Practicing Through Rain Drops, Pumping the Breaks on Worrying, Hope For Meredith, and Other Bullets

I have been baking for a good 20+ years, but it wasn’t until yesterday when it hit me that I could possibly sell my baked goods. You’d totally buy this, right?

https://twitter.com/lcm1986/status/1155945196351152128

Well, at least I know I’d have one satisfied customer:

I must say: @lcm1986 is a PRINCE who has me stocked up for the #BNBlogathon with the best brownies ever, baked by the man himself. Heaven. I can do this. pic.twitter.com/0sO4m07J6i

— Brett Taylor (@Brett_A_Taylor) July 29, 2019

Is @BN_BakedGoods coming soon? I guess there is only one way to find out …

• It was a bummer to read that the Saints parted ways with receiver Cameron Meredith on Monday. Things haven’t been the same for the ex-Bears standout since suffering a gruesome knee injury suffered in Preseason Week 3 back in 2017. The hope was that with rehabilitation, a clean slate, and Drew Brees throwing him the ball in New Orleans would allow for Meredith’s career to take off. Remember, he was the Bears’ leading receiver in his 2016 when he was last healthy. Meredith showed excellent deep-ball skills, owned the league’s best double-move, and closed that season on an absolute tear. Even though he isn’t a Bear, I still find myself rooting for him. Local guy does well stories always pull at my heart-strings.
• I’m not 100 percent sure how to transition to this, so here goes nothing: A tip of the cap to whomever was involved in the process that led to the decision not to match the Saints offer sheet. GM Ryan Pace took a ton of heat for the decision not to bring back Meredith, but has since put together one of football’s deepest receiving groups. I can’t imagine it was easy to let Meredith walk after successfully converting the former Illinois State quarterback into a reliable receiver target. But what needed to be done was done. Again, we’re hoping for the best for Meredith moving forward. “Once a Bear, always a Bear.”
• Shout out to the Bears for getting it in despite the elements:

• I used to think practicing indoors to get timing and rhythm down was more valuable than practicing in the elements, but getting acclimated to adverse conditions when 14 of your 16 games are played outdoors is probably the smart thing to do. At minimum, it builds a familiarity with what to do when things go sideways. I don’t wish for soggy conditions on any occasion, but here’s hoping we can look back at practicing in the rain as something that helped the Bears win an important game at some point in 2019.
• Think of it this way: If you have to practice against Khalil Mack on a daily basis, you might as well practice through a little bit of rain and wind to fully prepare for what it will be like when continual disruption and havoc
• The rain didn’t bother kicker Elliott Fry, who went 8-for-10 on field goals while kicking through the elements.
• Louder for the folks in the back, Louis:

https://twitter.com/LRiddickESPN/status/1155902900733915143

• Some inconsistencies in Mitch Trubisky’s throwing has some fans feeling itchy early in camp, but it’s way too early to be panicking or for critics to warm up the bus for their “I told you so” tour. Trubisky’s deep passing still leaves something to be desired at camp, but his connection with Allen Robinson II appears to be strong. I’m preaching patience with Trubisky, whose accuracy across the middle has stood out in the few practices that have been open to the public. If Trubisky can throw darts across the middle, it could open up windows over the top where he won’t have to be perfect to make big plays. Think of it as playing the long game.
• Maybe I’d worry about Trubisky more if the Bears weren’t loaded with talented pass-catchers:

https://twitter.com/GBraggsJr/status/1155858781735149570

• The Bears have never had this much pass-catching talent on one team in my lifetime.
• Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) thinks the Bears are going to regret trading running back Jordan Howard. And while Howard could go on to be productive for the Eagles this season, the versatility and flexibility Chicago’s running backs provide to this offense adds dimensions it didn’t have last year. To be clear, this is no disrespect to Howard — a back who rushed for 2,000+ yards in his first two seasons and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie on an offense that didn’t have any other options. But a little less predictability with lineups could help the Bears go further in 2019.
• Four guys in a golf cart ridin’ around and gettin’ it:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0gpDwXFCAD/

• I’m still getting used to John Franklin III — and not Bryce Callahan — wearing No. 37:

Nice day for John Franklin III so far. Has a PBU and and INT. #Bears

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 29, 2019

• Speaking of which, there are 37 days until football season starts and 47 days until the Bears square off against Callahan, Vic Fangio, and the Denver Broncos in Week 2.
• Bears OL Coach Harry Hiestand is always someone you should keep an eye on at camp:

Harry Hiestand is FIRED UP today! Having a few healthy discussions with his Oline group.#BearDown pic.twitter.com/sY6qT9nSdN

— Chi Fans In The Stands (@ChiFansInStands) July 29, 2019

• My country for a fully healthy Kyle Long who can give a full 16 games (plus a lengthy postseason):

Just listen to @Ky1eLong on @SportsTalkCHI and try NOT to be hyped for the upcoming #Bears season.

It's impossible.

(@SaintXavier) pic.twitter.com/OoLpeLc1N1

— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) July 30, 2019

• This is where the fun begins:

HI THERE! The 40-Hour #BNBlogathon Begins NOW! https://t.co/aL8rt0WqWx pic.twitter.com/k5VZTC2wwN

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 30, 2019

• Gosh, I hope so:

The Bulls Might Have Already Improved Their Free Agent Position for Next Summer https://t.co/T9bJRCHqay pic.twitter.com/62x88zIG1A

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 29, 2019