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By ascarabello, on August 19th, 2009
While the Chicago Bears are nearing the end of their eighth year of training camp at Olivet Nazarene University, one wide receiver in his first professional season is making a push for playing time.
Juaquin Iglesias, a third-round draft pick from the University of Oklahoma, is looking to make enough plays to force the Bears to put him on the field.
 Iglesias He made a splash in his first professional game on Saturday against Buffalo, catching a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brett Basanez in the fourth quarter.
“A lot of dreams came true,” Iglesias said, “especially getting my first catch and my first touchdown. I know it’s just a preseason game, but still, as a little kid, you just dream of putting that uniform on and being out there and competing. That’s what I’ve been looking forward to all my life.”
The touchdown catch is a nice way to begin his career, but he knows there’s still work to do before he can be an impact receiver for quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense, like he was in Oklahoma. He led the Sooners in receptions in 2007 and 2008 with 68 and 74, respectively. Continue reading Rookie receiver hoping to stand out in crowd
By ascarabello, on August 18th, 2009
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Brett Favre unretired again and will be wearing purple this time. Chew on that, cheeseheads.
 Brett Favre practices with the Vikings on Tuesday. Pulling an about-face on his playing status for the second straight summer, the three-time MVP quarterback will suit up for his old rival Minnesota starting with Friday’s preseason game at the Metrodome. The goal: help the Vikings win that elusive first Super Bowl.
“You need to cross over that line. You need to take that chance,” Favre said at his introductory news conference Tuesday, recalling the advice Minnesota coach Brad Childress gave him. “At 39 years old, your arm may not feel like it did at 21, but the pieces are in place here where you don’t have to do as much.”
He added: “If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too.”
The wait for Favre’s decision dragged through May, June and July — at which point he said he would stay retired. But that was three weeks ago. On Tuesday, it all was resolved in a matter of hours.
Team owner Zygi Wilf and president Mark Wilf met Favre in Mississippi with their private plane, Childress himself picked him up at the St. Paul airport, and a news helicopter hovered over their route to the team’s suburban practice facility in Eden Prairie. Continue reading Back at the trough: Favre dons Vikings jersey for ‘09
By Bill Carey, on August 18th, 2009
The Chicago Bears’ secondary was of primary concern as the team headed back to the practice field on Monday.
Coming off a preseason-opening loss in which Buffalo Bills quarterbacks completed 29 of 34 passes, the Chicago defensive backfield was still a topic of conservation as the team opened its final week of training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.
With Charles Tillman still on the mend following back surgery, cornerback Nathan Vasher is the Bears’ most experienced defensive back. Continue reading Bears’ secondary an area of focus after loss
By Rob Laird, on August 18th, 2009
For all the hubbub it caused, Devin Hester seemed unbothered by criticism from his new quarterback.
Hester didn’t appear to try to prevent the Bills’ Leodis McKelvin from intercepting a poorly thrown pass by Jay Cutler in Saturday’s preseason game in Buffalo. After the game, Cutler suggested that Hester made a mistake and could “learn from it.”
After Monday’s practice, Hester said he and Cutler have cleared the air.
“Jay said that he didn’t mean it like I wasn’t a go-up and (get it) guy,” Hester said. “You’ve just got to throw it out there and then (I’ll) go get it. Continue reading Hester not bothered by Cutler’s comments
By The Associated Press, on August 17th, 2009
BOURBONNAIS — One game into the preseason and already Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has had to smooth things out with one of his wide receivers.
Cutler commented to reporters about wide receiver Devin Hester failure to break up an interception on a pass that fell short Saturday night following the team’s 27-20 preseason loss to Buffalo. His remark seemed to rub some people the wrong way.
“Devin is more of a go-get-it guy; he is not really a back shoulder or jump-up-and-get-it (guy),” Cutler said Saturday. “You learn from it. Continue reading Bears QB Cutler upsets some with Hester remark
By Rob Laird, on August 17th, 2009
“Thanks for all the well wishers..im fine no problem here..excited for first preseason and get this year rolling.”
 Greg Olsen won’t win any points for grammar or punctuation, but that’s not really what he’s trying to accomplish with the message.
It’s Twitter-pated.
Olsen, like many professional athletes, including several members of the Chicago Bears, has taken to social networking Web sites to have a closer connection with fans. Continue reading NFL’s social media policy gives exposure, expression
By ascarabello, on August 13th, 2009
 Bobby Delmore, an Illinois State University senior, is an intern with the Chicago bears' athletic training staff this camp. The Daily Journal/Nicholas Holstein Some of the biggest news coming out of this year’s Chicago Bears Training Camp has been on the injury front.
Cornerback Charles Tillman had back surgery, cornerback Zack Bowman suffered a hamstring injury and defensive tackle Tommie Harris has sat out much of practice because of knee and hamstring issues.
And as the Bears try to keep their players on the field, a Bourbonnais native is lending a hand.
Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School alumnus Bobby Delmore is working with the Bears on an athletic training internship. Delmore, heading into his senior year at Illinois State University, helps the Bears’ athletic training staff prevent and treat injuries.
Delmore first heard about the possibility of interning with the Bears a few years ago when his parents met Tim Bream, the Bears’ head athletic trainer, at a dinner.
“I had mentioned to him that my son is an athletic training major,” said Joe Delmore, Bobby’s father. “And (Bream) asked where Bobby went to school at. When I said he went to Illinois State, (Bream) said, ‘We usually take someone from there (as a summer intern). They’ve got a good program.’”
Joe Delmore said Bream told him to have his son apply once he became a junior.
After sending in his resume and doing an interview, Bobby Delmore landed a job with the team this summer, giving him a taste of professional athletics. Continue reading BBCHS grad learning outside the classroom with the Bears
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Commentary: Cutler a diva? Doesn’t matter if he wins
“Say what you want about Rex and Orton, but they wouldn’t have done that.”
That sentence — or some variance of it — has been heard several times during training camp in regard to something negative new quarterback Jay Cutler has — or has not — done.
Cutler has avoided talking to the main Bears’ media during camp except on Wednesdays and Saturdays, hopping on a cart immediately after practice without answering questions.
“Say what you want about Rex Grossman …” Continue reading Commentary: Cutler a diva? Doesn’t matter if he wins