The Bear’s Den, August 18, 2020

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THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This week is Cat Week here in the Den, so here’s another cat song...

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

BEARRRSSSS

Bears QB Competition: Nick Foles gets slight edge over Mitch Trubisky on Day 1 - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears' quarterback competition officially got underway Monday at Halas Hall, with mixed results.

2020 NFL season: Bears say no fans at Soldier Field to start season - NBC Sports Chicago - The team announced the news on Monday night.

Bears practice takeaways: Matt Nagy has big plans for Cordarrelle Patterson - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears had their first padded practice on Monday, in which we got an early look at Matt Nagy's plans for Cordarrelle Patterson.

Bears' Eddie Jackson explains how Deon Bush looks totally different in 2020 - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears safety competition got off to a bang on Monday morning.

Bilal Nichols Confident He Can Be Bears "Nose Plug" - SI.com - The challenge to Bilal Nichols is playing without nose tackle Eddie Goldman more than it is playing Goldman's position.

Mitchell Trubisky Jumps Out, Cole Kmet Just Jumps - SI.com - The Bears' first 90-minute practice in pads came with rookie hazing, or at least teasing.

The Bears will not have fans at Soldier Field…at least right now - Bears Wire - The Bears issued a statement explaining that currently no fans will be allowed at Soldier Field in 2020 to ensure their health and safety.

Bears camp: Chicago hosting several tryouts at QB, RB and WR - Bears Wire - It's been a busy day for the Chicago Bears. After completing their first day of padded practices, the team is working out several players.

Chicago Bears' first padded practice of the season at Halas Hall helped DT Akiem Hicks, teammates return to regular routine - ChicagoBears.com - After an unprecedented offseason due to COVID-19, the Bears' first padded practice of the year Monday at Halas Hall helped defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and his teammates return to their regular routine.

Chicago Bears, City of Chicago address if fans can attend games at Soldier Field - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears and the City of Chicago have agreed that it’s not yet the right time to welcome fans back to Soldier Field due to COVID-19. But they will continue to monitor the situation and believe there’s a sound plan in place to bring fans back eventually...

Bears camp: Matt Nagy promises to drag out QB race ‘as far as we possibly can’ - Chicago Sun-Times - Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles waded into the on-field part of their quarterback competition Monday. Nagy wants to take his time deciding between the two, but the Bears are already less than a month from their season opener.

Chicago Bears podcast: Padded practice has arrived - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears finally put the pads on.

Bears’ Robert Quinn still ramping up after ‘personal issue’ - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears coach Matt Nagy said he was still getting back to speed after going through what the Bears coach defined as a personal issue.

Bears debut WR Cordarrelle Patterson at running back in 1st practice - Chicago Sun-Times - Patterson is getting an opportunity at a position he played for the Patriots in 2018.

Bears face a defining 2020 season - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears can re-establish themselves as a playoff team in 2020 — or face a tumultuous offseason of potential upheaval. Our annual optimist/pessimist test reveals just how confident you are in Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky & Co.

Chicago Bears not planning to have fans at Soldier Field - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears are not planning to have fans at games at Soldier Field this season because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the team announced Monday.

Takeaways from Chicago Bears' padded practice - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy has spoken about the possibility of using Cordarrelle Patterson at running back as well as wide receiver in an effort to up his production from 11 catches for 83 yards and 17 carries for 103 yards last season.

Chicago Bears: Inside the 1st padded practice - Chicago Tribune - With reporters on hand, the Bears held their first full team practice since last December on Monday morning and the vibes were positive. “You get fully immersed back into your regular routine, your regular schedule. You find your groove again. It just becomes natural.”

Chicago Bears: Day 1 of quarterback competition - Chicago Tribune - Cole Kmet dropped a pass from Mitch Trubisky and Darnell Mooney had a deep shot from Nick Foles go off his shoulder pads. So the Chicago Bears QB scorecard would reflect good reads and solid throws by each contestant.

Photos: Bears back at Halas Hall for their first padded practice - Chicago Tribune - Photos from the Chicago Bears' first padded practice of the season at Halas Hall on Aug. 17, 2020.

5 things we learned from first Chicago Bears padded training camp practice at Halas Hall - ChicagoBears.com - After the Bears conducted their first padded practice Monday, coach Matt Nagy revealed one key criterion in the quarterback competition, where versatile playmaker Cordarrelle Patterson lined up and more.

Chicago Bears DT Bilal Nichols ready to step up at nose tackle in place of Eddie Goldman - ChicagoBears.com - Filling in for Eddie Goldman, third-year defensive tackle Bilal Nichols impressed at nose tackle in the Bears first padded practice of the season.

Today Begins What Will Be a Wild, Unpredictable 2020 Campaign - Da Bears Blog - Today is the first day the media will attend Chicago Bears practice, the first time Madame Bombs and his cohorts will get to weigh-in on the quarterback “competition”.

Bears To Stretch QB Competition Out ‘As Far As We Can’ - 670 The Score - “We are going to stretch that out as far as we can,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.

Bears DE Bilal Nichols: ‘I’m ready for this opportunity’ - Chicago Sun-Times - The 23-year-old Nichols, a two-year starter at defensive end since being drafted in the fifth round in 2018, is getting the first shot at replacing inimitable nose tackle Eddie Goldman.

Bears’ first padded practice ‘does feel like football again’ - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ first padded practice came only 27 days before their season opener against the Lions — and five months after all of American society was told not to touch their fellow man, much less wrestle him to the ground.

Bears won’t let fans into Soldier Field - Chicago Sun-Times - As teams around the NFL finalize their plans for allowing (or not allowing) fans at games this season during the pandemic, the Bears and the city agreed to keep Soldier Field empty — for now.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Washington makes Jason Wright first Black team president - NFL.com - Washington has appointed former running back Jason Wright to be the team president. Wright becomes the youngest current team president in the league and also the first-ever Black person to hold this title in the history of the NFL.

Gerald McCoy out for season after rupturing quad tendon - NFL.com - Gerald McCoy's first season in Dallas is over before it started. McCoy suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon during practice Monday and will miss the entire 2020 season, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told reporters.

Alex Smith: However this comes out, I'm better for it - ProFootballTalk - Quarterback Alex Smith is set to hit another big milestone on Tuesday when Washington holds its first padded practice of the summer.

WINDY CITY GRIDIRON MADDEN INVITATION

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Salo: Notes and Quotes from Practice - Nagy Impressed with Graham’s Experience, Confidence, and Leadership - Windy City Gridiron - Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy spoke with the media today after their first practice with full pads.

Wiltfong: Bears announce no fans at Soldier Field this year - Windy City Gridiron - This was an expected announcement...

Wiltfong: Bears renew their partnership with Zebra Technologies for player/ball tracking - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears will continue their partnership with Zebra Technologies to get their unique data.

Householder: Chicago Bears host 8 players for tryouts; QBs Hogan, Sloter, RB Prosise - Windy City Gridiron - Workout season is in as the Bears opened padding camp practice hosting several players for workouts.

Wiltfong: Bears lined Bilal Nichols up at nose tackle today - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s all the juicy info from today’s first padded practice at Halas Hall...

Who will start opposite Kyle Fuller at corner? - Windy City Gridiron - The WCG staff is running through some Bears training camp topics in a round table format this week...

THE RULES

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