Bears Bourbonnais Diary - Day 2: Dionne Miller - My50 Chicago - Television - WPWR

I guess Wednesday was officially the first day of camp. But no practice. Just meetings, lunch and a conditioning test. Since the new CBA gave players an extra 10 days off this summer, Lovie and Emery have every right to test their team. Find out who really worked out on their own, and who just said they worked out on their own.

Biggest news of the day is that Johnny Knox was placed on the Active PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) which means he cannot practice with his teammates until he elevated from that list. This was not a shock. After that brutal hit he took in December and spinal surgery to repair the damage, we all knew recovery would be a long road. The Bears have set no time table yet, which is fine. For Knox, his teammates keep him in good spirits and confident he can recover. And no question, he serves as inspiration for his teammates. But Phil Emery said on Tuesday, they built this training camp roster with 11 receivers, anticipating Knox would sit out. So personnel-wise they are fine. And let's all keep cheering for Johnny!

Meantime, Brian Urlacher said his knee feels 100 percent as far as he knows. Ha! I love how he talks to the media. He often answers questions in a way that makes you think he just left a lunch table full of teammates telling them in advance how to ‘handle the media.' I'm a big fan -  how can you not be? He did say the defense needs to be more consistent and he called on some of the games last season where things just didn't go well, saying sometimes the Bears would be great against the run and give up too much through the air and vice-versa. In that case, change is good. He seems ready to get on the field. It gave me the feeling there's been a little too much talking.

Well, he'll get going Thursday afternoon - the first practice of camp. Okay, so no pads yet, but who cares. Fans will be there. It will feel real. So go with it! Here comes the 2012 season, for real.