Bears video chat: Sun-Times Bears Writer Neil Hayes breaks down (the missing) mini-camp

Bears video chat: Sun-Times Bears Writer Neil Hayes breaks down (the missing) mini-camp
Getty/Jonathan Daniel, File
Bears video chat: Sun-Times Bears Writer Neil Hayes breaks down (the missing) mini-camp
Getty/Jonathan Daniel, File

Bears video chat: Sun-Times Bears Writer Neil Hayes breaks down (the missing) mini-camp

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If you’re a hard core football fan, you know that the Bears were supposed to be finishing up their first mini-camp by now. But instead there is a lockout, so the Halas Hall practice fields are empty.

The missing off-season mini-camp serves as a reminder that the NFL 2011/12 season is quickly approaching - and  the labor dispute is showing no signs of resolving soon.

So fans are now wondering aloud about skipping training camp, eliminating pre-season football and (gasp), shortening the regular season.

What can we expect from football this summer?

Neil Hayes is the Sun-Times Bears beat writer. He was in studio Monday talking with Eight Forty-Eight about the ongoing labor dispute, which gave me a chance to talk shop with one of Chicago’s best sports writers.