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Bears get 1st crack at interviewing Chiefs' Chris Ballard for GM job - Dan Wiederer: The Bears' urgency in moving to fill their GM opening should not be understated with a search for a new head coach ongoing. Ballard is considered one of the more promising rising executives in the league.
Separating myth from reality in Bears search - Dan Bernstein: Ted Phillips is an issue, but he’s primarily one of perception more than reality, while the idea of hiring a GM who has done the job before needs to be put to rest. For the Bears, it’s not about reinventing the process. It’s about getting it right.
Bears can't afford to keep Brandon Marshall - Is-Hub Arkush: Marshall is capable of another big season or two, but is all the selfishness and distraction he brings with him worth it for a team desperate for a new start and a breath of fresh air in the locker room?
Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Follow'). And the Sponge reaches 1,000 all-purpose posts! (Crowd goes wild.) Den pic in hi-res.
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Bearsss
Bears interview Quinn and Gase - Larry Mayer: The Bears have interviewed Seahawks DC Dan Quinn and Broncos OC Adam Gase for their head-coaching position.
Bears face stiff competition for hot coaching candidate Todd Bowles - Brad Biggs: Cardinals DC Todd Bowles is in demand and his players give him the strongest endorsement, but the Falcons may have the first shot at hiring him.
Dave Toub worth keeping an eye on - Moon Mullin: Unlike Bowles, Gase and Quinn (just two years as an NFL coordinator), Toub has done the coordinator job at the NFL level for more than just a couple years, and has done it extremely well.
Bears still aim to hire GM first, but time is of the essence - Adam L. Jahns: Time is dwindling for the Bears’ brass. The next GM not only will have to find his next coach, but also get his scouting staff in order with college all-star games approaching as Senior Bowl practice week begins Jan. 19.
So many decisions ahead for Bears' new hires - Bob LeGere: New GM and head coach will have an abundance of off-season decisions to make, including what to do with the seventh overall pick in April's draft.
Bears coaching search: Where to look - (Tribune): Since the end of the 2010 season, 30 head coaches have been hired around the NFL. From where have they all emerged, and how much success had they had immediately before landing their new gigs?
Postseason suggests a few nuggets for Bears past and future - Moon Mullin: Some bad revisionist history has been swirling in the wake of the Bears’ 5-11 disaster, which now has led to conclusions that the roster is bereft of talent.
Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman came to Bears in ’03 and will go out together - Adam L. Jahns: "It’s rare," Tillman said. "I found a great friend. It was an honor, a privilege. I’ve learned so much from him. I hope he says the same thing about me, the dummy."
Bears mailbag - Michael C. Wright's readers' Q&As. What chance a Shanahan-Cutler reunion?
Playoffs still so much about the Bears - Mike Imrem with a meathead's eye view of the Wild Card games. Bearsss. Ditka. Polish sausage.
Mock Draft - Dane Brugler has the Beloved taking Alabama's Landon Collins: The Bears need help at all three levels on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the back half of the field at safety.
Could Bears be landing spot for Ndamukong Suh? - James Neveau: After five seasons of disappointing playoff results in the Motor City, it would make more sense for Suh to go to a place with a better chance at routine playoff contention. The Bears simply haven’t earned that reputation.
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Polish sausage
Ex-Bear news - (AP): Ron Rivera's house suffered fire, water and smoke damage in an early morning blaze but no one was injured. [Video]
Know thy enemy: Lions 20, Cowboys 24 - (NFL.com): Game report and [Video] highlights ... Gregg Rosenthal: Cowboys stage rally to upend Lions in thriller ... Michael Rothstein: Ndamukong Suh was emotional Sunday and now the circus around him starts.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: Lions not happy with DPI reversal call ... Will Brinson: NFL needs to explain non-flag ... Greg A. Bedard: Even if non-call wasn't correct, Detroit didn't do enough to beat Cowboys ... Tom Pelissero: Lions, not refs, deserve blame for loss.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: Lions have come a long way from the winless 2008 season ... A look at Matthew Stafford's season ... (FOXSports): Three issues Lions must address this offseason.
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The worst ever Bond theme songs? I'm tempted simply to run this all week.