The Bear’s Den, September 3, 2019

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

BEARRRSSSS

Meet the Packers (with The Unknown Packers Podcast) - Chicago Audible Podcast - The Chicago Audible kicks off its Week 1 preview by gaining a firsthand scouting report with everything you need to know about the Green Bay Packers.

Bears feel confident in contingency plan if Trey Burton can’t play against Green Bay - NBC Sports Chicago - Trey Burton returned to practice on Monday, but the tight end's status for Thursday's season opener may still be in doubt.

Remembering Khalil Mack's legendary first half against Green Bay, from those who were there - NBC Sports Chicago - Turns out, everyone there was just as starstruck as we were.

Thursday night's season opener against Green Bay will be an extravagant event. How the Bears react may be the first sign of 'Year 2' progress - NBC Sports Chicago - There's going to be a lot of adrenaline pumping on Thursday night. How the Bears handle it might provde the first real peek at 'Year 2.'

Khalil Mack ranked No. 2 on list of DPOY candidates - NBC Sports Chicago - The annual shortlist of candidates for Defensive Player of the Year typically has the same names: Aaron Donald (Rams), J.J. Watt (Texans) and Khalil Mack. The only difference this year is that Mack's name is appearing on the list as a Chicago Bear.

Former Bears TE Zach Miller sings seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field - NBC Sports Chicago - Cubs fans that made the trip to Wrigley Field on Labor Day were met with a familiar face during the seventh inning stretch: former Bears tight end Zach Miller.Miller greeted the crowd and implored the Cubs, at the time trailing 1-0 to the Seattle Mariners, to mount a comeback before leading a rousing rendition of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’. Miller was accompanied by his son

NFL Power Rankings: Bears begin season in top 10 - NBC Sports Chicago - The 2019 NFL season is finally upon us, and it's kicking off in the most spectacular of ways. The Bears will begin their quest for a Super Bowl in front of a national television audience on Thursday night's season opener against the Green Bay Packers in what will showcase the sport's oldest rivalry in the league's 100th-anniversary season.Yeah, get fired up.

Trey Burton's groin an injury of concern again for Bears - Bearmaven - Trey Burton missed the playoff game with a groin injury, and now has a groin injury heading into opener.

Soldier Field practice left Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro confident - Bearmaven - Bears can at least be happy they're not scrambling around to settle kicking situation, unlike some other teams.

Mitchell Trubisky, Matt Nagy united in thought against Packers - Bearmaven - Bears now have the quarterback-coach combination operating on the same page.

Pace continues to create continuity on line - ChicagoBears.com - General manager Ryan Pace has always placed a premium on developing cohesiveness on the Bears’ offensive line, something he’s accomplished by signing four starters to contract extensions.

Week 1 Key Matchups: Packers at Bears - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears open the 2019 season against the Green Bay Packers. Here are the matchups that matter.

Chalk Talk: Why did Bears keep six ILBs? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses why the Bears kept six inside linebackers on their 53-man roster, what receiver Anthony Miller needs to work on to make up for missed practice time and if there’s concern about center James Daniels’ inexperience.

3 things we learned from GM Ryan Pace - ChicagoBears.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace spoke to the media Monday at Halas Hall about the process to find a new kicker, an injury to a key starter on offense and more.

Trey Burton (Groin) Practiced, Albeit In a Limited Capacity - Bleacher Nation - A surprisingly encouraging progress report for Trey Burton.

In What Seems Like a Totally Logical Move, Eddy Piñeiro Is Practicing at Soldier Field - Bleacher Nation - Piñeiro is already one step ahead of Parkey.

Nagy: Pineiro ‘earned every right’ to be Bears’ kicker - ESPN Video - Bears head coach Matt Nagy appoints Eddy Pineiro as the team’s starting kicker ahead of Week 1, saying “he deserves” the position with the team.

Bears’ special teams coach: kicker derby was to avoid ‘the definition of insanity’ - Chicago Sun-Times - With his starting kicker finally on the roster, Bears special teams coordinator Chris Tabor defended the methods that eventually produced Eddy Pineiro.

Bears TE Trey Burton’s injury could make him game-time decision vs. Packers - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears say Burton completely recovered from sports hernia surgery, but sustained a groin injury last week.

Just business: Ex-Bear Amos has ‘no hard feelings’ after joining Packers - Chicago Sun-Times - Four-year starter at safety proud of contribution he made to rapid growth of Bears’ defense

Whirlwind weekend for Bears LB Josh Woods as he makes regular-season roster - Chicago Sun-Times - The only good news on cut day is no news, so Josh Woods found out in an odd way that he’d just pulled off the greatest accomplishment of his career.

Packers relying on Aaron Rodgers to be their trump card vs. Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - After sitting out preseason, two-time MVP expecting to hit the ground running in opener Thursday at Soldier Field.

Bears TE Trey Burton in question as practices begin for Packers game - Chicago Sun-Times - Burton has been working back from a sports hernia for months, but coach Matt Nagy has been insistent that he'll be ready for the opener.

How Matt Nagy blended success, failure and an epic offseason itinerary into his message to the 2019 Bears - Chicago Tribune - Imposing odds are one reason why Matt Nagy presented the Bears with a one-line directive midway through training camp: "When you think you’re on top of your game, change your game."

5 things we heard from Bears coordinators, including the kicking competition ‘paying dividends’ and accounting for Trey Burton’s potential absence - Chicago Tribune - Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said he is “really proud” of the Bears’ process to find a kicker, and other things we heard from Bears coordinators Monday.

‘So. (Bleeping). Ready’: A year after his dazzling Bears debut, Khalil Mack can’t wait for the Packers to get to town - Chicago Tribune - Matt Nagy remembers his reaction to Khalil Mack's first game as a Bear. "I said, 'Holy hell!' " A year later, Mack and a hungry Bears defense wants to let loose in the season opener against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

100 greatest moments in Chicago Bears history - Chicago Tribune - Ninety-nine years. So much history. The Bears embark Thursday on their 100th season, facing the Packers at Soldier Field. But before we look ahead, we look back.

Bears starters can’t wait to hit somebody; a Packer will do just fine - Chicago Sun-Times
”I’m so (bleeping) ready,’’ linebacker Khalil Mack said Monday. “It’s been so long. ... So I’m looking forward to it, getting out there Thursday, getting to the ground with my brothers.’’

PFF Rankings: Bears trail Packers in All 32 NFL offensive line rankings after the 2019 NFL preseason - PFF - With the 2019 NFL preseason in the books and the regular season just days away, Senior Analyst Mike Renner presents his updated NFL offensive line ranking. Ken’s Note: Now hold it right there. Hold on. (see what I did right there?)

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFL practice squad rules, eligibility, and 2019 minimum salary - The New Orleans Saints will soon submit claims for players waived by other teams. After that, they can start building their practice squad.

Reports: Colts, Jacoby Brissett close to contract extension – ProFootballTalk - The Colts would prefer not to have to find a new starting quarterback again next year. So the Colts and Jacoby Brissett, who was thrust into the starting role by Andrew Luck’s retirement, are close to agreeing on a contract extension, according to multiple reports.

Eagles put Cre’Von LeBlanc on injured reserve – ProFootballTalk - It’s been a busy day for Eagles cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc. The Eagles announced that they’ve signed LeBlanc to a contract extension through the 2020 season on Monday and then followed that up a few hours later by placing him on injured reserve.

Reid on backfield with McCoy: We’ll see how it goes - NFL.com - With the new addition of running back LeSean McCoy, there are questions surrounding how he fits in the Chiefs’ backfield that already has Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Despite injury to Jarrad Davis, Lions won’t overload rookie LB Jahlani Tavai - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions have no intention on throwing Tavai to the wolves.

Vikings sign WR Josh Doctson to one-year deal - Daily Norseman - Well, there’s your fifth receiver

Packers acquire Giants LB B.J. Goodson via trade - Acme Packing Company - After nearly releasing B.J. Goodson during final cuts, the Giants have instead traded the linebacker to the Packers.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Bears’ tight end Trey Burton has a mild groin strain - Windy City Gridiron - Let’s check in on the Bears’ injuries with the season opener just three days away.

Duerrwaechter: Tactical Thinking - Bears vs. Packers - Windy City Gridiron - In the debut of his newest weekly series, ECD looks at the biggest matchup the Bears could look to exploit. This week features the Green Bay Packers and the problems they’ll have defending against the run.

Talking WCG’s Bears’ Top 100 Player List: Part 2 - Windy City Gridiron - In our latest T Formation Conversation (on the WCG Podcast Channel), Lester is joined by a few friends to discuss the WCG Top 100 Bears’ Players of All-Time list and this time they countdown from fifty to one.

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

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