There are certain locker room rules that teams have throughout the league. They may change from city to city, but, for the most part, they are just fun or competitive ways for a locker room to come together before the long and arduous NFL regular season kicks off.
The Chicago Bears have their way of welcoming players who have been cut from the franchise back to the fold, and one returnee to the roster learned about that ritual on Thursday.
While it wasn't anything too strenuous, the former Carolina Panthers defender had no choice but to "pay the toll" and perform a drill in front of the entire Bears defense.
Bears Punish Re-Signed DB Alex Cook 1st Day Back in Chicago
Chicago defensive back Alex Cook was released by the team following their opening practice of training camp on Wednesday before being promptly re-signed by the franchise. That time away didn't make him immune to the physical activities required from players who find themselves in the same boat as Cook was for that brief period.
The following day, Cook had to perform 40 up-downs in front of each of his defensive teammates on the Bears. According to Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network, those 40 up-downs were the "toll" that Chicago's defensive coordinator Dennis Allen referenced at the start of camp.
Bears DB Alex Cook was cut and then re-signed after Wednesday's practice, so he had to do up downs Thursday morning while his defensive teammates watched.
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) July 24, 2025
And they have to do 40. That's the "toll" DA was talking about.
This "toll" is meant to enhance the competitive spirit among the players in training camp. It's the end of July, and it's hot out. The last thing any of these players wants to do is additional calisthenics in that heat with the rest of their teammates relaxing while watching them work.
This isn't to say that Cook and his Bears teammates shouldn't already have all the motivation in the world to perform at their best. Expectations have been raised in Chicago this season, and these players need to be firing on all cylinders by Week 1.
Cook, especially, needs to be at his best if he wants to make this roster out of training camp. With just 11 total tackles to his credit in 10 games played, the former Washington Huskies standout must prove his worth to Allen and the rest of the coaching staff if he plans on sticking around the Windy City this fall.
With names like Jaquan Brisker, Elijah Hicks, and Major Burns ahead of Cook on the depth chart, the 26-year-old needs to make the best impression possible. Giving his all in moments like this, when the eyes of the Bears' defense are on him, is one of the best ways to do that.