SB Nation Chicago - Bears Preseason: Chicago Prepares For New York Giants

Devin Hester Feels Good In New Offensive Role

2012-08-29T16:27:36Z

The Chicago Bears' offense will enter the 2012-13 season with multiple offensive weapons, but for the first time in a long time one of those featured guns will not be wide receiver and kick returner Devin Hester. But that's OK with him, he told Chicago Sun Times writer Mark Totash.

‘‘Now I can go in and just play and not try to put a lot of pressure on myself to be the guy who takes over the game for us,’’ Hester said. ‘‘We have a lot of depth, and we have a lot of weapons. A majority of the time, safeties cheated to my side [before]. I was getting a lot of balls thrown my way, but I wasn’t getting a lot of mismatches and getting put on guys that aren’t supposed to be out there.’’

The reason for Hester's excitement comes from the new type of offense the Bears will be running under offensive coordinator Mike Tice.

‘‘It’s more of a spread offense. It gets guys in mismatches,’’ Hester said. ‘‘We’ll have four or five playmakers on the field, and it’s going to be like, ‘Who are you going to double-team?’

Despite not being as much of a featured weapon, Hester still feels he can effect a game.

‘‘I feel I’ll always be a playmaker in this offense,’’ he said. ‘‘If I get [fewer] catches, I’ll still end up with a lot of yards. The way this offense is designed, I could have four catches and easily get over 100 yards.’’

Head over to Windy City Gridiron for more Bears coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.

Bears Training Camp: Chicago Could Be Looking To Add A Safety

2012-08-27T13:40:12Z

With third-round pick Brandon Hardin going on injured reserve for the 2012 season, the Chicago Bears could ramp up their pursuit of a safety to shore up their secondary. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, that could mean that the team explores the waiver wire, or it could mean that the team adds a player like Anthony Walters -- who has performed well in camp -- to the 53-man roster.

The Bears have been linked to ex-Green Bay Packers safety Charlie Peprah, and those whispers may only grow louder with Hardin out for the season. As Biggs notes, the Bears signed Brandon Meriweather to its 2011 roster at about this same juncture in the preseason last year.

For now, Major Wright and Chris Conte are entrenched as starters, but the depth after those two is once again a concern.

Head over to Windy City Gridiron for more Bears coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.

Chicago Bears Reportedly Interested In Former Green Bay Packers Safety Charlie Peprah

2012-08-25T03:58:10Z

The Chicago Bears are still hoping to bolster their defensive backfield after injuries to safeties Chris Conte and Brandon Hardin last week, and according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune, they might be interested in former Green Bay Packers safety Charlie Peprah:

A league source told the Tribune the team is exploring the possibility of adding former Packer Charlie Peprah, who was released last month. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Peprah started 14 games in 2011 and finished with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He intercepted Bears quarterback Josh McCown in the Packers' 35-21 win on Christmas night. The seventh-year veteran has 26 starts in 69 career games with the Packers and Falcons.

Acme Packing Company, SB Nation's Green Bay Packers blog, has information on why Peprah was released:

First and foremost, Peprah failed his physical. His knee injury kept him out of all of the team's off-season activities, and with it continuing to bother him, it appears the team wanted to move forward with their younger, healthier options. Peprah indicated that he was not expecting the move.

Head over to Windy City Gridiron for more Bears coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.

Chicago Bears Cut Kahlil Bell After RB Refused To Take Pay Cut

2012-08-24T15:17:07Z

The Chicago Bears waived running back Kahlil Bell on Thursday -- the day before their third preseason game against the New York Giants -- and it turns out the move had to do with Bell's refusal to take a pay cut for the 2012 season, rather than any performance issue. Bell had been scheduled to make $1.26 million in base salary during the upcoming season, but according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune the team approached the former UCLA running back about reducing his salary to $700,000 and Bell then asked to be released:

"There's no sense in taking a paycut," Bell said from the airport. "I had a great experience here in Chicago. I definitely wanted to remain a Bear. Hopefully, ill get an opportunity to play somewhere."

The third-string running back competition on the Bears has been reduced to a contest between Lorenzo Booker and Armando Allen.

Head over to Windy City Gridiron for more Bears coverage, and check out Big Blue View for more on the Giants. Also visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more preseason news and analysis from around the league.

Bears Vs. Giants Preview: How Brandon Marshall And Devin Hester Will Attack Man Coverage

2012-08-24T14:58:16Z

The Chicago Bears offense is still establishing its explosive potential during the preseason while trying to avoid tipping big strategic moves, but if the New York Giants use press coverage in man-to-man situations on Friday night, the Bears wide receivers may get a chance to make some big plays. Brandon Marshall and Devin Hester certainly have the ability to produce big plays, and Steve Ronkowski of Windy City Gridiron has a nice Xs-and-Os breakdown of how the offense will look to exploit man defense:

Marshall's size allows him to beat press coverage, and his ability to catch anything thrown his way forces defenses to rotate coverage his way. With Marshall drawing away attention from Hester, Devin is going to see a lot more favorable looks, especially out of the slot. Hester is ridiculous, to be sure, but not as ridiculous as a defensive coordinator who thinks he can be covered with a linebacker - Hester can win that race every time. The best part of these two plays? Mike Tice and Jay Cutler know that one of these two receivers can get open against man coverage. Keep eight players at home to pick up the blitz, give Cutler a chance to throw it to the open guy, and good things will happen.

Game Date/Time: Friday, August 24; 7 p.m. CT

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

TV: CBS

Radio: WBBM

Head over to Windy City Gridiron for more Bears coverage, and check out Big Blue Viewfor more on the Giants. Also visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more preseason news and analysis from around the league.

Chicago Bears Waive Running Back Kahlil Bell

2012-08-23T23:44:51Z

A mere day before their third scheduled preseason game against the Giants, the Chicago Bears waived tailback Kahlil Bell on Thursday afternoon after three years with the organization.

Bell ran for a career-high 337 yards last season in an expanded role while starter Matt Forte dealt with injuries, and looked to be developing into a valuable asset for the organization heading into the year. But as a 5'11", 219-lb. power back with limited speed for the position, Bell was ultimately displaced by offseason acquisition Michael Bush as the team's most valuable interior and goal-line runner.

Timing a surprise RT @chicagobears: LM: #Bears have waived RB Kahlil Bell.
— Kevin Seifert (@espn_nfcnblog) August 23, 2012

The 25-year-old back actually led the Bears in carries after two preseason games with 16 rushes for 47 yards (2.9 avg.), but never once broke a run longer than 10 yards. Chicago will now feature just two other running backs on its roster in addition to Forte and Bush, as Lorenzo Booker and Armando Allen will each likely avoid the axe now that Bell has been cut loose.

Head over to Windy City Gridiron for more Bears coverage, and be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.

Brian Urlacher Injury: Doctors Say Surgery After Regenokine Doesn't Add Up

2012-08-23T19:46:27Z

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this month, even after he had a less invasive, non-surgical treatment called Regenokine for the knee in Germany, according to one report.

The two procedures didn't seem to make much sense to doctors in the know about this kind of thing, as ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert wrote Thursday. So, if in fact Urlacher did have the procedure in Germany plus the surgery, it could be that he suffered a different injury during Bears training camp. Or that he didn't follow the Regenokine protocol, or that the Regenokine that worked for Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant didn't work for Urlacher.

Bottom line -- Urlacher plays hurt but he plays, and it seems more and more like he is getting close to the end of his fabulous NFL career. He hurt the knee at the end of last season yet is still dealing with it, and Bears fans have to be concerned that Urlacher may not be ready to play when the regular season opens.

Or the ultra-tough linebacker decides to give it a go, which wouldn't be shocking, either.

For more on the Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For additional pro football coverage, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Brian Urlacher Injury: Linebacker Avoids Questions About Surgery Report

2012-08-22T20:56:51Z

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher refused to answer questions as to whether he received treatment in Europe on his left knee, according to ESPN Chicago.

A report this morning from the Chicago Tribune had stated that Urlacher had visited Europe this past spring to possibly seek alternative treatment on his knee, possibly from Dr. Peter Wehling, the same doctor who had treated Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez.

When asked about the report, Urlarcher was succinct in his answer:

"Heard about that. (Are) there any quotes from me in there? Yeah, I didn't think there were any quotes from me, or anybody else."

Urlacher has only participated in six days of camp, yet states that he will be ready for the season opener in two weeks. There has been many reports about the treatment Urlacher has received for his knee, with neither the Chicago Bears nor the linebacker willing to address the speculation that has come up during training camp.

For more on the Bears, be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For additional pro football coverage, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.