Good Morning and happy August 12th, Chicago Bears fans! We’ve got Boomer locked in the basement for now and I’m handling your Bears reveille today. So wake up! Because we’re set to barrel thru a list of semi-exciting and mildly interesting Chicago Bears News stories emanating from the sports media world. Think of it as an otherwise bland breakfast, and BGO is the hot sauce.
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We’ll start this whirlwind tour with the Chicago Tribune, whose Rich Campbell shared some observations from Tuesday’s training camp practice. He gives us the requisite (required?) update regarding our quarterback, saying “Jay Cutler has gone thru 11 training camp practices without throwing an interception in team drills, and it doesn’t mean anything”.
Thank you, Rich, for bringing some levity to the situation.
Jul 30, 2015; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) during practice at Olivet Nazarene University. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
This isn’t a call to arms for all Cutler haters, just saying his performance is something for all of us to keep in perspective for now. Give credit where it’s due, however, and the opposite results would certainly be much worse. For Cutler’s part, he admits he hasn’t accomplished anything quite yet this year.
In addition to Cutty Watch 2015, Campbell provides thoughts on Jimmy Clausen, Demontre Hurst and Dante Rosario. Also a quick video of Kevin White running — not at the speed that will scare defenses — but running nonetheless.
In other camp news, ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson reports that Jared Allen was excused from Tuesday’s session for personal reasons but was expected back in camp before day’s end. The veteran Bears reporter even fell for the ol’ training camp okie doke, initially tweeting (and subsequently retracting) that Ka’Deem Carey wasn’t practicing. It was actually the guy wearing a matching #25, Tracy Porter, out with a strained hammy.
Make that DB Tracy Porter not practicing today. RB Ka'Deem Carey is dressed and participating.
— Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) August 11, 2015
Dickerson went on to report that Head Coach John Fox suggested “that players in the process of recovering from injuries may not dress Thursday night” for the preseason opener against Miami. Lamarr Houston and Willie Young were cited as potential casualties of this approach. It’s about health this time of year, so it’s all good, but I am anxious to see Houston in live action.
Speaking of Houston, he made the biggest news of the day when he was involved in a camp brouhaha today with reserve tight end Dante Rosario. Windy City Gridiron repots on that and several other choice nuggets of Chicago Bears news.
Dante Rosario and Lamarr Houston just got into a little skirmish. Couple haymakers thrown by Rosario.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 11, 2015
Camp fights happen and this wasn’t the Bears’ first of the summer, so nothing much to write home about here. We would prefer the fists don’t start flying when stuff like this happens, but at least both players came out of it unscathed. Can’t say the same for Geno Smith, who got sucker punched by second-year linebacker IK Enemkpali Tuesday in the Jets locker room.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini and Adam Schefter report that the haymaker was the end result of a dispute over a $600 plane ticket. From the sounds of it, both players were responsible for the situation escalating but obviously Enemkpali was the one who let his hands go. I’m thinking Smith can come up with six bills relatively easily, and maybe in hindsight should’ve done so sooner. Now he’s out 6-10 weeks.
Nov 7, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback
Rex Grossman(8) against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Redskins 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
That’s not Bears news, I know, but it is big news across the NFL and there is a connection to the Bears in all of this. With Smith eating his meals thru a straw for a while, the Jets reached out to former Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. You’re my boy, Rex! Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, among several others, reported the news this afternoon.
Reports say Jets reach out to Rex Grossman after losing Geno Smith to broken jaw in fight with teammate. It's 2015 and Rex still going deep.
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) August 11, 2015
Changing gears a bit, how about a 53-man roster prediction? Windy City Gridiron’s Lester Wiltfong Jr took his second crack at it, and it included newly acquired linebacker/safety hybrid, Matthew Wells.
And finally, lets close this morning’s news cycle with a visit from an old friend. Lance Briggs hasn’t signed with a team since ending his tenure with the Bears and it’s looking more and more like his football days are over. He is still dabbling in TV work, however, and you may have seen him on the NFL network in the last 24 hours.
Inspired by the Geno Smith incident, Lance was asked if he ever considered lighting up Jay Cutler. Briggs had some interesting replies, on which Jeff Dickerson reports.
Next: What To Expect From New LB Matthew Wells