The Bears Den: January 01, 2015 - Postseason Chicago Bears news & notes

Bears 2014 season report card - Michael C. Wright: Chicago finished the 2014 season as arguably the most underachieving club in the NFL, given all the talent on offense. [Video]

What's on the table for the Bears' next GM? - Adam L. Jahns: Candidates will evaluate the Bears’ situation as much as the Bears’ evaluate them. The cupboard at Halas Hall isn’t empty, but tough decisions loom.

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Black Monday +3

Ernie Accorsi right man to help Bears - Is-Hub Arkush: Only way this relationship is likely to fail is if George McCaskey allows Ted Phillips to make the final recommendations and decisions, or if he insists on doing it himself.

Ballard, DeCosta on Bears' list of five GM candidates - Mark Potash: The Bears have requested permission to talk to five candidates for their vacant GM position.

Bears already targeting head coaches - Bob LeGere: The Bears have already identified Broncos OC Adam Gase and DCs Dan Quinn (Seahawks) and Todd Bowles (Cardinals), but there are several others who should attract their attention.

Bears book interviews with 2 coaches, await others - Patrick Finley: Dan Quinn and Adam Gase to meet with Bears this week, while Todd Bowles and Gary Kubiak can't interview until next week, per NFL rules.  Dan Durkin: Coach profiles.  Jeff Legwold: Peyton Manning endorses Adam Gase.

Bears' aggressive approach with coaching candidates makes sense - Brad Biggs: By moving quickly, the Bears are positioned for a potential second interview during the extra week leading up to the Super Bowl.

Bears coaching job no better than Raiders, say NFL execs, coaches - Brad Biggs: Concerns over Jay Cutler, terrible defense gives NFL executives, coaches concerns about Bears coaching job.  More.

Best NFL coaching vacancy? - Brian Billick ranks the six openings and places the Bears' a lowly fifth.

Early patterns emerging in Bears' search - Moon Mullin: The Bears’ search is becoming somewhat revealing, in ways that underscore some of the spoken and unspoken parameters laid out by George McCaskey and Ted Phillips.

[Video] - Jerry Angelo on Bears search for GM, coach.

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Bearsss

Difficult to know whether Cutler is answer for Bears - Michael C. Wright pimps ESPN's QBR stat while acknowledging its lack of correlation with team's success.

Angelo: 'Cutler might have played himself out of Chicago' - Former Bears GM says Bears can win with Cutler, but will depend on what incoming GM thinks and whether they can find a replacement [with Video].

[Video] SportsTalk Live - What is Jay Cutler's future?

Team notes - Bob LeGere: Bears expand search for GM; 2015 opponents are set; Matt Forte's 2015 base salary increases due to hitting yards from scrimmage targets this season.

Mock Draft - Knox Bardeen: Adding the best safety in the draft will not only help the defensive backfield, but as he comes down into the box, the middle of Chicago's defense will benefit too.

Re-doing the 2014 NFL draft - Steven Ruiz has the Bears sticking with corner, but not taking Kyle Fuller.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Kyle Long was mic'd up Sunday for the Bears' final game of 2014.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Bears InSight gives you a unique look behind the scenes of the Bears practice ,to their trips across the country, as well as on the field game day.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Matt Forte helps make a special 14-year-old's dream come true. In partnership with Make-A-Wish, the Bears granted the wish of Lucas Ellinger, who battled cancer for more than three years.

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Polish sausage

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling's Vikings season report card: There's real optimism with Vikings after a year that could have easily gotten off track.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: Ndamukong Suh claimed he didn’t know he stepped on Aaron Rodgers because his feet were numb from the cold; were other Lions also struggling with numb feet at Green Bay?

McCown endorses former Bears coach for OC - Roy Cummings: No surprise that Josh McCown would like to reunite with Marc Trestman on the Buccaneers.

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