of skin showing — cheat the system a little bit.”

Sitton’s best cold-weather advice for Southerners who might struggle with the cold?

First, “grow up,” and then, “Stay by the heater all the way until the timeout’s over. Don’t go on the field early.”

Fox has some simple words of wisdom.

“I’ve told them the macho stuff’s all great,” he said, “but there comes a point where people might question your intelligence.”

Right tackle Bobby Massie is a Virginia native who played at Ole Miss and then for four years with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2012. He heeds Fox’s advice.

“Sleeves, definitely,” Massie said. “Being tough and stupid are two different things.”

California kid Matt Barkley quarterbacked his first game in the snow two weeks ago in the Bears’ 26-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Thursday he got to try his hand in Arctic-like temperatures.

“We were giving him a hard time about being a Cali boy and trying to deal with the Chicago weather,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “But he did a nice job with it.”

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is a South Carolina native who played for the Gamecocks, but he has been in Chicago for four years, long enough to get accustomed to cold weather. And, after serving a four-game PED suspension, he’s eager to suit up anywhere.

“I don’t think the weather really matters,” Jeffery said. “I could care less how cold it is. I’ve played in colder games. I’m just ready to play football.”

So, too, is McPhee.

“I’m at war,” he said. “I’m at combat. I ain’t got time to think about sleeves. I’m gonna go out there sleeveless, and that’s how I’m gonna play.”

• Follow Bob’s Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.