The Bears Den: December 24, 2014 - Week 17 Chicago Bears news & notes

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - Larry discusses whether Jimmy Clausen will start the season finale, a fourth-down pass to Eben Britton, and why Martellus Bennett only caught one pass against the Lions.  Lunch With Larry: No mention of Shakira, Shakira.

Until fate resolved, Emery is Bears' biggest decision for future - David Haugh: You won't find a football executive more prepared than Phil Emery. But under the dire circumstances, it comes as little surprise the Bears at least are considering whether they can find one more qualified.

Jay Cutler situation with Bears makes for interesting conjecture - Brad Biggs: The franchise tag wasn't a realistic option; how could the Bears, coming off a breakthrough offensive season in Trestman's first year, tell everyone to buy into what they were doing if they themselves didn't buy into Cutler?

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Looking ahead: Bears-Vikings

[Video] ESPN - Jeff Dickerson breaks down the biggest storylines surrounding the Bears heading into Week 17.

Bears look to keep focus on finale - Mini-Larry: With one game remaining, the Bears will try to focus on the task at hand while dealing with a variety of different issues.

Coaches not concerned with Black Monday - Michael C. Wright: Marc Trestman and his staff expect to be let go at the conclusion of the season, but the coaches remain focused on the Vikings, not Black Monday.

Know thy enemy - Mini-Larry: The Vikings' young and talented roster, which is led by rookie Teddy Bridgewater, will challenge the Bears in the season finale.

Bears could tumble in draft order by beating Vikings - Rich Campbell breaks down the possible scenarios for the Bears' order in the 2015 draft entering Week 17.

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Looking back: Bears-Lions

Stock watch - Jeff Dickerson: Stephen Paea has seen his stock go up after a solid Week 16 performance.

Game grades - Is-Hub Arkush: There were positive signs from Bears-Lions, but what the tape proves beyond a doubt is that the problem with Marc Trestman’s offense is Trestman’s offense.

X&Os - Hub-or-not-Hub.com's All-22 slideshow from Bears-Lions.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Tom Thayer breaks down the pressure created by the Bears front 7 Sunday against the Lions.

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Marc Trestman, not exactly beloved by the Chicago media

Another slice of the miserable Trestman experience - Steve Rosenbloom: Marc Trestman never learned that selective accountability and nonsensical explanations are viewed as selective and nonsensical by players, not just by the media and fans.

The spite in and for lame duck Marc Trestman - Tim Baffoe: Once the soft-spoken nerd coach realized after the (insert any of the savage beatings the Bears took) game that he wouldn’t be back, he got spiteful, and nobody feels bad for spite.

Based on his own criteria, Emery missed, badly - John Dodge: Phil Emery wanted a leader who[m - Den] players and employees admired and clearly understood what was expected.

Cutler and Trestman are an odd couple - Rick Telander's ramblings take two minutes of my life that I'm not going to get back.

[Video] - Lance Briggs responds to Robbie Gould's comments.

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Bearsss

Long voted to second straight Pro Bowl - Larry Mayer: Kyle Long on Tuesday became the 10th player in Bears history to be voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons in the NFL.

David Bass, Cornelius Washington preparing for prime opportunity - Not-Hub Arkush: Short on knockout artists for the present and future, the Bears would like nothing more than to head into the offseason feeling confident about this pair.  Moon Mullin: Willie Young injury complicates Bears offseason DL scenarios.

Mel Tucker: 'No one happy' about Bears season — even own family - Patrick Finley: Say this for Tucker, though: the Bears’ much-needed youth movement on defense has helped replenish a roster beset by age and injury.  Dan Durkin: Special teamers developing.

Team notes - Larry Mayer: Christian Jones making major strides, had led team in tackles each of the past two games; Kyle Long to play on Sunday; Jared Allen on Dominic Raiola's stomp; Austen Lane signed to replace IRed Willie Young.

Team notes - Not-Hub Fishbain: Jared Allen says he has "a lot of football left in me"; Mel Tucker, Joe DeCamillis not thinking about Monday; more team notes.

Jared Allen didn't join Bears 'for a one-and-done shot' - Adam L. Jahns: Allen, 32, is set to become the 2015 voice and face of the Bears’ defense, which most likely will have a new coordinator and even more contributions from young players than this season.

Most disappointing NFL players in 2014 - Chris Burke includes two Bears on the list, one from each side of the ball.

All-Rookie Team 2014 - Doug Farrar includes Kyle Fuller.

[Video] - Lance Briggs gives an emotional and heartfelt goodbye to the city, the fans and all the people who made his career as a Bear a memorable one [transcript] ... [Video] Brian Urlacher's favorite memories of playing with #55.

[Video] Inside the Bears - 'Santa Spice' Adams spreads some holiday cheer, 'rolls' down Michigan Avenue bringing joy and gifts to Bears fans.

[Video] Inside the Bears - The Bears and the 2014 rookie class host a holiday party for more than 300 military members and their families at Soldier Field.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Jermon Bushrod and Roberto Garza help area kids shop for toys and gifts for the holidays.

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Polish sausage

NFL still missteps on Dominic Raiola's stomp - Jarrett Bell: The one-game suspension for a flagrant cheap-shot disregarding the spirit of competition should have been even more.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Dave Dye: Jim Caldwell's first-time NFL DC Teryl Austin responsible for Lions' defensive success.

Know thy enemies - Andy Benoit with an X&Os look at how the NFC North title will be won in Packers-Lions game.

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