The Bears Den: May 02, 2014 - Chicago Bears offseason news & notes

Bears targeting six players in Round 1 - Larry Mayer: Phil Emery said Thursday that the Bears are targeting six players in the first round of the draft, they'll likely consider every position except one, and they've fielded calls about a possible trade.

Emery a master of disguise - Tom Musick: Emery is really, really good at creating misdirection when it comes to discussing the NFL draft and other personnel moves. He’s friendly, he’s personable, and he’s entirely capable of keeping us guessing 100 percent of the time.

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

----------
Phil Emery's pre-draft Bears press conference

Team Report - Adam Hoge with everything you need to know from the press conference, and a warning that there could be some misdirection involved.

Team Report - Dan Wiederer with four important things we learned from the Bears' GM's meeting with the media.

Emery remains uninterested in 'Hard Knocks' - Michael C. Wright: The Bears are one of eight teams that could be forced to appear on the series in 2014, but Phil Emery remained steadfast in his reluctance.

Emery: May draft aids Bears' preparations - Dan Wiederer: Also additional time spent aligning wants and needs and players who fit in what is always a frenzied UDFA process immediately after the draft ends.

'Numbers game' will limit any Bears’ draft trade-down - Moon Mullin: The Bears are unlikely to entertain dropping more than three picks in any deal, and it may be no more than two when the calls start coming next Thursday during the draft’s first round.

----------
Offense

GM confident in Palmer as No. 2 QB - Larry Mayer: Phil Emery said Thursday that he's comfortable with veteran Jordan Palmer as the Bears' second-string QB behind starter Cutler. Moon Mullin: Projects that two, perhaps three, QBs will be taken before #14.

Palmer early favorite at No. 2 - Jeff Dickerson: Emery was quick to caution against the idea of the Bears drafting a developmental QB in the mid-to-late rounds, likely to continue to explore the free-agent market.

[Video] CSNChicago discussion - Should the Bears draft a QB? [KAPCON: 4]

Draft preview: RB - Jeff Dickerson: Team could decide to add another RB in the later rounds of next month's draft to compliment the current trio of Matt Forte, Michael Ford and Shaun Draughn.

Draft profile: North Carolina TE Eric Ebron - #5 on Adam Hoge’s Bears Big Board: Blessed with receiving skills and ability to create mismatches, would Emery bypass all the defensive needs and take the TE?

Draft profile: Dixie State TE Joe Don Duncan - If Bears look to add another TE, it’ll likely be someone with a bigger frame and a more refined offensive skillset to complement their number one.

----------
Defense

Bears GM 'wouldn't count on' mock projections - Michael C. Wright: Phil Emery indicated Tuesday that he doesn't expect Aaron Donald to be available once the Bears hit the clock at No. 14. Brad Biggs: Historical trends show top DT rarely stays on board that long.

For Bears' 'D', it still starts up front - Arthur Arkush: Phil Emery made it abundantly clear on Thursday that the key to rebuilding the NFL’s worst run defense and 30th-ranked scoring unit starts in the trenches.

Draft preview: D-line - Moon Mullin: Bears stocked at DE, but DT still a top need.

Emery excited about McClellin's weight loss - Jeff Dickerson: Phil Emery couldn’t resist cracking a smile on Thursday when responding to a question about Shea McClellin's new trimmed and toned offseason physique, plans to put him through jiggle test.

Conte could start camp on PUP - Michael C. Wright: Even so, Phil Emery expects the free safety to be available for the exhibition opener against the Eagles.

Bears studying corners who could transition to safety - Kevin Fishbain: The safety position has evolved over the years, and TEs in the game require coverage from safeties.

Team Report - Bob LeGere: The battles for the Bears' two safety and S/MLB positions will be wide open this summer with no clear-cut starters at the moment, according to Phil Emery. Plus, the GM's thoughts on Hard Knocks and size.

Draft profile: Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller - #6 on Adam Hoge’s Bears Big Board: Fuller is more physical than he gets credit for and with some added strength, could definitely become a No. 1 CB who jams at the line against bigger receivers.

Draft profile: Florida State S Terrence Brooks - Comparisons to (former) Lions safety Louis Delmas makes Brooks an enticing option that should still be hanging around on Day 2 of the draft.

UDFAs can make a difference - Hub Arkush: Bears could add priority undrafted rookie free agent QB, TE, and more depth at safety after the draft.

----------
Bearsss

Draft preview - Dan Durkin takes a look at positions and prospects the Bears could target in the early, mid and late rounds.

View from the Moon - Moon Mullin: Are Bears thinking safety over linebacker D-line?  Will Emery take athleticism over production?  Is Jordan Palmer a risk as Cutler's backup?  With [Video].

Dan Pompei Q&As - Will Emery fool everyone and go offense at #14? ... Ra'Shede Hageman is raw, athletic & has upside: is he Bears' guy?

Bears history - James Neveau's all-time Bears Top 30 draft picks, #12: A hard-hitting safety with no regard for his own safety, Doug Plank personified football during the era in which he played, and even though he was just a 12th round pick, he turned into a heck of a player for the Bears.

Every NFC team's best draft class in history - Chris Wesseling: With the third and fourth overall picks in the 1965 draft, the Bears selected Illinois' Dick Butkus and Kansas' Gale Sayers. There's never been a more dynamic offense-defense rookie tandem.

Former players to announce second-round picks - Will Mike Singletary drop his trousers at the podium?

[Video] Inside the Bears - Patrick Mannelly presented the Ed Block Courage Award after his teammates voted for the veteran long snapper.

Sun-Times Bears section here.

Check WCGer Sackman's selection of Bears-themed tops here, or some t-shirt designs here.

----------
Polish sausage

The Business of Football - Andrew Brandt: NFL teams have a key decision point Friday night regarding the first round of the 2011 draft: whether or not to apply the fifth-year option. Greg Gabriel: Who panned out and who didn't. [Carimi didn't. - Den]

Jack Bechta: The Agent's Journal - A longtime agent's take on 5 draft subplots, including thoughts on Draft Day, the movie.

Draft analysis - Doug Farrar: What are the hardest to find positions, and who are the best prospects at each in the 2014 NFL draft?

What's it like to be a scout during the NFL draft? - Russ Lande: Picking players is an inexact science. There are always last-minute second guesses and disputes that make for interesting stories -- at least in hindsight.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: AP embracing role as receiver, though would make it tougher to catch Emmitt Smith ... Vikings plan to turn Harrison Smith loose in Year 3.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Rob Rang with five prospects that the Vikings should consider ponder in the 2014 NFL Draft.

----------