Chicago Bears center Ryan Bates (71) and offensive tackle Luke Newman (65) practice during Back Together training camp event for fans on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/David Banks) AP

It was music to my ears.

The sound of shoulder pads colliding during big hits. Players talking trash after impact plays and even a handful of scuffles.

The head coach is cursing out players for poor execution.

It was the actual sounds of football, real football. Not the usual half speed, going through the motions of a modern NFL camp during the dog days of late summer.

Ben Johnson continues to push all the right buttons, trying to turn around a Bears team that has been misguided for years.

I hadn’t witnessed a training camp practice that physical and entertaining since I was on

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