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The Weekend Bears Den: December 06, 2014 - Week 14 Chicago Bears news & notes

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Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Where do Bears go from here? - Greg Gabriel: In hindsight, not getting rid of Lovie Smith core veterans was a mistake that undermined Marc Trestman. The direction this team is following has been set, and the arrow isn’t pointing up.

Urlacher a symptom of the diseased Chicago Bears - Tim Baffoe: The bigger state of the Bears is symbolized by the fact that the face of their franchise for a generation hasn’t just severed ties with the whole operation but that he’s enjoying the trainwreck with giddy spite.

10 thoughts - Adam L. Jahns: Does Marc Trestman still have Bears’ confidence? Plus, Shea McClellin's stock on the rise, and more.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to').  Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts.  Potential future Mrs Spongie in hi-res.

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Bears 28. Cowboys 41

Run defense struggles vs Dallas - Mini-Larry: The Bears were unable to slow down the Cowboys running attack on Thursday night, a main reason the unit couldn't get off the field when needed.

More of same mistakes doom Bears - Larry Mayer: There wasn't much to learn in Thursday night's 41-28 loss to the Cowboys as the Bears made the same types of mistakes that have plagued them throughout the season.

Game notes - Larry Mayer: With Brandon Marshall suffering two broken ribs and an injured lung, both Marquess Wilson and Josh Morgan figure to see expanded playing time; Trestman on "heartfelt support" from management, focusing on next game.

Game grades - Is-Hub Arkush: Marc Trestman, players flunk again as tape review reveals another horrible game plan.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Discussing Bears' loss to Cowboys. [KAPCON: 5]

Photos from ChicagoBears.com - In the locker room ... From the sideline ... photo journal.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - All the action on the Bears' sideline from their Week 14 Thursday Night Football match-up against the Cowboys.

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Is Brandon Marshall done for the season?

Marshall could miss rest of season - Rich Campbell: Broken ribs and lung injury seem likely to end Brandon Marshall’s season, especially because the Bears’ 5-8 record removes any urgency for his return.

Marshall remains in hospital, out indefinitely - Adam L. Jahns: Officially, the Bears have only ruled Brandon Marshall out for Dec. 4 against Saints.

Loss of Marshall will sting struggling Bears - Michael C. Wright: Brandon Marshall's latest injuries will drain life out of Bears team that sorely needs it

[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright discusses the injuries suffered by Brandon Marshall and how Chicago's offense will be impacted by his absence.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Marshall reportedly done for the year. [KAPCON: 5]

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Bearsss

Marc Trestman: No staff changes on horizon - Michael C. Wright: Coach says struggling team is focused on next game, against Saints. Not considering a change to Jimmy Clausen.

Bears need to make major changes — and won’t - Rick Morrissey: It will be a huge upset if Phil Emery and Marc Trestman are anywhere else besides Halas Hall next season.

Bears need clean sweep of football operation from president on down - David Haugh: History says the McCaskeys will go the conservative route. The Bears' future depends on them taking the road less traveled, which could make all the difference.

Jay Cutler only part of Bears' problem - Jon Greenberg: Chicago could use a new GM, new coach and a much better defense.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Will Bears bring back Marc Trestman in 2015? [KAPCON: 4]

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Should Bears consider a QB change? [KAPCON: 5]

Team notes - Dan Wiederer: Marc Trestman feeling support, not heat, at Halas Hall; offensive penalties continue to mount; no thoughts on turning to Jimmy Clausen.

Team notes - Not-Hub Fishbain: Marc Trestman confident in support from organization; offensive penalties confounding; Trestman on Chris Conte's injuries, Cutler's role as starter.

[Video] - Robbie Gould talks about how the Bears have underachieved and addresses former teammate Brian Urlacher’s critical comments.

[Video] - Kevin Gilbride, on where the Bears can fix their issues.

/facepalm - (CBS): The Bears have been frustrating, but there’s no excuse for their fans cheering news of Chris Conte's injury. [...or stabbing one another.]

Bear history: Five most disappointing seasons ever - Don Pierson: Since unmet expectations are the definition of disappointment, the 2014 Bears are well on their way to breaking into the top five most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

Bears history: Biggest offensive drop-offs - Not-Hub Fishbain with a look at a few of the steepest falls for the Bears in terms of points scored after a year ranked highly in the league

The man who claims to be the biggest Bears fan - Steve Lundy: With 148 Bears players' signatures tattooed on his body, a basement filled with team paraphernalia and a Camaro dedicated to Walter Payton, Glenn Timmermann of Round Lake Beach isn't shy about calling himself the biggest Bears fan.

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Polish sausage

The Business of Football - Andrew Brandt: From botched domestic violence cases to retired players in dire need, the NFL has failed on a number of important fronts this season. Yet through it all, fans have stuck around and the money keeps pouring in for owners.

Countdown to kickoff no break for NFL coaches - Tom Pelissero: The game is too high-stakes to truly take a few hours away.

NFL Health & Safety - Jenny·Vrentas: At the school where Chip Kelly honed his style, the latest innovation — practicing without helmets — is meant to ingrain safer tackling techniques into a new generation of players

Jack Bechta: The Agent's Journal - Like most businesses, landing the first client is always the hardest.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky, Vaughn McClure: Packers and Falcons have experienced very different seasons, but they both have plenty to play for when they meet on Monday at Lambeau Field.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein, Pat Yasinskas preview Lions-Bucs: Can Tampa Bay knock Detroit off the playoff path for the second straight season?

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling, Rich Cimini: Matchup between Jets and Vikings is largely a battle of two teams trying to build around young QBs.

Cheerleaders - The best of week 13 from NFL.com and SI.com.

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Welp, the loss to the Cowboys was the latest sign of the season going down the pan but there are still a couple of things about Jerruhteam we can be grateful for.  Warning: Video may cause motion sickness if watched full-screen 6-8 times in a row.