Kicker Clarity, Benson Tributes, Duck Watch, Division Rivals Up to Old Tricks, and Other Bullets

It’s not a guy’s trip out of town until you’re packing things into cars in the rain for your return trip.

  • The outpouring of love in the tributes that followed Cedric Benson’s passing were touching:
  • View this post on Instagram

    Our condolences to the friends and family of former Bears running back Cedric Benson, our 4th overall Draft pick in 2005 and member of the 2006 NFC Champions team.

    A post shared by Chicago Bears (@chicagobears) on

    https://twitter.com/thomasqjones/status/1163112122881998848

    View this post on Instagram

    To my man Cedric B. I remember hearing all of these football stories about you when the bears drafted you 4th overall. You and I always got along..even with pads on, if I hit you or you hit me a little harder than usual..it was always followed by an apology..which was followed by a "you good". You ran all over us when you played for the Bengals. As mad as I was at the way we played that day. I gave you the biggest hug after the game..because I was so damn proud of you. R.I.P. #32

    A post shared by Lance Briggs (@lancebriggs) on

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B1U507oJret/?utm_source=ig_embed

  • What a runner:
  • Benson had a complicated legacy in Chicago because he never reached the heights fans thought he would when the team drafted him with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. But outside the lines, Benson was a popular teammate and respected friend and will be missed by those who cared about him. May he rest in peace and may his family find strength in what is understandably a tough time.
  • Kevin Kaduk (Yahoo Sports) had a unique perspective in having covered Benson on the Bears beat during his playing days, which made this excerpt from the Yahoo Sports Newsletter a great read.
  • Moving onto the present-day Bears, their kicking competition, and a comparison that simply blew my mind:
  • Even after the Bears waived Elliott Fry on Sunday morning, there is still a lot for Eddy Piñeiro to do in order to win this kicking job for good.
  • At first blush, I thought the timing was odd … but it makes sense after stepping away and sleeping on it. In a way, this decision was the Bears telling us that (at minimum) they weren’t sure if Piñeiro was the guy for them, but were certain Fry wasn’t going to be their guy. Parting ways with Fry now allows the Bears’ coaches and talent evaluators to give Piñeiro their full and undivided attention. If Piñeiro impresses, then he’ll be on the roster on September 5. But if he doesn’t do the thing or a better option presents itself, Piñeiro will be gone. So if anyone asks you to weigh in on the Bears’ kicking competition, just know that it’s far from over in Chicago.
  • (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

  • I, too, am expecting a big year from Mitch Trubisky:
  • Elsewhere in Bears camp, Larry Mayer (ChicagoBears.com) offers up cornerback Clifton Duck as the player who helped himself the most with a strong showing against the Giants in preseason Week 2. The undrafted free agent rookie from Appalachian State stood out during training camp practices throughout the summer, then made a remarkable interception when his number was called in a game situation. Duck showed off his playmaking skills in college, but doing so last Friday should grant him more opportunities over the final two preseason games. The Bears’ secondary is crowded, which is why Duck’s standout performance could ultimately bode well for him in the long run. I’m curious to see how he follows it up on Saturday against the Colts.
  • I see the Lions are in midseason form:
  • Oh boy, so are the Vikings:
  • The Raiders have gone from giving Antonio Brown new cash to issuing “all-in or all-out” ultimatums in the matter of months:
  • Do you think Khalil Mack takes a private moment to laugh about what’s happening in the wacky world of Raider Nation?
  • Good deals today at Amazon, including air fryers and NERF toys.
  • It’s wild to think about Richard Dent as an 8th-round pick:
  • I missed the annual Air and Water Show in Chicago because while I was out of town, but this view is nothing short of breathtaking:
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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