When football will start remains to be seen. Davis, a free-agent wide receiver who expects to re-sign with the Bears, believes it's still possible for NFL owners and players to reach a labor agreement in order for the team to report to training camp on time July 22. But time is running out.
Former Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer helped put on the free camp with Position Tech that more than 200 kids attended. Charles Tillman, Corey Wootton and Davis volunteered as coaches. Davis was most optimistic about a timely deal being done for the Bears to head to Bourbonnais, Ill., as scheduled.
"Both sides have made progress," he said. "It would take a deal getting done next week. I don't know if it's going to happen. I think it's possible."
Even though Davis and Hillenmeyer are not under contract to the Bears, they're serving as alternate player representatives. Hillenmeyer casts doubt on camp starting in time for the Bears to play the Rams in the Hall of Fame Game Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio, asking the practical question what is the minimum amount of time needed for a free agency period?
A labor agreement isn't going to be followed by training camps the next day. There are going to be more than 400 free agents and teams are going to sign close to 400 undrafted college free agents while also needing to get 256 draft picks under contract. This won't happen in a flash.
Hillenmeyer, who has been intricately involved in NFLPA matters at various points, has kept his former teammates informed with regular emails.
"The last email I sent the guys, and it was reflected in an email (player rep) Robbie (Gould) sent out (Friday), was 'Don't believe what you see on television,'" Hillenmeyer said. "We are not on the cusp of a deal. The sides have gotten closer and we're continuing to talk and we're taking less breaks between talks.
"All of those things are good signs, but we don't want guys to think, 'Good, a deal is going to get done next week so I can start spending money like I would if I was going to be getting a paycheck in a month.' The biggest thing that could undermine the players, in terms of us not sticking together, is if guys got themselves in situations where they simply had to cave just to get a paycheck."
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