The Bear’s Den, June 16, 2021

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Eddie Goldman a “No Show” at Bears Minicamp - On Tap Sports Net - Bears NT Eddie Goldman was absent from minicamp per head coach Matt Nagy. Goldman is expected to be at Bears’ training camp in July.

News, notes from Chicago Bears minicamp Day 1 - ChicagoBears.com - All the latest news from the first day of Bears minicamp includes receiver Allen Robinson II’s return, nose tackle Eddie Goldman’s absence and a free agent-acquisition who was the star of the day.

Fields & Mahomes Situations Not Comparable - Da Bears Blog - As tempting as it may be, Chicago Bears fans should resist comparing the team’s current situation at quarterback with past examples from around the league, especially what transpired in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes. Justin Fields is neither Mahomes, nor Mitch Trubisky. Andy Dalton neither Alex Smith, nor Mike Glennon. The situations are simply not comparable.

Matt Nagy: We’re going to stick with Andy Dalton No. 1, Justin Fields No. 2 - ProFootballTalk - Justin Fields said in May that he’s going to push to be the starting quarterback for the Bears, but the word from the team has been that they’re pretty set on starting Andy Dalton to kick off the 2021 season.

Bears’ Jaylon Johnson focused on picking up where Kyle Fuller left off - Chicago Sun-Times - As a rookie, Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s job was to learn from Kyle Fuller. In his second year, Johnson has to become him.

Chicago Bears OL Sam Mustipher entering 2021 season with new role, same mentality - ChicagoBears.com - Although center Sam Mustipher is now more established than he had been in two previous years with the Bears, the Notre Dame product has approached the offseason program with the same mindset.

Bears are ‘elephant in the room’ in Arlington Park’s future - 670 The Score - When it comes to Arlington Park’s future, the Bears remain the “elephant in the room,” Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes said. The Bears have long been rumored to perhaps move to Arlington Park.

Bears remain committed to Andy Dalton as starting QB - 670 The Score - Bears coach Matt Nagy indicated the team will not back down from its plan at quarterback, with veteran Andy Dalton as the starter and rookie Justin Fields serving as the backup.

Eddie Goldman is an unexcused absence from Bears minicamp - 670 The Score - Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman wasn’t present with the team at mandatory veteran minicamp Tuesday afternoon, an absence that wasn’t excused by the team.

Eddie Goldman opts out of mini-camp - Chicago Sun-Times - Matt Nagy called it an unexcused absence, but expects Goldman to be at training camp in July; The rest of the defense that missed OTAs — plus disgruntled wide receiver Allen Robinson — returned for mini-camp.

Jimmy Graham: ‘Extremely blessed’ to walk away after flipping SUV four times - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears tight end walked away from a March accident.

Matt Nagy: Justin Fields can’t beat out Andy Dalton for Bears starting QB job by Week 1 - Chicago Sun-Times - Inexplicably, Nagy declared Tuesday that there won’t be a quarterback competition between Dalton and Fields. Three months away from the season opener, he is adamant about going with Dalton.

Column: Bears have an issue if lineman Eddie Goldman isn't the same - Chicago Tribune - Eddie Goldman, one of the Chicago Bears' best defensive linemen, sat out the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns. But he hasn't returned for the team's offseason workouts, and until he proves he's as solid as he was in 2019, the Bears have a problem.

Jimmy Graham: Chicago Bears TE recounts car accident - Chicago Tribune - “I just knew it wasn’t my time. I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m going to die with something so stupid.’ ” Three months after his SUV rolled over four times and skidded on its roof for 100 yards on a Florida highway, Jimmy Graham recounted his life-threatening crash and talked about his goals for 2021 with the Bears.

Chicago Bears don’t plan for Justin Fields to start the season opener, as coach Matt Nagy reiterates, ‘Andy Dalton is our starter’ - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears fans probably don’t want to hear it, but the team has been consistent in its stance that Andy Dalton is the starting quarterback, not Justin Fields.

Allen Robinson: Contract status for Chicago Bears WR - Chicago Tribune - Allen Robinson is expected to attend minicamp beginning Tuesday at Halas Hall, starting the one-month countdown for the wide receiver to sign a multiyear contract with the Chicago Bears or play out the 2021 season on the franchise tag.

NT Eddie Goldman had unexcused absence at Bears minicamp - Bears Wire - Most of the Bears' defensive starters reported to mandatory minicamp, but NT Eddie Goldman was noticeably absent.

Bears: Nagy says Justin Fields can’t win starting job in training camp - Bears Wire - Matt Nagy confirmed that Justin Fields won't have a chance to compete for the Bears' starting QB job with Andy Dalton in training camp.

Bears to Arlington Heights "Still on the Table" But Unlikely - On Tap Sports Net - According to Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes, the Bears have not said that a proposal for the race track's land is out of play.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Paul Tagliabue worries about possible point-shaving in the NFL - ProFootballTalk - “I still worry about some young guy . . . and someone says to him, ‘Take the money,’” former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue told Jarrett Bell of USA Today.

Report: More than half of NFL players are vaccinated, but four teams lag behind - ProFootballTalk - Sixteen teams have more than 50 of 90 players on their rosters vaccinated, including three teams with 70 or more players vaccinated. Maske, though, reports the Colts, Jaguars, Cardinals and Chargers are lagging behind in their vaccination rates.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Aaron Rodgers Wears “I’m Offended” Shirt to Golf Press Conference - Acme Packing Company - A golf press conference turns into the roast of Aaron Rodgers and Bryson DeChambeau, with an interesting wardrobe choice.

Aaron Rodgers enjoys an offseason with no responsibilities - ProFootballTalk
- “It’s been one of those quiet offseasons you dream about,” Rodgers said with no hint of irony, “where you can kind of just go through your process on your own, quietly, and that’s all you can ask for as an older player in the league and someone who’s been around for a long time and just enjoys that time to yourself, just relax, to not be bothered, to not have any obligations or anything going on. You know, I think that’s what this offseason has been about."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Eddie Goldman skips mandatory minicamp and more from day 1 at Halas Hall - Windy City Gridiron - We check in on some of the news to come out of Halas Hall after day 1 of mandatory minicamp and check out the Zoom press conferences.

Duerrwaechter: Matt Nagy - ‘There’s so many things that can happen between today and Week 1’ - Windy City Gridiron - About those comments Matt Nagy made during his interview with NBC’s Cris Collinsworth...

Infante: 30-Day Challenge - Who is your most respected non-Bears player of all time? - Windy City Gridiron - Every day in the month of June we’ll ask a different Chicago Bears related question to our readers. Make sure you guys participate the entire month so we can all get to know the WCG community a little better.

THE RULES

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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, Rule of 3 with R. Schmitz, Danny Meehan, and Brandon Robinson, and the occasional 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; Will Robinson II has his WhiskeyRanger YouTube channel, and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.

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