave the team a pep talk before Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game ahead of his induction on Saturday.

Bears questions and answers - Chicago Tribune - Bears burning questions: Chicago Tribune writers address key issues

Finley: Matt Nagy’s debut a reminder that Bears have a long way to go - Chicago Sun-Times - It took only five plays for the faithful to be reminded that Bears head coach Matt Nagy’s work is just getting started.Ken’s Note: Reckless Hot Take Alert! FIRE EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agrest: Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher’s legacy uncertain - Chicago Sun Times - His presence was felt everywhere when he played, but it hasn’t been since. And even with “HOF” next to his autograph, it might stay that way.

DeAndre Houston-Carson creates Bears first takeaway - 247Sports - DeAndre Houston-Carson helped the Chicago Bears take the football away in the first quarter.

Brian Urlacher on Bears: 'This is the most excited I've been' - 247Sports - Brian Urlacher is excited about the current state of the Chicago Bears.

Mayer: Bears edged by Ravens in Hall of Fame Game - ChicagoBears.com - With most of their key players watching from the sideline, it will be difficult to draw any conclusions from Thursday night’s preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game. But there were certainly some positives for the Bears in a 17-16 loss to the Ravens.

Hall of Fame Game: Studs and duds from Bears’ preseason loss to Ravens - Bears Wire - The Hall of Fame game featured a lot of ugly football, but a few Chicago Bears players on each side of the ball stood out against the Ravens

Twitter reacts to NFL new helmet rule in Bears’ Hall of Fame game - Bears Wire - The referees at the Hall of Fame game took plenty of criticism on Twitter for their enforcement of the NFL's new helmet contact rule.

Neveau: Chicago Bears Lose to Baltimore Ravens in Hall of Fame Game - NBC Chicago - The Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens are set to square off Thursday in the NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton.

Sports Talk Live Podcast: The Bears kick off the preseason in the Hall of Fame Game - NBC Sports Chicago - Anthony Herron, Jimmy Greenfield and Lauren Comitor join Kap on the panel, they discuss the Bears kicking off the preseason in the Hall of Fame Game.

Mullin: Lovie Smith's Bears Cover-2 scheme changed Brian Urlacher – and he changed it - NBC Sports Chicago - As Brian Urlacher prepares for his induction into the Football Hall of Fame, John "Moon" Mullin looks back at No. 54's relationship with Lovie Smith's favorite defensive scheme and how it shaped the career of the two men.

Zeglinski: For Ryan Nall, the NFL is just another challenge he’s long been prepared for – The Rock River Times - Wherever he’s gone, Ryan Nall has always been the biggest, strongest, and fastest guy on the field, in the room, you name it. From Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon to Oregon State, Nall is used to consistently shining a cut above his peers. None of his success has been gifted to him either, aside from abilities he’s endowed with that’s he’s maximized. He’s a player that’s driven to thrive and succeed.

Nabors: Bears vs. Ravens - What mattered, what worked and what didn't - Daily Herald - Three moments that mattered, three things that worked, and three things that didn't in the Bears' first preseason game.

Knoblach: What we learned from Bears vs. Ravens in HOF Game - NFL.com - Football made its triumphant return Thursday night during the Baltimore Ravens’ 17-16 victory over the Chicago Bears. Here’s what we learned from the game.

Holmes: Reflecting On Brian Urlacher's Legacy - 670 The Score - Urlacher changed the game and how we watched it.

Bernstein: Avoiding A Classically Bad Bears Thought - 670 The Score - Finally, we don't have to be compelled by the backup quarterback.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Seahawks’ Brandon Marshall: “It’s either you got something left in the tank or you don’t” – ProFootballTalk - Wide receiver Brandon Marshall had his most extensive work of training cam during Thursday’s practice with the Seattle Seahawks, The 12-year veteran is working his way back from an ankle injury that ended his 2017 season after only five games.

Patriots signing WR Eric Decker to one-year deal - NFL.com - The New England Patriots are signing veteran wide receiver Eric Decker to a one-year deal, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports. Decker worked out for the Pats earlier this week.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Mathbomb Lions training camp observations: TEs, RBs impress - Pride Of Detroit - A detailed look at how the Lions performed during Thursday’s practice.

Who is the most Hall of Fame worthy Minnesota Viking? - Daily Norseman - There has to be more coming eventually, right?

Which free agent ILBs might tempt Packers GM Brian Gutekunst? - Acme Packing Company - With Jake Ryan out for the year, the Packers might look outside for help on the inside. But who’s available?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Curl's Hall of Fame Preseason postgame: Chicago Bears 16 vs Baltimore Ravens 17 - Windy City Gridiron - It’s 2018 and the Bears played a football game. Bears football is 100% officially back, and I’m still basking in the fat furry ursine glory of it all. In a game where the Baltimore Ravens brought...

Infante's Bears UDFA breakdown: Kevin Toliver - Windy City Gridiron - Every year a few UDFAs make the Chicago Bears’ 53-man roster, so we’ll take a look at the Top 10 most likely to do so. This time, we’re take a look at former LSU standout Kevin Toliver.

Householder: What to watch for during Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Game - Windy City Gridiron - A lot of future practice squad and Canadian football players will see the field tonight but it’s still worth watching

Sunderbruch: What is Ryan Pace Actually “Good” At? - Windy City Gridiron - Supposedly, everyone has a skill. Something they are good at. Is it possible that Ryan Pace’s talents are there, but that they simply don’t have anything to do with football?

Infante's Bears UDFA breakdown: Ryan Nall - Windy City Gridiron - Every year a few UDFAs make the Chicago Bears’ 53-man roster, so we’ll take a look at the Top 10 most likely to do so. This time, we’re looking at former Oregon State tailback Ryan Nall.

Berckes: Five Questions with Baltimore Beatdown - Ray Lewis is the “greatest linebacker in NFL history” - Windy City Gridiron - Football is back and we kick off our 2018 series with Kyle Barber from Baltimore Beatdown

Hall of Fame Game: Five questions with Windy City Gridiron - Baltimore Beatdown - Ravens fans know what to expect from their team for the Hall of Fame Game, but the Ravens weren’t the only team preparing for their early pre-season game. The Bears also began training camp early,...

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s StreamingTwitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - Robert Zeglinski

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WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Andrew Link; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.