1985 Bears
<p>Dennis McKinnon, a starting wide receiver on the 1985 Chicago Bears, spoke with Sun-Times Sports about how he thinks the 2015 Bears team will play this upcoming season.</p>
<p>Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon turned 56 years old today.</p>
<p>The Bears didn’t renegotiate Mike Singletary’s entire contract, but they agreed to renegotiate the last third of it. </p>
<p>Mike Singletary won’t cost the Bears a roster space until he plays in a game, so they didn’t have to make a cut for him to practice today.</p>
<p>Buddy Ryan wants it known that he misses Al Harris, too. “I don’t understand why people have a low value of Al’s contribution to the team,” says Ryan, the Bears’ defensive coordinator.</p>
<p>Middle linebacker Mike Singletary and Bears president Michael McCaskey expressed hope yesterday that Singletary’s 26-day holdout would end today with a contract agreement. </p>
<p>As much as the absence of three defensive stars threatens the Bears’ end zone, it threatens their comfort zone even more. </p>
<p>Gary Fencik says he knows how to prevent future standoffs over contract renegotiation. </p>
<p>Another All-Pro on the Bears’ defense wants his contract improved, and might leave a bigger hole than Mike Singletary or Todd Bell if he walks out in a dispute. </p>
<p>Jimbo Covert, a starting offensive lineman on the 1985 Chicago Bears, spoke with Sun-Times Sports about how he thinks the 2015 Bears team will play this upcoming season.</p>
<p>Free agent CB Ken Taylor will start for the injured Leslie Frazier (pulled leg muscle) tomorrow night in Dallas. Taylor and Reggie Phillips, a second-round pick, have been working at both corners. “They’ve got to be able to play both sides,” coach Mike Ditka said. </p>
<p>When Don Kindt Sr. went to Platteville to watch his son, Don Jr., a free-agent tight end, the difference was like night and day. </p>
<p>As part of Mike Singletary’s agreement with the Bears, he will pay $20,025 in fines, more than 10 percent of his 1985 salary, for the time he missed during his holdout.</p>
<p>The rift between the 1985 Chicago Bears offense and defense was real. With the dominance of the defense, many believed all the offense needed to do was not mess up in order for the Bears to win.</p>
<p>A little more than 29 years ago, William “The Refrigerator” Perry graced the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Ed “Too Tall” Jones.</p>
<p>For Thomas Sanders, a lot is riding on the Cowboys game. While the rest of the rookies have played two games, Sanders went down with a bad hamstring the day before the St. Louis game and didn’t resume practicing until after the Colts game. </p>
<p>Dan Hampton, a starting defensive lineman on the 1985 Chicago Bears, has high hopes for John Fox, Jay Cutler and the 2015 Chicago Bears.</p>
<p>The Bears’ Mike Ditka is one of several NFL head coaches who doesn’t care for instant replays as an officiating aide. Among NFC Central Division coaches, he’s in the majority. </p>
<p>This is the dress rehearsal. The Bears will use most of their players in their pre-season game at Dallas tonight, which coach Mike Ditka has given unusual importance for a practice game. </p>
<p>Upon arriving at Chicago Bears training camp in 1985, William “The Refrigerator” Perry made quite the impression on his teammates.</p>
<p>Take note, Bears, of the other successful Chicago teams. White Sox win their division by 20 games in ’83 – where were they in ’84? </p>
<p>IRVING, Texas – The Bears lost the war 15-13 last night at Texas Stadium. But they won the battle on defense. </p>
<p>“Otis could talk trash with the best of them. And once he started getting fired up in a game, you saw him go. And it was a lot of fun to watch.”</p>
<p>Jim McMahon admits the haircut was a mistake he committed upon himself. </p>
<p>Aside from holdouts Todd Bell and Al Harris, the only Bear regulars who definitely won’t play tonight are wide receiver Dennis McKinnon and cornerback Leslie Frazier. They’re injured, as is uncertain tight end Pat Dunsmore. </p>
<p>DALLAS – General manager Jerry Vainisi said he talked with holdout safety Todd Bell’s agent, Howard Slusher, but made no progress with him or linebacker Al Harris, the other holdout. Vainisi said he had discussed a possible deadline with team president Michael McCaskey and they decided it wasn’t necessary.</p>
<p>IRVING, Texas – Winning would have been nice. The Bears had raised the emotional stakes for their game against the Cowboys last night, all but sending out invitations for what coach Mike Ditka built up as a coming-out party on national TV. </p>
<p>All the fuss over the Bears’ defensive holdouts has camouflaged a serious problem on offense. Sure, you have Jim McMahon throwing the football again. But who is going to catch it? </p>