The Bears Den: April 17, 2014 - Chicago Bears offseason news & notes

Why Chicago will always be a hardnosed Bears town - Will Leitch: The Cubs have the national romantic storyline, the Bulls have the Jordan years, the Blackhawks have those two shiny new Stanley Cup titles, the White Sox even have the White House. But in Chicago itself, the Bears are the way the citizens see themselves.

Bears among teams with tons at stake - Gil Brandt: Poised to seriously challenge for the NFC North crown, finding the right prospects to draft -- specifically, a D-lineman and a safety -- could put the Bears over the top.

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Bears mailbag - Kevin Fishbain's readers' Q&As: Are the Bears likely to double down with their first two picks on either the DT or safety positions?

Dan Pompei Q&As - Could Bears draft two D-linemen with first two picks? ... Or two safeties?

[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright discusses recent Bears additions, including Brian de la Puente.

[Video] - Matt Bowen: Bears must extend Brandon Marshall's deal past 2014 season, Alshon Jeffery not a No. 1 WR yet.

Draft analysis - Moon Mullin: Vacancies at safety warrant high picks, but worth investing a 1st rounder? The last two times the Bears selected Pro Bowl safeties, they found them in second rounds.

Draft analysis: Top 10 safeties - Doug Farrar: Calvin Pryor leads deep safety class.

Draft preview - Adam Hoge's Bears Big Board #16, Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks: The Bears could use this extremely productive and durable receiver who can beat defenses over the top... but it’s doubtful Cooks will still be there at No. 51.

Draft preview - Adam Hoge's Bears Big Board #15, LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr: Would be scary as a slot receiver with Marshall and Jeffery on the field at the same time, but is unlikely to last deep into second round.

Draft preview - Matt Bowen: A mid-round prospect, Montana LB Jordan Tripp moves like a strong safety and can develop into a starter at the Mike ‘backer position in a Tampa 2 defense.

Draft preview - BYU LB Kyle Van Noy: It wouldn't be surprising to see Emery bolster the LB group once again; however, Van Noy is projected to fit best on a team that utilizes a 3-4 defense.

Draft preview - Florida DT Dominique Easley: After a season in which the Bears' defense was absolutely decimated by major injuries to key players, it's unlikely that Emery is willing to risk his first-round pick on someone that has a checkered injury history.

Draft preview - Russ Lande: Finding star players -- especially pass rushers -- late in the draft is what separates the most successful teams. Here are five potential Day 3 pass rushers who have the tools to develop into quality starters.

Draft analysis - Michael C. Wright reviews the Bears' 2011 draft: With a dislocated kneecap derailing Gabe Carimi, is Chris Conte the best pick of the class?

2012 NFL Draft do-over - Bucky Brooks has the Bears going in a different direction than taking Shea McClellin at #19.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Anthony Adams challenges his former teammate Brian Urlacher to a game of ping pong and asks him to run him through one of his daily workouts.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Some amusing bonus clips from Jeff Joniak's interview with the starting five O-linemen last season.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Brandon Marshall has been working with trainer Matt Gates since his college days at the University of Central Florida. Now the two have teamed up to form Fit Speed to help train elite athletes.

Bears history - James Neveau's all-time Top 30 Bears draft picks has a pair of linemen at #25 and #24, Stan Jones and Mark Bortz.

Bears doing good things - Larry Mayer: Khaseem Greene switches number to 52 to honor former Rutgers teammate Eric LeGrand, paralyzed in a 2010 game against Army. Tillman to host bowling fundraiser in Rosemont.

Sun-Times Bears section here.

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Drafting the best vs drafting for need - Jerry Angelo: A strategy session for draft day as well as my top-five players in this year’s rookie class.

Cornerbacks playing catchup with taller, faster receivers - Jeff Legwold: While teams may want to emulate Seattle's success on defense with larger DBs, the college game doesn't lend itself to producing big players in the secondary.

The sad state of Running Backs - Mike Tanier: Running backs are traditionally football's second-biggest stars, but the position is rapidly becoming the worst job in professional sports. Best RB from 2008 (Forte's) draft class?

Ranking first round draft classes - Tony Villiotti: A look at ten years of booms and busts. [Urlacher is the 2000 draft's boom.]

Know thy enemy: Packers - Tom Pelissero: Clay Matthews looking forward to one-on-one battles while pass rushing opposite Julius Peppers. [Must not have watched tape from last year... - Den]

Know thy enemy: Lions - Will Brinson: Golden Tate thinks Lions offense 'going to fit better' than Seahawks. Daniel Jeremiah: Justin Gilbert could star in secondary.

The Business of Football - Andrew Brandt: "Draft Day" the movie is a mixed bag when it comes to NFL realities (Warning: contains plot spoilers). MMQB writers' favorite football movies.

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Works surprisingly well.