The Bears Den: October 17, 2012 - Week 7 News and Notes

Chris Willams turns out to be another Angelo bust - Michael C. Wright: Of the eight first-round picks made by Angelo from 2011-12, just four (Grossman, Benson, Olsen, Carimi) are currently on NFL rosters, with Tommie Harris representing the group’s only three Pro Bowl appearances.

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - On the Bears' record under Lovie following a bye week, the hottest game in team history, and where Neal Anderson lies in Bears' records.

Peter King's MMQB - Week 6 news and views around the league. TMQB mailbag.

Liking Bryan Adams is also grounds for banning. I swear I saw it somewhere in the new WCG community guidelines.

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Bears-Lions

Joniak’s Journal - Jeff Joniak: “Bad blood” exists between the Bears and Lions, simple as that. Short memories and short fuses in a powder keg environment could lead to some entertaining and interesting confrontations.

Briggs expects intense game with Lions - Jeff Dickerson: Lance Briggs admitted on Tuesday that his team doesn't like the Lions, not that it needed to be said after a bench-clearing fight last year. Includes [Audio] with CJH.

Tale of the Tape - How do the Bears and Lions match up in four key areas: QB, offense, defense, special teams?

Bears must overcome Detroit's trench mouths - Chris Boden: Monday will be a true test to how far this Bears' OL has gone, as they will face Detroit's excellent stable of ends and tackles all game.

[Video] Kip Lewis & Moon Mullin - Previewing the matchup with the Lions.

Cutler or Stafford? - As the Bears prepare to take on the Lions on MNF, many are comparing the merits of the two polarizing QBs. Phil Simms prefers both Cutler’s attitude and production within his offensive system.

Bears’ Cutler just fine on Monday nights - Bob LeGere: It’s true that Cutler has had meltdowns in other prime time games and in some “big” games as a Bear, but not on Monday nights, when he’s 5-1.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Kevin Seifert: Hindsight makes it easy to judge the Jahvid Best Era, right? The Lions couldn't have predicted this course of events, but they should be held accountable for risking a worst-case scenario that appears to be playing out.

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Bears cut Chris Williams

Chris Williams cut, Bears re-sign CB Zack Bowman - Moon Mullin: Completes a precipitous slide from starter to backup to inactive to out in 11 months for Williams.

Bears release Chris Williams - Brad Biggs: Following the release of the 14th overall pick in 2008, the Bears now have one remaining first-round draft pick from the Jerry Angelo era.

Bears cut Chris Williams, re-sign Zack Bowman - Jeff Dickerson: Missing on Williams hurt the Bears because they were in such dire need of young talent on the offensive line.

Bears release Chris Williams, re-sign Zack Bowman - Mark Potash: Former 14th-overall draft pick and onetime LT of the future was cut to make room for a reserve CB.

Will the Bears draft a new LT? - SBN's early mock draft has us trading up from the #32 spot to take...

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Other Bears news

By the numbers: Bears' offense through 5 - Michael C. Wright looks at the Bears' offense by the numbers through five games. Carimi's been bad in pass protection but is the top-rated RT for run blocking this season, according to PFF.

NFCN Blog: Knee-jerk reactions - Kevin Seifert's thoughts on prevailing opinions around the league in the wake of week 6. Could the Bears take advantage of three home games in the next four to separate from the rest of the NFCN?

Tice enjoys working with brash QB - Larry Mayer: In the latest edition of the "Bears Confidential" video series, Mike Tice discusses his relationship with Jay Cutler and their pursuit of a Super Bowl championship.

Bears, Devin Hester primed to return to form - Mark Potash: Devin Hester says he’s just ‘‘one guy away.’’ Dave Toub says, ‘‘At the end of the year, we’re going to be right where we need to be.’’ Either way, the Bears’ vaunted special-teams units know they have some catching up to do.

Brandon Marshall believes he has come a long way personally - Fred Mitchell: WR talks frankly about how he is coping this season with his Borderline Personality Disorder. [Video], part 2.

Brandon Marshall found support from Da Coach - As he tried to get acclimated to his new team in Chicago, the receiver said he found support from one of the Bears' legends, Mike Ditka.

[Video] Top middle linebackers since 1996 - Tedy Bruschi and Antonio Pierce discuss their top five middle linebackers since 1996. Does #54 appear on the list?

Limitations persist for Urlacher - PFW: "Brian Urlacher is not beating players to the point as frequently as he did in prior years and is on pace for a career-low 64 tackles." Also... why are we leaving him out there in blowout games?

Bears bye week stars - Maggie Hendricks: On defense, no one has made more noise than Tim Jennings.

Super Bowl in Chicago? George McCaskey hopeful - Sean Jensen: Said he has been pleased with how new GM Phil Emery and coach Lovie Smith are doing, proud of the way some of his players have stepped up to help the family of Chris Pettry, the Bears fan who was killed in Jacksonville.

Kellen Davis, Bears raise more than $50K for slain Bears fan's family - Maggie Hendricks: Kellen Davis spent his bye weekend doing good for the others. The Bears tight end visited with the Tilden High School football team on Thursday, then helped raise $100,000 for the family of slain Bears fan William Pettry on Saturday.

Idonije unveils comic book in New York - Larry Mayer: Versatile on and off the field, Israel Idonije spent the bye weekend at New York's Comic Con unveiling his graphic novel, The Protectors, along with writer Ron Marz. Instantly becomes top hit with hamsters everywhere.

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Everything else

Matt Bowen's playbook - 'All-22' breakdown of Russell Wilson's 'Dino' stem TD pass to beat the Patriots' Cover 2.

Know thy enemy: Packers - PFF looks at how the Packers tried to contain the Texans' JJ Watt. You can bet Mike Tice will be reviewing the same film before we play them.

Hi-res version of today's Den photo - I may have found the future Mrs Spongie! Or the blonde running out just behind her! The Sponge is all for supporting NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

If you can watch this without smirking, you're a far more mature man than me. Or a woman.