Tempers Flare at Chicago Bears Training Camp – August 2 Notebook

Jul 26, 2013; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (middle) runs between defensive backs Major Wright (left) and Chris Conte (right) during training camp at Olivet Nazarene University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Well, training camp has officially started.  You can say that now that we’ve seen the first fight of camp.  It usually takes a few days for guys to get tired of hitting each other and for tempers to flare up and right on queue, Martellus Bennett was taking on any and all defensive backs.

From what I’ve been able to gather, Bennett was taken to the ground by Kelvin Hayden and taking exception, he went after Hayden.  On three separate occasions, he mixed it up with different members of the secondary, including Major Wright, Anthony Walters and Chris Conte.

Conte brushed off the dust-ups:

"“Just competing, you know. Nothing crazy,” he said. “It’s just camp, that’s the way things are. But we’re a family and we’re brothers. Brothers sometimes fight. But we get through it.”"

Don’t let Bennett’s goofy personality fool you.  When he steps between the white lines, he’s all business.

"“It’s hot, you know. I’m actually a mean person. I know you all think I joke around … but I am not. I am very aggressive,” Bennett said. “They are aggressive with me. I am aggressive with them. You come hard at me, I come hard at you all day. I don’t back down for anything, anyone.”"

Head coach Marc Trestman wasn’t too worked up about the feisty practice.  In fact, his response kind of surprised me:

"“That’s what we expect,” Trestman said. “It’s going to happen in a game where somebody’s going to lose their mind. When one guy does, it’s not who he is. He just lost his composure for a minute.”"

I can’t imagine he’d be too happy if Martysaurus lost his cool in a game and cost his team 15 yards or got himself kicked out of a game.  Not what you’d expect from a cerebral and analytic coach like Trestman.  Just when you think you know a guy…

Bottom line – you mess with the Black Unicorn, you get the horn.

Roster Moves

The Bears said sayonara to camp leg, kicker Austin Signor and signed undrafted free agent linebacker Andrew Starks.   With DJ Williams still sidelined with a calf, they probably just need another body to keep everyone fresh and take a few reps.  So much for my thought the Bears might try to give malcontent Robbie Gould the boot for stirring things up with his contract yapping.

The Bears also placed Brody Eldridge on waivers and are expected to sign veteran tight end Leonard Pope.  Here are the career stats for the journeyman tight end.

Injury Updates

Left Tackle Jermon Bushrod continues to be sidelined with a sore calf, but he is out of the walking boot and was seen working with trainers before practice.  That’s a good sign, though I would be surprised if we see much of him next week.  Best guess would be that you see him back in action after the first preseason game.

DJ Williams is still week to week with his calf and is still not practicing.  I thought I saw a tweet that he was seen without his boot.

Corey Wootton is day to day with a hip, which is considered minor.

Jamaal Anderson and Jonathan Scott both sat out as well with sore knees.

Other notes:

• Practice was supposed to be held in the morning, but due to a storm rolling through Bourbonnais in the early part of the day, the Bears pushed things back to an afternoon practice.  With temperatures and the humidity up, it’s not surprising tempers flared as well.
• Tim Jennings was back on campus and in action after a couple of days off for “personal reasons.”
• Brandon Marshall was given the afternoon off, which is all supposedly part of the plan.   The situation with Marshall’s hip bears watching as camp goes on.  If he’s out, it’s a big blow to the offense.
• A handful of veterans were given the day off including Julius Peppers and Charles Tillman.
• The Bears will hold their annual Family Fest Saturday evening at Soldier Field.  Great choice of night to do that, with Lollapalooza going on at Grant Park.  Let’s hope the Soldier Field sod is ready.  If you dare to brave it, tickets are still available.  Get all the info you need here.
• I guess this tweet from Erin Andrews makes it official – Brian Urlacher has become a member of the media:

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BEAR DOWN!!!