For the first time since 2000, the Indianapolis Colts will hold a joint practice with another team this week, as they welcome the Chicago Bears to their West 56th Street complex on Wednesday and Thursday for two days of work with the Bears before their preseason game this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. “If they cross the line and guys fight, then you guys saw two guys leave our practice field. So we’ll have some good film to watch tonight we’ll make some corrections for tomorrow”.

One day after several scuffles broke out during practices between the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams, coaches Chuck Pagano and John Fox reminded players to keep their emotions in check. The forecast changed, however, and the entire Bears roster was bused to the Colts’ practice facility where practice went off without a delay.

As much as coaches want to see their players go full-speed against top competition, and the players want to prove themselves against the best, there is a danger in these joint practices, as witnessed by the brawl that broke out last week between Washington and the Texans. You have different styles of offense and defense and that’s good practice for your team.

“I thought they got after us, they won the day, ” Cutler said.

Fox said his offense received “great work” against a “quicker, faster style of defense”, but Jay Cutler wasn’t as satisfied.

Bowen’s Analysis:Pagano laid it out pretty clearly of how the Colts practices will operate with the Bears.

“When you get into a habit of going against the same person, you pick up on little keys and tendencies that they have, and you can sometimes play out of your technique, ” Colts tight end Dwayne Allen said.

“Our roster is probably better right now than it’s been at any point, so we are going to say good-bye to a lot of good players.”

I’ve got to fix some stuff, O-line, receivers.

The absence of Jeffery and White gave some of the Bears’ young receivers a chance to get more reps.

His day wasn’t flawless, as the rookie left a few plays on the field and was stripped after a 20-yard catch. I thought that was good work for our guys to see. You are the guys writing it, saying we have all these wideouts, all these runners, a future first-ballot Hall-of-Fame quarterback, which we all know.

“Like I’ve said before, we’re going to have some tough decisions to make”, Pagano said.

The offensive half of the Bears’ practice against the Colts on Wednesday had a familiar feel.

“We get exhausted of hitting each other, especially when you’re in minicamp and training camp for so long, so we’re excited to hit some guys with horseshoes on their helmets”. “We’ll be smart with him but also get him some work (in preseason) so he’s ready for the opener”. “You have friends all over the league whether you’re a coach or player”.