This is a sentence I didn’t think I’d write in 2021: I’m glad I went and saw Limp Bizkit when I did. And for free, too.
Those words came from my brain to the keyboard after reading about the rest of their tour being cancelled.
• I see we have dueling opinions out of Miami:
I really like the way Justin Fields is getting the ball out there. He appears to be the real deal.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) August 11, 2021
And I heard Justin Fields had been practicing well.
He looked lost yesterday.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 12, 2021
• And then today happened:
Early candidate for play of the day: Justin Fields moving left, throwing right, floating a dime to Jesper Horsted. Creative throw, basically flicking the ball from his right pocket.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 12, 2021
Justin Fields with a patient TD toss to Jesse James in team red zone action. Calm in pocket. Nice ball.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) August 12, 2021
• It’s important to remember that Fields is human. The “wow” moments are awesome, but don’t forget that not every pass will be a score. And not every broken play will turn into a dazzling highlight-reel run. Ultimately, it’s good to see differing opinions on how a player looks at camp. It is part humbling. But also serves as an important reminder that not everything is sunshine and rainbows all the time. And if Fields saw that slight and used it as motivation, then by all means, keep on tweeting.
• There is a common ground understanding that there is no one sure-fire way to develop a rookie quarterback. And as Patrick Finley (Sun-Times) points out, the Bears’ recent guests at training camp can attest to that concept. In the end, it’s good to bring in as much perspective and nuance to this situation. It takes a village to raise a quarterback. And it probably takes one with vast ideas and different angles to put them on the path to success.
• Get. Him. Reps.
Nagy says #Bears rookie QB Justin Fields will play into the second half Saturday vs. Miami after replacing starter Andy Dalton: "He's going to get a lot of reps," Nagy said of Fields. "The more reps that we can get him right now, the better."
— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) August 12, 2021
• If not now, then on Saturday.
• It sounds like things are getting feisty and I dig it:
Kerfuffle Watch: Eric Rowe knocks Cole Kmet to the ground after he catches a pass. Kmet gets up and shoves him
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 12, 2021
Skirmish alert: Cole Kmet goes after Eric Rowe after a physical hit in the flat. Tempers flare. Fans ooh. Order is restored.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) August 12, 2021
• So long as no one gets hurt, these practice issues really aren’t issues. They are perfectly normal occurrences that tend to happen when teams start hitting someone other than a player they’ve been practicing against for weeks. This is good and healthy interaction between football-playing humans.
• Hook this directly into my veins:
Bilal Nichols is turning Thursday AM into a bad day at the office for Miami LG Solomon Kindley. Should note rookie NT Khyiris Tonga has been impressive in 1-on-1 pass rush with his sheer power.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 12, 2021
• Admittedly, I have my concerns about the Bears’ defensive secondary. But the front seven wrecking things up front could help soften the blow that comes with a secondary that was reportedly getting cooked by Mack Hollins on Wednesday.
• I think the Bears will miss Charles Leno Jr. more than some might otherwise think:
Fun fact: Charles Leno was second on the #Bears during 2020 in Pass Block Win Rate on 1-on-1 blocks. The only OL to finish ahead of Leno was Alex Bars, who did so on 308 fewer such reps. If Leno is "trash" what does that say about the rest of the OL? 🤔🤷♂️
— Andrew Freeman (@AjFreeman25) August 11, 2021
• OPE! I see the Bears aren’t alone in having issues with a top OL prospect’s health:
So Christian Darrisaw, #Vikings first-round pick, not expected to play in preseason opener vs. Denver He missed the first week of training camp due to groin injury and has been limited since return last Wednesday. Darrisaw has said he hopes to start Week 1 but seems very unlikely
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 11, 2021
• For your listening pleasure:
https://twitter.com/usaydkoshul/status/1425804544945106944
🚨Woo Hoo!🚨 The latest Bear With Me Podcast from @robertkschmitz has him talking #Bears training camp with @Zack_Pearson who has been at Halas Hall watching the team practice first hand. Is the Justin Fields hype real? Who else has stood out?
🐻⬇️https://t.co/K1SIONwd9I— Windy City Gridiron (@WCGridiron) August 10, 2021
• For the LULZ:
• Ah, I see the incentives are working in the NFL:
Most recent NFL vaccine info: 91.7 percent of all players have at least one dose of the vaccine. 15 teams have more than 95 percent of players vaccinated. Lots of focus on the hesitant and resistant, but these numbers are high.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) August 11, 2021
• Michael Jordan went from taking out his frustrations with Jerry Krause on Toni Kukoc to inducting him into the Hall of Fame. That’s growth:
Michael Jordan and Jerry Reinsdorf Will Present Toni Kukoc at HOF Inductee Ceremonyhttps://t.co/4moPdVpcHO
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) August 11, 2021
• Looking into what the 2021-22 Blackhawks might look like:
A Possibly Too Early Projection of the Chicago Blackhawks 2021-22 Rosterhttps://t.co/2owfHuhlys
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) August 11, 2021
• #GoCubsTank:
Cubs now tied in the loss column with the 6th spot. That whole group of five teams is very clustered. pic.twitter.com/VnzlITxJxz
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 12, 2021