The Bear’s Den, September 11, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

It’s 60’s Pop Week here in the Den, so let’s check out The Drifters....

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

BEARRRSSSS

670 Staff Predictions: Bears-Lions - 670 The Score - The Bears open their season at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, with kickoff set for noon. 670 The Score will have pregame with Hub Arkush, Olin Kreutz and Patrick Mannelly starting at 9 a.m. leading up to game time.

George McCaskey Sets Winning Expectation For Bears In 2020 - 670 The Score - Bears chairman George McCaskey believes his organization can rebound from a disappointing 2019 campaign, but he’s curious to see what this new season holds. He will be evaluating general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy closely in 2020.

Bears OLB Robert Quinn Battling Ankle Injury - 670 The Score - New Bears edge rusher Robert Quinn’s availability for Chicago’s opener at Detroit on Sunday is in jeopardy as he’s dealing with an ankle injury. Quinn didn’t practice Wednesday, and coach Matt Nagy has been mum on his status.

2020 NFL Season predictions: Super Bowl winner, playoff teams, MVP - RSN - NBC Sports Chicago's Adam Hoge and JJ Stankevitz predict the 2020 NFL season - and wound up, independently, picking the same Super Bowl matchup.

Bears vs. Lions Preview, X-Factors, and Predictions - On Tap Sports Net
NFL opening day has come and gone, the Bears have good and bad injury news, and remembering the victims of 9/11. - The Chicago Bears look to start their 2020 campaign with a victory in Detroit on Sunday.

Bears Pass Rush Depth Being Tested Already
NFL opening day has come and gone, the Bears have good and bad injury news, and remembering the victims of 9/11. - The Bears are treating Khalil Mack's knee injury like a non-issue by saying little about it. It's more serious for outside linebacker Robert Quinn.

Bears Wire Podcast: Trubisky is the starting QB and Week 1 preview - Bears Wire
NFL opening day has come and gone, the Bears have good and bad injury news, and remembering the victims of 9/11. - The Chicago Bears might’ve named Mitchell Trubisky the starting quarterback, but the quarterback competition is far from over.

3 highlights from Chicago Bears chairman George H. McCaskey's media session ahead of 2020 season - ChicagoBears.com
NFL opening day has come and gone, the Bears have good and bad injury news, and remembering the victims of 9/11. - Bears chairman George H. McCaskey on Thursday discussed his goals for the unprecedented 2020 season, the likelihood of fans attending home games at Soldier Field this year and his thoughts on Brian Urlacher’s controversial social media posts.

Chicago Bears chairman George H. McCaskey encourages players to use platform to speak out against societal issues - ChicagoBears.com - Bears chairman George H. McCaskey encourages players to use their platform to speak out and take action against racial injustice, police brutality and other societal issues they’re passionate about.

Chicago Bears RB David Montgomery practices without restrictions as he continues to recover from groin injury - ChicagoBears.com - Bears running back David Montgomery showed progress with his groin injury, practicing without restrictions Thursday after being limited Wednesday.

Chicago Bears announce jersey schedule for 2020 season - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears will wear four different jerseys this season. Check the full jersey schedule on ChicagoBears.com.

Emma's Tailgater: Season Of Reckoning Ahead For Bears - 670 The Score - Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy are under pressure in 2020, as whether it’s the playoffs or a shakeup, the Bears need to find clarity in this season.

Former Bears WR Josh Bellamy Charged In Fraud Scheme - 670 The Score - Former Bears receiver Josh Bellamy was arrested Thursday morning and charged in a federal fraud scheme for allegedly having conspired to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent loans, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Bears voice Jeff Joniak won’t hold back in fan-less Ford Field - Chicago Sun-Times - Joniak and analyst Tom Thayer will be in Detroit to call the season opener. They’ll make sure it sounds like a normal broadcast, though it will be anything but.

What jersey will the Bears wear? - Chicago Sun-Times - The team put out its 2020 uniform schedule.

Bears predictions: Week 1 vs. Lions - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ season opener Sunday in Detroit:

Brian Urlacher: Chicago Bears' George McCaskey seeks clarity - Chicago Tribune - “My first thought was maybe his account had been hacked." George McCaskey was surprised by some of Brian Urlacher's recent divisive social media activity. The Bears chairman since has reached out to the Hall of Fame linebacker with a desire to have a conversation about it.

George McCaskey on Chicago Bears protests, mother Virginia - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey, who is 97, will attend the opener against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Here's what else we heard from team Chairman George McCaskey.

David Montgomery: Injured Chicago Bears RB iffy for opener - Chicago Tribune - While eager to return after suffering a groin injury, Bears running back David Montgomery isn't rushing things. So what does that mean for the season opener Sunday in Detroit? "I’d be hurting the team more if I came back earlier than I was supposed to," he said.

5 Chicago Bears players to watch in 2020 - Chicago Tribune - If the Chicago Bears are to return to the NFL's postseason party, these five players will need to play major roles — including star linebacker Khalil Mack.

Chicago Bears: Week 1 storylines vs Detroit Lions - Chicago Tribune - How have the Chicago Bears and the NFL remained safe from a COVID-19 outbreak to this point? Can the Bears offense score a first-half touchdown Sunday against the Lions? Is this really Anthony Miller's breakthrough opportunity? Our Week 1 Sunday storylines.

Bears injury report: David Montgomery stays on track to play vs. Lions - RSN - We’ll start with the good news: Running back David Montgomery was a full participant in the Bears’ Thursday practice at Halas Hall. Barring a setback, he’ll play in Sunday’s season opener against the Detroit Lions only a few weeks after suffering a groin injury during a training camp practice.

COVID-19 won’t stop Bears' Virginia McCaskey from going to opener in Detroit - RSN - Not even a pandemic can keep Virginia McCaskey away from a Chicago Bears game. The 97-year-old matriarch of the franchise will be in attendance at Ford Field Sunday when the Bears open the 2020 season against the Detroit Lions.

Virginia McCaskey will travel to Detroit for Bears opener - Chicago Sun-Times - Virginia McCaskey, the Bears’ 97-year-old matriarch, won’t let the coronavirus stop her from watching games in person.

Bears chairman wants to talk to Brian Urlacher about Instagram posts - Chicago Sun-Times - "I’m not going to judge him until I talk to him," Bears chairman George McCaskey said.

Bears’ Matt Nagy Cairo Santos fine as team’s kicker - Chicago Sun-Times - Santos has been on six teams in three years and has the second-worst field goal percentage in the NFL over that span. But with Eddy Pineiro on Injured Reserve, Nagy believes he’s their best option.

Bears were in contention to sign 3-time MVP Tom Brady: report - Chicago Sun-Times - Imagine how different this season would feel if the Bears had Brady and Rob Gronkowski suiting up for the opener this week.

Bears-Lions predictions: Calling Sunday’s winner and the Bears’ 2020 record - Chicago Sun-Times - The experts make their calls for Sunday’s Bears-Lions game and the 2020 season.

Bears notebook: David Montgomery breathes a sigh of relief - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears running back, recovering from a groin injury he suffered on Aug. 26, had full participation in practice Thursday. But OLB Robert Quinn (ankle) did not practice.

QB Index, Week 1: Ranking all 32 starters entering 2020 NFL season - NFL.com - Chris Wesseling reveals his ranking of all 32 starting quarterbacks entering Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson opens the year at No. 3 while Tom Brady doesn't crack the top 16.

David Montgomery up to full practice, Robert Quinn out again for Bears - ProFootballTalk - It looks like running back David Montgomery is going to be in the Bears lineup against the Lions on Sunday.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Texans made a late run at Jadeveon Clowney - ProFootballTalk - As the Saints and Titans closed in on signing defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, other teams became motivated to try to get him, if only to avoid competing with the team that ultimately acquired one of the top disruptors in the game.

Players are becoming more and more aware of their power - ProFootballTalk - The jarring video from the Dolphins posted on Thursday night has become the latest example of a dynamic that will become only stronger as time goes by. NFL players have become more aware of their power than ever before when it comes to matters of social justice, and they are not afraid to use it.

Former Bear Joshua Bellamy Charged for Role in $24 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme | OPA | Department of Justice - Former Bear Joshua Bellamy has been charged for his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $24 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Ex-Bears WR Josh Bellamy charged with coronavirus loan fraud - Chicago Sun-Times - Bellamy allegedly received a PPP loan worth $1,246,565 for his company, Drip Entertainment LLC, and spent it on Dior and Gucci items, as well as jewelry.

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: Report - Tom Brady considered the Bears before choosing the Bucs - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears were the runner up in the Tom Brady sweepstakes?!?!?

Berckes' Five Questions with Pride of Detroit: It’s Make or Break for Matt Patricia - Windy City Gridiron - Mike Payton from Pride of Detroit drops some knowledge on the Lions ahead of Sunday’s game.

Zeglinski: Former Chicago Bear Joshua Bellamy charged with COVID-19 wire fraud - Windy City Gridiron - The long-time standout special teamer is in serious legal trouble.

Zeglinski: Windy City Gridiron’s staff predicts the 2020 NFL season - Windy City Gridiron - A season of precariousness means that it feels like anything could happen. That is, until January. The WCG staff-wide forecast for this fall.

Windy City Gridiron’s staff picks the 2020 NFL Awards - Windy City Gridiron - The game seems healthier than ever thanks to a bevy of young stars. The WCG staff decides who will be rewarded for their individual prowess this fall.

Infante: Who will score the first Bears touchdown of 2020? - Windy City Gridiron - Even with the Bears’ questionable offense, the team is bound to score a touchdown at some point in 2020. But which player will be the first to do it?

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.

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