Grind Begins for Bears with Return for Conditioning Work

The Bears returned Monday to Halas Hall for the offseason conditioning program prior to the start of OTAs.

The spring work done at Halas Hall is limited to strength and conditioning. Only strength and conditioning coaches are allowed on the field for the first phase. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

It's Matt Eberflus' time of the year.

The Bears returned Monday to Halas Hall for their conditioning program.

At the NFL owners meetings, Eberflus described what he likes about the conditioning part off the offseason, as well as organized team activities later.

"What I love is when the players come back," Eberflus told reporters at the owners meetings. "This is going to be critical, you know, nine or 10 weeks in the offseason before we go to summer break. So that's going to be fun.

"To be able to bring those guys together is—and i said it last year—the most important part that we have besides schemes is relationships So we're going to do a great job of intermixing the team to make sure that we get to know each other on a personal level, on a deeper level than just football because I think that’s the glue that holds together, the steel that is the middle of your football team, is the relationship piece of it."

All of the offseason work is voluntary except for mandatory minicamp June 4-6.

There are 67 players on the roster, including 16 players at Halas Hall who haven't been there in past seasons. After April 27 there will be a good many more join as draft picks or undrafted free agents, and some unrestricted free agents in the secondary market, as well.

Here are the new Bears at Halas Hall working as of April 15.

• WR Keenan Allen

• G/C Ryan Bates

• S Kevin Byard

• DT Byron Cowart

• OL Jake Curhan

• TE Gerald Everett

• DE Jacob Martin

• S Tarvarius Moore

• LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

• S Jonathan Owens

• OL Matt Pryor

• C Coleman Shelton

• DB Douglas Coleman III

• DT Michael Dwumfour

• LS Cameron Lyons

• P Corliss Waitman

During the first two weeks of conditioning in offseason work, according to the NFLPA the Bears are limited to strength and conditioning. If they are on the practice field, they are limited to working with strength and conditioning coaches and no one can be on the field for more than 90 minutes.

During the conditioning aspect, two hours of work are allowed. Quarterbacks can throw to receivers with no coverage. Kickers and punters can kick but no one can field it and there are no snappers or holders allowed. Long snappers can snap but only into a net.

Defensive players can't catch the ball regardless of who throws it.

In the next phase, up to four hours of work are allowed and regular coaches can be on the field. At OTAs starting May 20, they can have 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills but no pads or contact are allowed. There will be a rookie minicamp after the draft and mandatory minicamp June 4-6.

"The team changes every year," Eberflus said. "You've got to do it every year. Like John Wooden says, you've got to put your socks on and lace up your shoes every single year and we're excited about getting that started."

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