Saturday Sept 1 News & Tweets

botfly10

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Bears bring in veteran offensive tackle for a look

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By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter

9:14 a.m. CDT, September 1, 2012
The Chicago Bears have not made any moves to add help for the offensive line but it doesn’t mean the club has not been looking.

The Bears hosted veteran free agent tackle Jonathan Scott for a visit at Halas Hall, according to an NFL source. Scott was let go by the Detroit Lions earlier this week after suffering a knee injury near the start of training camp. It was his second tour with the Lions, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2006 out of Texas.

Scott has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills. He played in 28 games making 14 starts for the Steelers over the last two seasons as injuries impacted the depth chart in Pittsburgh. In his career, Scott has played in 58 games and made 28 starts.

It could be the Bears just wanted to check Scott out physically to see where he is at. Teams work to firm up emergency lists at this time of year in the event a need arises, and the Bears have Chris Williams as a reserve for both tackle positions right now. The team released two undrafted tackles on Friday, waiving Cory Brandon and James Brown. There is a possibility one or both could return to the practice squad, which can be formed beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Bears also reached injury settlements with veteran wide receiver Rashied Davis and linebacker Adrien Cole.

bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs

Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ve-tackle-for-a-look-20120901,0,5033114.story
 

botfly10

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Bears sign QB Blanchard to practice squad

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By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter

1:19 p.m. CDT, September 1, 2012
The Chicago Bearshave a third quarterback now.

Matt Blanchard has been signed to the practice squad, a move that was anticipated Friday when the team terminated the contract of veteran Josh McCown. The Bears will carry only two quarterbacks – Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell – on the 53-man roster.

Blanchard was signed as an undrafted free agent following the draft and completed 9 of 16 passes for 94 yards with one interception in preseason before he was released at the roster cutdown to 75 on Monday. Blanchard had a tryout with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday.

NFL teams were permitted to begin forming eight-man practice squads at 11 a.m. Saturday and in two hours the Bears announced they had filled their squad with familiar faces. Running backs Armando Allen and Harvey Unga, offensive tackles Cory Brandon and James Brown, wide receiver Joe Anderson, defensive end Aston Whiteside and cornerback Isaiah Frey were signed.

The Bears could have other roster moves throughout the day with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye scheduled to have a physical before he is offered a contract.

bmbiggs@tribune.com
 

botfly10

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Last-ditch talks break down between NFL, officials

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By Sam Farmer Tribune Newspapers

12:48 p.m. CDT, September 1, 2012
Last-ditch talks between the NFLand officials broke down Saturday, meaning the league will open the season with replacement officials on the field.

No further talks with the locked-out officials are scheduled.

“We remain williant to negotiate with the NFL in order to reach a fair agreement,” Mike Arnold, lead negotiator for the NFL Referees Assn., said in a written release. The story was first reported on Twitter by the Los Angeles Times.

Officials are seeking continuation of their defined-benefit pension plans, something they say would cost teams about $6,000 per team each game.

The NFL last used replacements for a regular-season game in 2001, although that was only for Week 1. That labor crisis was resolved in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in a show of unity.

On the whole, the 2001 replacements had more experience working big-time football games, such as major college games. This time, those officials stood on the sideline for this labor fight, and the league has built its crews with a significant number of high school and small college officials.

Last week, NFL executive Ray Anderson informed all 32 teams by memo that the league would be opening the season with replacements. In subsequent comments to NFL Network, however, Commissioner Roger Goodell did not rule out a Week 1 return by the regulars.

Those hopes were dashed with Saturday’s news.

The season opens Wednesday when the New York Giants play host to the Dallas Cowboys.



Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune
 

botfly10

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Adam Caplan ‏@caplannfl
Score Predictions: Free for Week 1! | The Sideline View http://thesidelineview.com/columns/nfl/ ... ree-week-1 via @sidelinefb

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
Former #Bears WR Chris Summers had a tryout with the #Buccaneers

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
#Bears reached injury settlements with WR Rashied Davis and LB Adrien Cole. Still expecting one for LB Dom DeCicco.

Armando Allen jr ‏@ArmandoAllenJr
A little breakfast in bed watching the Irish type morning http://instagr.am/p/PCTXamRQec/

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
Clubs can begin forming practice squads today at 11 am. Players signed to PS typically earn the minimum, which is $5,700/week.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
That practice squad minimum translates to $96,900 over course of entire season. A lot of PS guys don't get to stick around for entire year.

CBSSports.com ‏@CBSSports
#NFL fans, here's @PriscoCBS' 2012 All-Cut Team: http://cbsprt.co/AllCutTeam "Guys who I think will be picked up or have some value down the line."

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
#Bears have signed QB Matt Blanchard to the practice squad.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
#Bears are signing WR Joe Anderson to the practice squad.

vaughn mcclure ‏@vxmcclure23
RB Armando Allen is in the process of re-joining the Bears on the practice squad. Says he really likes it in Chicago.

vaughn mcclure ‏@vxmcclure23
Allen was on PS in 2011 but was elevated and played in 2 games. Had he played in 9 games, he wouldn't have been eligible for PS this year.

Jeff Dickerson ‏@ESPNChiBears
RB Armando Allen will be signed to #Bears practice squad, per his agent. So in the end, Bears get to keep both Allen and B

Ryan Koletty ‏@RyanKoletty
I appreciate @adbrandt's analysis of NFL Referee negotiations. 1 side saying it's over doesn't mean it actually is. PR part of leverage game

Adam Caplan ‏@caplannfl
So funny that the Jets are claiming players off waivers like crazy. What a way to build a roster.

.T. Thomas ‏@TheRealJT3
#rp via @mrsrthomas check out my lil sis reppin her #WVU gear! http://instagr.am/p/PCnkUMto5_/

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
Lot of questions about Unga making #Bears prac squad. My guess is they want a fullback b/c they are not carrying one on the 53.

Andrew Brandt ‏@adbrandt
NFL-Refs like any negotiation: dormant, then flurry of talks, then rhetoric and posturing. Familiar script.

Adam Caplan ‏@caplannfl
UDFA formerly of the Texans. RT @LesBowen: Eagles claimed Texans OL Nathan Menkin, NFL source says.

vaughn mcclure ‏@vxmcclure23
Bears announce Harvey Unga, Corey Brandon, James Brown, Isaiah Frey, Aston Whiteside, Blanchard and Allen to practice squad.

vaughn mcclure ‏@vxmcclure23
And WR Joe Anderson, I missed.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
#Bears announce they have also signed OT Cory Brandon, OT James Brown, CB Isaiah Frey, RB Harvey Unga, DE Aston Whiteside to prac squad.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
Expectations are Ricky Henry will sign a practice squad deal with another team after being waived by #Bears

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer
Please no stories in the coming days about how strong someone's roster is based on number of waived players claimed, OK?

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora
Free agent RB Khalil Bell, released recently by the Bears, worked out for the Pats today.
 

botfly10

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Bears sign eight to practice squad

Posted 1 hour ago

By Larry Mayer

ight players who were waived by the Bears within the last week after participating in training camp were re-signed Saturday to the practice squad.

The group includes running back Armando Allen, receiver Joe Anderson, quarterback Matt Blanchard, tackles Cory Brandon and James Brown, cornerback Isaiah Frey, fullback Harvey Unga and defensive end Aston Whiteside.


Armando Allen
Allen is the only one of the eight who has played in an NFL regular season game. He entered the league last season as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers. After spending 12 of the first 15 weeks of the season on the Bears' practice squad, Allen appeared in Chicago's final two games, rushing for 48 yards on 15 carries against the Packers and Vikings.

Allen, who lost out to Lorenzo Booker in the competition for the third running back position behind Matt Forte and Michael Bush, rushed for 97 yards on 26 carries and caught a team-high 10 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown in the preseason.

Blanchard, an undrafted rookie from Wisconsin-Whitewater, completed 9 of 16 passes for 94 yards with one interception and a 47.4 passer rating in preseason action. He returns one day after the Bears cut veteran Josh McCown, opting to keep only two quarterbacks in Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell on their 53-man roster.

The Bears selected Frey in the sixth round of this year's draft and Unga with a supplemental pick in 2010 that cost the team a seventh-round choice in 2011.

Brandon entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2011 and spent the preseason with Tampa Bay before being waived. He signed with the Bears in June.

Like Blanchard, Anderson, Brown and Whiteside are all undrafted rookies.
 

HeHateMe

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Bears sign eight to practice squad

Posted 1 hour ago

By Larry Mayer

ight players who were waived by the Bears within the last week after participating in training camp were re-signed Saturday to the practice squad.

The group includes running back Armando Allen, receiver Joe Anderson, quarterback Matt Blanchard, tackles Cory Brandon and James Brown, cornerback Isaiah Frey, fullback Harvey Unga and defensive end Aston Whiteside.


Armando Allen
Allen is the only one of the eight who has played in an NFL regular season game. He entered the league last season as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers. After spending 12 of the first 15 weeks of the season on the Bears' practice squad, Allen appeared in Chicago's final two games, rushing for 48 yards on 15 carries against the Packers and Vikings.

Allen, who lost out to Lorenzo Booker in the competition for the third running back position behind Matt Forte and Michael Bush, rushed for 97 yards on 26 carries and caught a team-high 10 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown in the preseason.

Blanchard, an undrafted rookie from Wisconsin-Whitewater, completed 9 of 16 passes for 94 yards with one interception and a 47.4 passer rating in preseason action. He returns one day after the Bears cut veteran Josh McCown, opting to keep only two quarterbacks in Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell on their 53-man roster.

The Bears selected Frey in the sixth round of this year's draft and Unga with a supplemental pick in 2010 that cost the team a seventh-round choice in 2011.

Brandon entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2011 and spent the preseason with Tampa Bay before being waived. He signed with the Bears in June.

Like Blanchard, Anderson, Brown and Whiteside are all undrafted rookies.

only 8 of these guys are future probowlers.
 

dawags

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I don't like the Frey, Mccoy, and James Brown cuts. I also don't like the Joe Anderson and Chris Summers cuts. Having to keep 2 punters right now hurts. Keeping Cheta? Wow.

So trading for a brand new guy in Sherrick McManis is better than giving one of the two rookies a chance? This guy McManis has done nothing.

I don't like losing Clutts but how is this guy, who knows nothing about our ST system going to help us more than Wilhite would have?
 

Les Grossman

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Who are our LBers? Did we keep Hayes and Adibi and Thomas?
 

ijustposthere

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My favorite teams
  1. Chicago Cubs
  1. Chicago Bulls
  1. Chicago Bears
  1. Chicago Blackhawks
  1. Michigan Wolverines
  2. Purdue Boilermakers
I know Adibi was cut loose. Think Thomas and Hayes are still on the team.
 

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