Countdown to Kickoff… 82 Days Until Chicago Bears Season Opener

May 10, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brittan Golden (82) warms up during the rookie minicamp on Friday. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

I decided to do a countdown to the Chicago Bears season opener on September 8th versus the Cincinnati Bengals.  Thanks to one of my followers on Twitter @Beneiserle, I decided to combine the countdown with a roster preview of sorts.

We’re Brittan Golden days away from kickoff.  Who in the heck is Brittan Golden?  I’m glad you asked.  Golden is a wide receiver who played his college ball at West Texas A&M.  The Bears signed him following the 2012 draft as a free agent.   His claim to fame was returning a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown in the 2012 preseason finale vs the Cleveland Browns.  The Bears promptly cut him two days later.  After a brief stint on the Jaguars practice squad late last season, the Bears picked him back up this offseason.

At 5’11” and 186 pounds, Golden would appear to be in competition for a slot receiver spot but with some of the upgrades the Bears have made at the wide receiver position, he could have an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.

Perhaps the most notable recent Bear to wear #82 was tight end Greg Olsen.  Here is my favorite Olsen highlight from Jay Cutler’s lone playoff win in a Bears uniform over the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round playoffs in 2010:

Other notable Bears to don #82 include Eddie Kennison and Wendell Davis.  Davis is most known for injuring both knees on the same play against the Eagles on the artificial turf at Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia back in 1993, effectively ending his career.

We’re 82 days away from kickoff.  Are you ready???