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Bears mailbag - Brad Biggs' readers' Q&A on draft options, Dominique Easley, Aaron Donald, Jeremy Hill, Ryan Shazier and the team's player development.
Can Lovie do the Bears a favor? - Moon Mullin: Emery’s quick dismissal of Aaron Donald as a possibility for the Bears at No. 14 points to Lovie Smith grabbing Donald as his "new" Tommie Harris. [If anyone can work out exactly how this benefits the Bears, please explain in the comments - Den]
Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Walla! Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts. Den pic in lo-res.
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2014 Bears NFL draft: Previews, analysis, prospect profiles
Draft preview - Sam Farmer casts an eye over what the NFC and AFC North teams need in the draft.
Draft preview - Hub Arkush: Draft day is looming and the Bears have a dilemma. Offense or defense at 14?
Team-by-team Big picture needs - Mike Tanier: With a whole post-Urlacher defensive core needing to be built and few long-term blocks in place, Phil Emery could spend three days drafting defenders and it would not be excessive.
Roster analysis: LBs - Moon Mullin: 2013 draft and McClellin positional switch create LB 'future', but Bears could still add developmental talent while beefing up special teams with later picks.
Draft preview: QBs - Adam Hoge: How many QBs get drafted in the first 13 picks will have a huge impact on which defensive players fall to the Bears at No. 14. Brad Biggs: With 7 of first 8 teams in need of QB, expect a run. Greg Gabriel: QB-needy teams wary of overdrafting. Moon Mullin: Talent-rich WR class could be Bears’ best friend.
Draft profile: Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald -The Bears need a young, explosive player that can take the pressure off of the secondary. If the 2013 Outland Trophy winner is still on the board at No. 14 look for the Bears to take him.
Draft profile: Colorado State RB Kapri Bibbs - Bibbs isn’t known for breaking tackles, and his size won’t help him knock any defenders over, which likely makes him not an ideal fit for the No. 2 spot behind Forte.
Draft profile: Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert - Adam Hoge’s Bears Big Board, No. 4: Gilbert is the best option in this year’s draft in terms of future replacements for Tillman, but it will take the 14th-overall pick to get him.
Draft news - Jay Glazer: Timmy Jernigan among those who failed drug tests at Combine.
Mock Draft - Barry Wilner has the Bears taking Michigan State CB Darqueze Dennard: Bears coveted Donald and also had their eyes on Gilbert. But there's another top-notch DB left, and they grab him.
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Bearsss
Re-grading the 2011 NFL Draft - Pete Prisco: In 2011, Christian Ponder and Blaine Gabbert looked like stars. Today? Not so much. [Bears 2011 draft went: Carimi, Paea, Conte... - Den]
All-time Bears Top 30 draft picks, #5 - James Neveau: Drafted in the 12th round of the 1949 draft, George Blanda was a one-man freakshow for over a quarter century-long NFL career, playing every position imaginable.
All-time Bears Top 30 draft picks, #4 - James Neveau: Fourth overall pick in the 1975 draft, Walter Payton is arguably the greatest player in Bears history, and played nearly 200 games with the team.
Bears doing good things - Jeff Dickerson: Kyle Long made good on a pledge to support a 9-year-old fan who has been bullied because of his weight for close to three years. [Video]
Goodell: Chicago, L.A. mayors pursuing 2015 NFL Draft - Emanuel has been "very aggressive" in his pursuit to bring the NFL Draft to Chicago, according to NFL Network reporter Rich Eisen.
Sun-Times Bears section here.
Check WCGer Sackman's selection of Bears-themed tops here, or some t-shirt designs here.
The NFL released the full preseason slate of games yesterday. Here is the Bears schedule.
Friday, August 8 - Philadelphia at Chicago 7:00p (CT)
Thursday, August 14 - Jacksonville at Chicago ESPN 7:00p (CT)
Friday, August 22 - Chicago at Seattle 9:00p (CT)
Thursday, August 28 - Chicago at Cleveland 7:00p (CT)
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Polish sausage
Ten things to know about a front office right before the NFL Draft - Pat Kirwan: From keeping the final draft board a secret to lining up trade partners to obtaining the latest medical info, NFL offices put the finishing touches on draft strategy.
Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: Signalcaller move has high stakes for Adrian Peterson, who probably doesn't have time for another long -- or failed -- QB development.
Know thy enemy: Lions - John Breech: Lions GM says team has no plans to trade Ndamukong Suh, despite a report that said the opposite. Michael Rothstein: Lions have no choice but to keep Suh ... Lions should take Aaron Donald.
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