Breaking training: Bears training camp Digest, Day 14

Poking the Bear

On the hottest day of training camp, coach John Fox purposely put the Bears through a physical final-day-of-camp practice instead of the perfunctory glorified walk-through in shorts and while the Bears responded with an lively practice, Fox got more than he bargained for. Nose tackle Jeremiah Ratliff win involved in two skirmishes, including one where he threw a right hook at center Will Montgomery, who seemed to frustrate Ratliff with some pre-snap contact. It took awhile for cooler heads — including Fox and Kyle Long — to prevail, as Ratliff pleaded his case demonstratively with coaches and defensive teammates.

Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins threw a hard right at offensive tackle Vladimir Ducasse, who was playing with the No. 1 offense in place of “resting” Kyle Long. Towards the end of practice, rookie safety Adrian Amos irked tight end Dante Rosario with a borderline late-hit after Rosario made a catch along the sideline. Rosario slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration, but the incident ended there.

“Stuff happens at camp,” Fox said. “I wasn’t at the drill [where Ratliff slugged Montgomery]. That needs to be communicated to me better. [But] I haven’t been in a camp where we didn’t have that — ever — in 26 years.”

Shhhhhhh.

In what might or might not have been a red-zone drill, Jay Cutler might or might not have caught a touchdown pass that might or might not have been thrown by wide receiver Eddie Royal. It was a return to glory for Cutler — he caught the winning touchdown pass in overtime on a trick play to win the Indiana Class 3A state championship for Heritage Hills High School in 2000.

“There was some creativity,” Fox said cautiously. “Hopefully we didn’t get it on some web camera like New England got their’s on. A little bit of an element of surprise.”

Fales returns

Quarterback David Fales returned to practice for the first time since starting camp on the PUP list. He was vague about his illness, calling it “nothing too serious but a little scare before camp.”

Play of the Day

Cutler threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Marquess Wilson, who beat Tracy Porter for the downfield catch.

The defense, had its share of highlights, including Antrel Rolle with a pass break-up in the end zone in the red-zone drill and a fine pass break-up by linebacker Christian Jones in the goal-line drill.