The Bear’s Den, August 21, 2020

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THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This week is Cat Week here in the Den

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

BEARRRSSSS

Bears QB Competition: Mitch Trubisky’s late mistake overshadows superb practice - NBC Sports Chicago - It was a great day for Trubisky, right until the end.

What Matt Nagy really means when he says Robert Quinn is 'ramping-up' - NBC Sports Chicago - We're taking a stab at saying what Matt Nagy can't.

PFF disses Bears' Mitch Trubisky on his birthday, using shoddy stats analysis - NBC Sports Chicago - Honestly, this whole tweet is uncalled for.

Bears practice takeaways: Day 3 belongs to Akiem Hicks, defensive line - NBC Sports Chicago - Hicks was making plays all day – including on special teams.

Inside Bears QB Competition: How team will pick between Mitch Trubisky, Nick Foles - NBC Sports Chicago - An inside look at the operation of the competition and the key factors that will ultimately decide who lines up under center against the Lions on Sept. 13.

Great Bears' defense no excuse if Mitch Trubisky, Nick Foles struggle - NBC Sports Chicago - It was easy to chalk up the Bears' offense looking bad in 2019's training camp to them facing a great defense. That's not an excuse again in 2020.

Germain Ifedi Seeing Significant Time At Right Guard - On Tap Sports Net - Bears’ offensive line coach Juan Castillo comments on Germain Ifedi’s work with the starters.

Jimmy Graham Promises He'll "Be Back" as Elite Performer - SI.com - "He looks just like the Terminator. He walks like him and everything. He's a beast, he's a freak, but he's gonna get us better each and every day."

Red Zone Issues Continue to Dog Bears, Mitchell Trubisky - SI.com - It was only one series of plays in training camp but gave a glimpse of how well the Bears have solved some of their great problems of the 2019 season.

It's Way Too Early to Be All in on a New Mitchell Trubisky - SI.com - There never has been a dispute about Trubisky's competitiveness, even if he hasn't had to actually compete for his job in the past. The desire to compete always was there since John Fox and Dowell Loggains were calling the shots in 2017.

Chicago Bears: Jaylon Johnson eager to prove he’s a starter - Chicago Tribune - Whether Bears rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson is ready to line up on the first snap of the season is a medical question complicated by a ticking clock. The second-round pick underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder in March, and the Bears have yet to utilize him in full-team periods during training camp.

Chicago Bears: Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet eager to prove worth - Chicago Tribune - Cole Kmet grew up admiring tight end Jimmy Graham. Now the Bears’ second-round draft pick is working alongside the 11th-year veteran, and both are eager to prove they can contribute this season.

Bears training camp: Jimmy Graham doesn’t need to be the Terminator - Chicago Sun-Times - Kevin Toliver has a nickname for Jimmy Graham. He told the Bears tight end about it the other day. “He looks just like the Terminator,” the cornerback said. “He walks like him and everything. He’s a beast. He’s a freak.”

Bears training camp: Rookie CB Jaylon Johnson ready to push for starting job - Chicago Sun-Times - The loss of Artie Burns narrows the competition for a starting job to Johnson and Kevin Toliver. The Bears are betting on Johnson being a pillar of their defense in the long term, so his timeline is now accelerated.

Bears training camp: Tight end Cole Kmet learning from the best - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears rookie tight end, already impressive in early practices, gets a ringing endorsement from teammate — and former All-Pro — Jimmy Graham: ‘He reminds me of a young me.’

Bears training camp podcast: Camp competitions from QB to TE to CB - Chicago Sun-Times - Here’s an early assessment of the competitions to watch in Bears camp.

Bears notebook: Kevin Toliver is No. 1 ... for now - Chicago Sun-Times - The third-year cornerback could be holding the spot for rookie Jaylon Johnson. But with Johnson still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Toliver has an opportunity to convince the coaching staff he deserves the job.

Bears camp: Kevin Toliver likens TE Jimmy Graham to The Terminator - Bears Wire - CB Kevin Toliver has seen a lot of TE Jimmy Graham in practice, and Toliver hinted that Graham been giving the defensive backs fits.

Chicago Bears TE Jimmy Graham feeling rejuvenated, making splash in training camp - ChicagoBears.com - New Bears tight end Jimmy Graham appears to be a man on a mission early in training camp, consistently displaying energy, competitiveness and playmaking ability in practice.

Quick Hits: Chicago Bears limiting Robert Quinn’s, Khalil Mack’s training camp reps - ChicagoBears.com - Bears star pass rushers Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn are being eased back into full-contact drills. Reserve outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo is excelling against the run and pass. And more news from training camp.

Chicago Bears rookie Jaylon Johnson ready to compete for starting cornerback job - ChicagoBears.com - Rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson is ready to compete for the Bears open starting cornerback slot.

Roster Moves: Chicago Bears sign WR Rodney Adams, place DB Artie Burns on injured reserve - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Thursday signed receiver Rodney Adams and placed cornerback Artie Burns on injured reserve.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Chiefs ban fans wearing headdresses - ProFootballTalk - Although they’re not taking any steps as significant as the Washington Football Team changing its name, the Kansas City Chiefs have also agreed to make some changes after consulting with Native American leaders.

Column: NFL fans won’t miss Thom Brennaman calling NFL games - Chicago Tribune - Thom Brennaman, who was among the charter group of Fox Sports announcers when it began broadcasting NFL games in 1994, won’t be calling pro football for the network this season. That is the latest fallout from his anti-gay slur over an open microphone Wednesday during a Cincinnati Reds telecast.

FOX takes Thom Brennaman off NFL broadcasts - ProFootballTalk - Broadcaster Thom Brennaman will no longer call NFL games on FOX Sports after he used a homophobic slur on the air while calling a baseball game on Wednesday night.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Detroit Lions training camp stock report: 5 players trending up, 4 trending down - Pride Of Detroit - A look at which players have helped and hurt their cases through two practices.

Vikings not likely to hosts fans for season opener - ProFootballTalk - According to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Vikings are not likely to host fans for the Week One game, at home against Green Bay.

Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst explains limits on in-practice tweets by reporters - ProFootballTalk - On Thursday, Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst took the blame for limits implemented by his team, and he explained the reasoning for the changes, which include prohibition on players taking first-team reps, position battles, and lineup rotations.

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

Wiltfong: Jimmy Graham has a lot to prove in 2020 - Windy City Gridiron - Jimmy Graham has been one of the best tight ends of his generation during his 10-year career, but as he readies himself for his first year with the Chicago Bears, he feels he has plenty more left...

Wiltfong: Bears work out six free agents on defense today - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears gave a try out to six players today at Halas Hall per the NFL’s try out/visit list.

Wiltfong: Probability is high that the Bears will go Over their 2020 win total - Windy City Gridiron - If you’re looking for a fun wager for the 2020 season that has a decent chance of paying off, and that also has to do with the Chicago Bears, then our friends over at Sports Betting Dime may have...

Is Buster Skrine’s role at nickel secure? - Windy City Gridiron - It wasn’t my intention to make this latest Windy City Gridiron Chicago Bears round table all about the defense, but with so much of the training camp attention being heaped on the offense, it does...

Berckes & Snyder: Bears Over Beers Interviews Director of Jim McMahon Documentary - Windy City Gridiron - Director CJ Wallis cracks a cold one with the guys and discusses his passion project involving the Punky QB.

THE RULES

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