Drat: Bears preseason opener in jeopardy

By Kevin Seifert
Thanks to ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter for already answering the question we posed this morning: Is there any possibility the Chicago Bears could open training camp as scheduled next week and play their Aug. 7 preseason opener?

The answer, based on the timeline Mortensen and Schefter reported Monday morning: No chance.

According to their report, the best-case scenario for NFL labor talks is to reach a handshake agreement over the next week to 10 days. The presumptive collective bargaining agreement could then be ratified by owners during a July 21 meeting in Atlanta.

Is it realistic to believe the Bears could report to camp the next day? It's hard to imagine. Free agency would still be in front of them, and they would have had no opportunity to sign their draft picks or even fill out their camp roster with undrafted rookies.

And if the Bears can't begin practicing on July 23, they aren't likely to be ready to play in the Aug. 7 Hall of Fame game. From the report:

If the deal were to be ratified July 21, it would assure that almost all preseason games would be played, according to sources.

The one game in danger would be the Aug. 7 Hall of Fame matchup between the Bears and Rams. There are still mixed opinions and thoughts as to whether that game could or would be played.

Believe this: If the Hall of Fame game is the only on-field casualty of the lockout, it's a victory for everyone. And from the Bears' perspective, I doubt anyone is going to cry over the loss of a fifth preseason game.

If a deal is in fact ratified July 21 -- and remember, it's is the most optimistic forecast imaginable -- it would make sense to cancel the Hall of Fame game. The Bears ostensibly would report to training camp the following weekend, along with the rest of the NFC North, and play the final four preseason games on their schedule.

Again, this timetable is based on a fluid situation. But as we discussed earlier Monday morning, the Bears are going to have a hard time starting camp on time.

NFL spokesman: 'Time is running short' to save HOF game - National Football Post

As NFL owners and players return to the bargaining table today in hopes of carving out a deal, the clock ticks on the league missing its first game because of a labor dispute since 1987.
The Hall of Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams is still scheduled for Aug. 7 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Twenry-seven days away, it’s very questionable now if that game will be played.
The league would like to preserve the entire preseason, and the game is a key part of the induction weekend at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it might fall victim to the lockout. Even if a deal is reached before the end of this week, it might not give the league enough time to complete all of its business and still have the Bears and Rams in training camp on time. Those clubs are scheduled to head to camp in 11 days with the first practices scheduled for July 23.
“We have not identified a date by which we have to have an agreement to save the Hall of Fame Game,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. “Time is admittedly running short, however.”
Stay tuned.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

As per the post I made in another thread, I don't see how they'll do it when the official start for this season isn't projected to be until the 28th. Except for the pagentry of the induction ceremony this game isn't all that important compared with getting teams ready for camp and the rest of the preseason. It looks to me like something will have to be sacrificed.