:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31406661/158030788.0.jpg)
Bears announce preseason schedule - Larry Mayer: Features a match-up against the defending Super Bowl champions and a nationally-televised contest at Soldier Field.
De la Puente deal very Matt Slauson-esque - Adam Hoge: The Bears won’t get the $160,000 in cap savings that would have come with a minimum salary benefit deal, but it gives them the flexibility to extend de la Puente at any point.
Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). What's the worst that could happen? Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts. Den pic in hi-res.
----------
Bearsss
[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright: Bears should still target the D-line in the draft despite recent acquisitions.
Around the NFC North - Josh Katzenstein's look at the division, position by position, a month after free agency.
Dan Pompei Q&As - Will Bears draft a RB? ... Is Aaron Donald a fit for Bears if they use a hybrid D? ... Starting safety possibilities in 2nd or 3rd round? ... How has Bears' offseason been so far?
Draft preview: Justin Gilbert - CSNChicago's compiled scouting report and NFL Combine press conference [video] for the Oklahoma State CB, who has been mocked to the Bears as a long-term solution on defense.
Draft preview - Adam Hoge begins a look at 20 prospects who could be on the Bears' radar. At #20, CB Bradley Roby from Ohio State.
Mock Draft - Kevin Fishbain has the Bears taking Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Well overdue for Bears to draft an impact safety in the first.
Mock Draft - Daniel Jeremiah's mock draft 5.0: Aaron Donald is undersized, but he has rare explosiveness and instincts for the position.
Devin Hester's heart still in Chicago - Michael C. Wright: The sides seem to have parted on good terms, so he shouldn’t dismiss the possibility of eventually retiring as a Bear.
Brandon Marshall accepted to Harvard Business program - Tiffany Boncan: Bears WR will be attending a four-day Executive Education program on the Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports.
Bears history - James Neveau's countdown of the top 30 draft picks in Bears history starts with a member of the '85 Bears, Keith Van Horne.
Sun-Times Bears section here.
----------
Polish sausage
The Business of Football - Andrew Brandt: Recent releases of DeSean Jackson and Chris Johnson showed the fallacy of taking an NFL contract at face value.
Draft analysis - Marc Sessler: Which player positions have the most staying power among first-round picks?
Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: QB-needy Vikings bringing Teddy Bridgewater in for visit. Chase Goodbread: Bridgewater working with Marshall, Cutler.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Ryan Wilson: Would the Lions trade up for WR Sammy Watkins? Michael Rothstein: Too many concerns on the defensive side to ignore ... Mel Kiper: Ignore it, channel your inner Matt Millen!
----------
Nearly had a potential (if not as spectacular) "Christmas in Heaven" moment with the first video of this that I used.