Mod's if sticky will add all important dates, so people have it handy..

February 9th-NFL teams can make waiver requests( cut players)

February 18-24 - NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

February 19 - Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

February 26 - Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.

February 26 - Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.

February 27 - Veteran free agency signing period begins.

February 27 - Trading period begins.

MARCH 17-19th- CHICAGO BEARS MINICAMP VETS

End of March - Compensatory picks announcement

March 22-25 - NFL Annual Meeting, Dana Point, California.

March 25th- Announcement of Compensitory  draft picks for April draft

April 6th- Start of voluntary workouts at halas hall

April 17 - Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

April 2

Payment deadline for 2009 Season Tickets.

April 24 - Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

April 25-26 - NFL Draft, New York City.

This years Bears Miller Lite Draft Day Party will be held on Saturday, April 25th at Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire, IL.

End of April- BEAR ROOKIE CAMP- TBA

May 17th- BEARS CONVENTION- soldier field one day event

http://www.chicagobears.com/events/2009ExpoFAQs.asp

May 18-20 - NFL Spring Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

May 20-21 - OTA Halas hall

June 1 - Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22.

June 1 - Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

 June 1-4- OTA HALAS HALL

 June 8-11 - OTA HALAS HALL

june 15th-18- OTA HALAS HALL

June 15 - Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year’s salary.

June 28-July 1 - NFL Rookie Symposium, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

July 1st- Deadline to submit all PSL transfers. 

Mid july-Individual game tickets go on-sale at noon through www.ticketmaster.com.

mid july-2009 Season Tickets mailed via USPS Certified Mail.

July 22 - Signing period ends at 4:00 PM ET for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender.

july 31st-  Training camp opens

http://www.chicagobears.com/TrainingCampGuide.asp

2009 CHICAGO BEARS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
DAY	DATE	PRACTICE TIME
Friday	July 31	3:00 p.m.
Saturday	August 1	7:00 p.m.
Sunday	August 2	3:00 p.m.
Monday	August 3	Noon
Tuesday	August 4	3:00 p.m.
Wednesday	August 5	Noon
Thursday	August 6	7:00 p.m.
Friday	August 7	3:00 p.m.
Saturday	August 8	Noon (Family Day - Soldier Field)
Sunday	August 9	No practice
Monday	August 10	Noon
Tuesday	August 11	7:00 p.m.
Wednesday	August 12	3:00 p.m.
Thursday	August 13	3:00 p.m.
Friday	August 14	Travel day
Saturday	August 15	at Buffalo (Preseason opener)
Sunday	August 16	No practice
Monday	August 17	3:00 p.m.
Tuesday	August 18	3:00 p.m.
Wednesday	August 19	7:00 p.m.
Thursday	August 20	3:00 p.m.
Friday	August 21	11:00 a.m. (Break camp)
All practices will take place on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais unless otherwise noted.

August 9 - Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.

August 9th- FAMILY NIGHT- soldier field

August 13-17 - First preseason weekend.

Aug. 13-16 at Buffalo. T

September 1 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

September 5 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

September 10-14 - Kickoff 2009 Weekend.

Regular season

September
DAY	DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	RADIO	TV/RECAP	AWAY TRAVEL
Sun.	13	@ Packers	7:20 PM	WBBM	NBC
Sun.	20	STEELERS	3:15 PM	WBBM	CBS
Sun.	27	@ Seahawks	3:05 PM	WBBM	FOX
October
DAY	DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	RADIO	TV/RECAP	AWAY TRAVEL
Sun.	4	LIONS	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
Sun.	18	@ Falcons	7:20 PM	WBBM	NBC
Sun.	25	@ Bengals	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
November
DAY	DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	RADIO	TV/RECAP	AWAY TRAVEL
Sun.	1	BROWNS	12:00 PM	WBBM	CBS
Sun.	8	CARDINALS	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
Thu.	12	@ 49ers	7:20 PM	WBBM	NFLN
Sun.	22	EAGLES	7:20 PM	WBBM	NBC
Sun.	29	@ Vikings	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
December
DAY	DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	RADIO	TV/RECAP	AWAY TRAVEL
Sun.	6	RAMS	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
Sun.	13	PACKERS	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
Sun.	20	@ Ravens	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX
Mon.	28	VIKINGS	7:30 PM	WBBM	ESPN
January
DAY	DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	RADIO	TV/RECAP	AWAY TRAVEL
Sun.	3	@ Lions	12:00 PM	WBBM	FOX

sweet - thanks for posting...

less than a month before this board is covered with SIGN HIM!!!! threads!

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My wife won't shave my back...
Stick to the highlights, espn...
"Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears." - JA
"We are not better than anybody until the final score says so." - Me.

46bearsd:

sweet - thanks for posting...

less than a month before this board is covered with SIGN HIM!!!! threads!

LOL yep.. once F/A  opens each ESPN name will be 10-20 threads.. never changes here : )

and then when the vet's cut. same thing on any name vet

ya nice post.

Nice info, much appreciated. Sticky.

Also, I thought there were no more june 1st cuts?

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BearsMod18:

Nice info, much appreciated. Sticky.

Also, I thought there were no more june 1st cuts?

No , june 1st date is still there.. BUT with many vet players having roster bonuses due in march, more cuts happen the( so team avoids paying them- we saw that with griese and moose last year) , and also you can 'deem" 2 vet's "june 1st cuts" , before june  to give them time  find another team, so the date still stands, but its not as significant as was 5 or 10 years ago.

here's a good blurb on teh change:

The whacky calendar is due to a change in the collective bargaining agreement. Prior to 2006, a team could release a player after June 1 and have most of the salary cap implications of the release come in the following year rather than accelerating immediately into the cap.

The players didn’t necessarily mind being cut; it frequently gave them the opportunity to collect a little more signing bonus money.

 

However, they were hitting the market at a bad time, after most team’s free agent budgets were shot. In addition, they frequently were in an awkward position. In many cases it was well known that a player would be a June 1 cap casualty, but he had to go to his current team’s facility to work out and participate in minicamps and OTA’s.

 

And the teams became increasingly concerned about the risk of a player getting injured while working out at the team facility. If that were to happen, the team would be liable for the player’s entire salary for the upcoming season.

 

These issues were addressed in the ‘06 CBA extension. Teams now are allowed to release up to two players as soon as the league year begins (the start of free agency) and designate them as post-June 1 cuts. The players get their freedom immediately, so they can pursue employment while the market still is hot.

While the teams don’t get any salary cap relief until June 2—the players’ salary for the coming season still is counted against their cap number until then—they don’t have to have dead men walking around their facilities and their exposure to issues due to workout injuries is greatly reduced.

 

Since the rule creates such a win-win situation, teams have taken advantage of it. Most, if not all, of the players who would have been released post-June 1 in the past already have received their pink slips.

Man I can't wait for September to roll around again...

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The Bears will be Superbowl Contenders in 2009. Mark my words.--me 01-14-09

Damn, was I wrong.--me 11-09-09

Ladies and Gentlemen, Jay Cutler.

thanks for the post....make it sticky!

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Member #99 of the Official CBMB Jay Cutler Fan Club

When do we find out when Bears Training Camp starts?

Less than 6 months to go!!!!!

quicksand30:

When do we find out when Bears Training Camp starts?

Less than 6 months to go!!!!!

they list july 9th... but not sure that is accurate, when its offish will add it here:

http://www.chicagobears.com/events/

Thanks for this thread db54, the countdown begins for the nfl draft and the bears fan convention.......until then i'll be playing Streetfighter 4.

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___________________________
PS3 NETWORK ID: AKUMA2000

dbears54:

Mod's if sticky will add all important dates, so people have it handy..

February 9th-NFL teams can make waiver requests( cut players)

February 18-24 - NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

February 19 - Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

February 26 - Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.

February 26 - Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.

February 27 - Veteran free agency signing period begins.

February 27 - Trading period begins.

March 22-25 - NFL Annual Meeting, Dana Point, California.

April 17 - Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

April 24 - Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

April 25-26 - NFL Draft, New York City.

May 18-20 - NFL Spring Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

June 1 - Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22.

June 1 - Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

June 15 - Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year’s salary.

June 28-July 1 - NFL Rookie Symposium, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Mid-July - Training camps open.

July 22 - Signing period ends at 4:00 PM ET for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender.

August 9 - Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.

August 13-17 - First preseason weekend.

September 1 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

September 5 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

September 10-14 - Kickoff 2009 Weekend.

Whoa dude!! Thanks. You are the most informative NFL/Bears  source I can find ANYWHERE!!! Thanks for the news.  db rox.

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"If you hone your body like a tool, you can use it as a weapon." Sweetness

Whoever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts, it's how you play the game,' probably lost.

Akuma2000:

Thanks for this thread db54, the countdown begins fo the nfl draft and the bears fan convention.......until then i'll be playing Streetfighter 4.

Lol here ya go akuma

It won't be long

February 2, 2009

Fear not, football fans. The games are over, but there will be a lot of off-season activities to feed your jones. And next season is right around the corner. Here are the days until:

Combine: 16.

Start of free agency: 25.

Draft: 81.

Training camp: About 161.

Preseason: 186.

Regular season: 217.

LOL....thanks db54, i'll also be watching nascar races on sunday as well.

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___________________________
PS3 NETWORK ID: AKUMA2000

when are the nfl 2009 draft compensatory picks announced?

jakewindsor88:

when are the nfl 2009 draft compensatory picks announced?

Usually at the  end of the owners meeting( march 22-25th)

End of March - Compensatory picks announcement

Thanks db54, I love this game!  never blogged in my life till 2 days ago and now I can't get enough!"  you guys are awesome, the Bears and their fans will rule!

augbear:

Thanks db54, I love this game!  never blogged in my life till 2 days ago and now I can't get enough!"  you guys are awesome, the Bears and their fans will rule!

good!, and yes the chicago bears have the greatest fans on earth : )

Important Season Ticket Holder Events

Date	Event
1/15/09	Playoff refunds mailed to Season Ticket Holders, if requested.
2/1/09	PSL Transfers accepted. For PSL availability check the Bears PSL Marketplace.
2/17/09	2009 Season Ticket Invoices mailed. Online payment information will be emailed to each account.
4/2/09	Payment deadline for 2009 Season Tickets.
mid-June	Standard Parking Internet Based Selection Process opens for 2009 Season Ticket Holders. Season Ticket Holders can register through www.soldierfield.clickandpark.com. Bears ID and Password information mailed to Season Tickets Holders in early June.
7/1/09	Deadline to submit all PSL transfers.
early-July	Last day for Season Ticket Holders to register for the Standard Parking Internet Based Selection Process.
mid-July	Individual game tickets go on-sale at noon through www.ticketmaster.com.
mid-July	Parking Passes mailed to accounts selected in the Standard Parking Internet Based Selection Process.
mid-July	2009 Season Tickets mailed via USPS Certified Mail........

NFL.com and SI.com are saying that the NFL draft is Apr. 26 & 27. I think they're wrong, because this is a Sunday a Monday., whereas the draft usually takes place on a Saturday and Sunday. Anyone know for sure?

marcobar:

NFL.com and SI.com are saying that the NFL draft is Apr. 26 & 27. I think they're wrong, because this is a Sunday a Monday., whereas the draft usually takes place on a Saturday and Sunday. Anyone know for sure?

25th-26th:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft

2009 NFL Draft

When: April 25-26
Where: New York, N.Y.

this sucks, really liked the 2 day convention, gave you time to do everythign and not feel rushed, this wil make it a madhouse only 1 day

http://www.chicagobears.com/events/BearsExpopopup.asp

This is actually a good idea for a thread. But you're missing one date. Specifically, what is the cutoff date for the players and owners to reach a new agreement, so as to avoid a no-cap season in 2010? As I recall, the date is sometime in March.

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ROLL ON THUNDER
SHINE ON LIGHTNING
THE DAYS ARE LONG
AND THE NIGHTS ARE FRIGHTENING
NOTHING MATTERS ANYWAY
AND THAT'S THE HELL OF IT

I was at the grocery store buying eight apples, and the clerk asked me if I would like a bag. And I said, "No, man, I juggle! But I can only juggle eight. If I'm ever here buying nine apples, bag 'em up!"

2/17/09	2009 Season Ticket Invoices mailed. Online payment information will be emailed to each account.
4/2/09	Payment deadline for 2009 Season Tickets.