The Bear’s Den, July 30, 2020

THE DENMASTER KEN SPECIAL

This week I’m going to share a video, one each from my favorite Youtube content providers. I hope you like the videos, and check out their channels!

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

BEARRRSSSS

Bears Confident In Structure Of QB Competition - 670 The Score - In simpler times, the Bears would be taking the field for their first practice of training camp this week and all eyes would be on the quarterback competition between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles. But these aren’t simple times, so the Bears will have to be creative in conducting their

Hot Seat? Ryan Pace Feels ‘Full Support’ From Bears - 670 The Score - After the Bears took a major step back in 2019, they face a critical season ahead. That’s certainly the case for general manager Ryan Pace, who has two years remaining on his current contract.

Ryan Pace: Bears Won’t Have Hands Tied On Extensions - 670 The Score - Though the NFL faces uncertainty on the financial front amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bears general manager Ryan Pace and his front office have the confidence and foundation in place to move forward with potential contract extensions.

Bears Don’t Anticipate Any More Players Opting Out - 670 The Score - Bears general manager Ryan Pace isn’t aware of any other players on his roster preparing to opt out of playing in 2020, he said Wednesday, a day after news broke that nose tackle Eddie Goldman will sit out due to COVID-19 health concerns amid the pandemic.

Ryan Pace On Pandemic Season: ‘It’s About Mitigating Risk’ - 670 The Score - When the Bears assemble for their first team meeting of an unprecedented training camp, they’ll do so from the Walter Payton Center. The 100-yard domed practice field allows more than enough space for social distancing.

Matt Nagy: Time Crunch Is Big Enemy for Nick Foles - SI.com - The Chicago Bears quarterback battle might be wide open but in one way coach Matt Nagy acknowledges much depends on whether Nick Foles has enough time to make an impact with no preseason games, only the last few weeks in pads and no offseason work.

Biggest Takeaways From Pace and Nagy Presser - On Tap Sports Net - Get your full recap of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace's press conference today at Halas Hall as the Bears begin reporting for training camp.

Where GM Ryan Pace Feels He Stands with the McCaskeys - SI.com - Pace does seem to feel he's on solid footing with the ownership McCaskey family and team president and CEO Ted Phillips.

Tight End Eric Saubert Put on Reserve/COVID-19 List - SI.com - Hoffman Estates High School product Eric Saubert was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, becoming the second Bears player on it. Rookie running back Artavis Pierce is the other one, while nose tackle Eddie Goldman has taken the coronavirus opt-out for this season.

Former Bears CB Tre Roberson broke his foot in training this offseason - Bears Wire - Bears general manager Ryan Pace told reporters Wednesday that Roberson suffered a broken foot while training ahead of the start of the season, which he called disappointing as the team was high on him heading into training camp.

Chicago Bears confident in COVID-19 safety plan ahead of training camp at Halas Hall - ChicagoBears.com - While it's been an exhaustive process that has required an extraordinary amount of time and energy, general manager Ryan Pace is extremely proud of what the organization has accomplished.

Chicago Bears NT Eddie Goldman opts out of 2020 NFL season due to concerns about coronavirus pandemic - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears placed veteran nose tackle Eddie Goldman on the reserve/opt out list after he informed the team that he was opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns about COVID-19.

Chicago Bears TE Eric Saubert placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list, DB Tre Roberson clears waivers - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Wednesday placed third-year tight end Eric Saubert on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Chalk Talk: How did Chicago Bears CB Tre Roberson get injured, can fans attend training camp at Halas Hall? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses cornerback Tre Roberson’s injury, if the Bears will consider quarantining third-string quarterback Tyler Bray and if fans will be allowed to attend training camp practices.

Before Worrying About the 2021 Bears, Maybe Let’s See How 2020 Plays Out - Da Bears Blog - The voices clamoring to replace Ryan Pace have grown louder this off-season, but the simple truth is this: we have to see what 2020 brings before making any determination on whether or not the GM should be employed beyond this season.

Roy Robertson-Harris preparing for Chicago Bears season - Chicago Tribune - As Chicago Bears defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris pondered the football season ahead, he more or less defaulted to the same position when wondering about the future: Take it one day at a time.

How NFL contact tracing will work - Chicago Tribune - Before NFL players can dress at their socially distanced lockers each day for training camp, they will pick up a lightweight sensor that will be used during all team activities this summer to assist teams with physical distancing and contact tracing.

Chicago Bears: Inside Eddie Goldman's decision to opt out - Chicago Tribune - Eddie Goldman's surprise decision to opt out of the 2020 season was due to personal concerns that he qualified as higher risk to develop medical complications related to COVID-19. What went into Goldman's decision? And how did the Bears react?

Chicago Bears: Matt Nagy expects right call from QB battle - Chicago Tribune - When it comes to the best-laid plans made by the Bears at the quarterback position, things rarely work out. Matt Nagy is confident the right result will come out of the camp battle between Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles.

Chicago Bears: 4 things learned from Matt Nagy, Ryan Pace - Chicago Tribune - Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy held a lengthy Zoom call with reporters to detail their thoughts on the abnormal circumstances surrounding this season and their outlook as training camp begins. Here are four things we learned.

Why Bears' quarterback competition will not end when Trubisky or Foles 'wins' - NBC Sports Chicago - Matt Nagy will eventually name a starting quarterback this summer. But whoever that is -- Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles -- might not even be guaranteed to finish the Bears' opener against the Lions.

Bears' Ryan Pace, Matt Nagy staunchly supportive of Eddie Goldman's 2020 opt-out - NBC Sports Chicago - There was nothing but support for Goldman within the Bears organization on Wednesday.

Matt Nagy admits Bears' 2020 offseason may lead to 'limited reps' for rookies - NBC Sports Chicago - Cole Kmet, Jaylon Johnson, and the rest of the 2020 class have a lot of work to do – with little time to do it.

Success of Bears' coronavirus 'bubble' rests on player responsibility - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears' COVID-19 prevention and mitigation efforts sound great. But all it'll take is one selfish decision to ruin the whole thing.

Bears’ Halas Hall COVID-19 protocols extensive as 2020 training camp ramps up - NBC Sports Chicago - ICO and Head Athletic Trainer Andre Tucker outlined the process on Wednesday morning.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Still no signed agreement revising the CBA - ProFootballTalk - So what’s the holdup? As one source with knowledge of the situation told PFT, “Lawyers.”

Damien Williams opts out for 2020 - ProFootballTalk - The Chiefs announced on Wednesday that running back Damien Williams has decided to opt out of playing this year. He joins guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif as Chiefs players who have opted out this season.

Sean Payton won't be surprised if some games are suspended - ProFootballTalk - Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Payton said that he won’t be surprised if some 2020 games are suspended. He pointed to the possibility that a team will have all players at a given position group unable to play, due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Bears put TE Eric Saubert on Reserve/COVID-19 list - Chicago Sun-Times - He was put on the list for either testing positive or being in the presence of someone who was.

How the Bears are trying to make Halas Hall safe - Chicago Sun-Times - Wednesday, the team gave a day-in-the-life example of steps players must take just to enter Halas Hall. Veterans will begin doing so later this week, while rookies are already inside.

Bears QB battle is in Matt Nagy’s hands - Chicago Sun-Times - With no preseason games to determine a winner between Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles, it could be up to Nagy’s intuition and feel to make the right call. Do you trust him?

Bears GM Ryan Pace faces challenges amid coronavirus-related impositions - Chicago Sun-Times - Nailing down a roster and making long-term plans are more challenging than ever for NFL teams as the pandemic leaves its footprint on this season and the next few.

Morrissey: Sports and coronavirus - Steady bad news from sports world a sign we should stop playing games - Chicago Sun-Times - We want our sports. But in a pandemic, just because we want something doesn’t mean we should get it.

Bears QB competition still ‘completely open’ - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears coach Matt Nagy reiterated Wednesday that the quarterback competition is wide open and he must create an environment that will test Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky during practices.

Bears GM Ryan Pace not expecting anymore opt outs for 2020 season - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears suffered a blow with defensive lineman Eddie Goldman exercising his option to sit out 2020 because of the pandemic, but they believe everyone else will be in the building.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

The salary cap implications of Michael Pierce’s opt-out - Daily Norseman - It does give the Vikings some relief

Will Continuity Bring a Vikings Championship? - Daily Norseman - It may seem like an odd time to talk about continuity for the Vikings - they’ve had more player turnover this year than in the past several - but in the midst of that, the Vikings have been...

Three more Vikings placed on COVID-19 list - Daily Norseman - Including one projected starter

T.J. Hockenson, Kenny Golladay, 3 others placed on Lions’ reserve/COVID-19 list - Pride Of Detroit - Five Lions players will have to clear COVID-19 protocol before joining the team.

Report: Detroit Lions DT John Atkins opting out of 2020 season - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions have their first player opting out of the 2020 season.

WINDY CITY GRIDIRON MADDEN INVITATION

Do you want to do more officially sanctioned WCG Madden stuff? Or just enjoy the game?WCG now has an official Madden Discord server! Feel free to offer suggestions, updates, or anything to help the internet’s best Bears community have the best Madden community as well! Invite link is here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante: Bears DB Eddie Jackson snubbed from NFL Top 100 - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears only saw two players appear on this year’s list, and the two-time Pro Bowl safety was not one of them.

Wiltfong: Bears place Eric Saubert on Reserve/COVID-19 list - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears make three roster moves today...

Wiltfong: The Bears’ GM, head coach and head athletic trainer met the media today - Windy City Gridiron - Plans for COVID, a training camp primer, the tight ends, the running backs, the QB competition, plus a lot more were discussed earlier today.

Wiltfong's Chicago Bears 2020 Position Battles: The running back room seems set - Windy City Gridiron - Next up in my eleven-part position battle series is the running backs.

Berckes: Vote on you Favorite Championship Belt Poster - The Finals - Windy City Gridiron - You’ve narrowed it down to two posters - now choose the ultimate champion!

THE RULES

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