balta1701-A

Yeah, I think a big part of the reason why Marshall wound up traded to the Bears (rather than, perhaps, cut) was that Emery stepped up and made it happen. If he was a free agent, I have my doubts about the Bears spending the money on him.

What kind of setup is it though if a coach has to choose between "Being fired" and "playing all my players and risking injury"? If the coach had to make that choice, then someone above the coach failed.

Bears get their first look at RG3, first sightings of Cutler and Forte on the field this season, Chris Williams and J'Marcus Webb supposedly splitting time with the first team at LT.

Anyone mind if this transforms into a general "NFC North" thread for updates like injuries on all rivals?

Post surgery update/interview.

Webb responds to Tice calling him out...with twitter poetry.

Aren't there lots of levels of "arthroscopic surgery"?

I hear Chris Williams is available...

With Thomas Jones being the featured back and the defense dragging them there.

Yeah, so I had to open the year's first game thread. I can get excited about the little things.

Honestly though, if Peppers is on the other side, Shea and Melton are the guys who will wind up seeing single-teams. Even if Shea is performing well, as long as Peppers is in there, you double Peppers because otherwise he's going to beat you. In other words...Shea ought to be able to get a lot of pressures because you can't focus on him, you have to focus on Peppers first.

I might agree with you if I had more confidence in Seattle's QB rotation.

Urlacher's absence today is being termed happening for "Personal reasons".

Born this mornin'.

What?

Cutler praises Bears' "talent" increase.

Of course something will change to make me wrong saying this, but the Bears actually seem like they have talent, depth, and Youth built up in their safeties for once.

Ok, I'll say it. If the Bears hadn't found Marshall, it seems like these guys would be ready to perform. But...stealing a 28 year old Brandon Marshall for 2 3rd round picks >>>>> anything the Bears could dream about from these 2.

Can they hide a QB on the practice squad?

Definitely sounds like Webb has the inside track on the position and Williams takes the swing tackle roll...it's at the point of the Trib running articles suggesting that Williams could be on the trading block.

Actually, he might have been the only guy on 1/2 of the field and I'm not sure Hanie would have gotten the ball to him.

I feel like "Urlacher sitting out some practices and icing his knees" isn't exactly uncommon over the last few training camps.

How Tice will set up his TE's.

Today's Shea

Trib