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Bears to interview Todd Bowles on Saturday - Patrick Finley: The Bears have set a deadline for their GM hire: by Saturday, when the team will interview Cardinals DC Todd Bowles for their vacant head coaching position.
10 thoughts: Jerry Angelo endorses Chris Ballard - Mark Potash: But nobody can tell just how lucky he’ll be. Being at the right place at the right time is a huge factor; just ask Bill Polian, who was hired by the Bills the year after they drafted Jim Kelly, and went to the Colts they year they drafted Peyton Manning.
Mike Shanahan offers Bears more than just a Jay Cutler fix - Rich Campbell: Oak Park native isn't blind to Cutler's flaws; his hard-nosed leadership style, offensive acumen and run-first philosophy fit the team's needs in ways Trestman ultimately did not. Moon Mullin: ...but upside without John Elway questionable.
Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Follow'). What's the worst that could happen? Den pic in hi-res.
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Bearsss
Bears to begin GM interviews Tuesday with Titans' Lake Dawson - Rich Campbell: Titans' VP of player personnel, who oversees their college and pro scouting departments, is set to meet with the Bears on Tuesday.
Ryan Pace unlikely to leave Saints - Mike Triplett: Player personnel director declined the opportunity to interview for the New York Jets; the Bears also reportedly requested permission to interview Pace last week.
Bears on the clock to find new GM - Bob LeGere: Aside from Chris Ballard's familiarity with personnel at Halas Hall, there are other indications Ballard could be the front-runner for the job.
[Video] SportsTalk Live - Who will be the next Bears GM?
[Audio Video; potential future Mrs Spongie Jen Lada sighting] - Will Brinson: Bears need a GM in place before hiring a coach.
[Audio Video; Jen Lada again] - Danny Parkins: Could Chiefs executive Chris Ballard be a nice fit with Bears?
Bears face stiff competition for hot candidate Todd Bowles - Brad Biggs: Bowles' name has been associated with five of the six head-coaching vacancies, and some have suggested Atlanta is his preferred destination. Josh Weinfuss [Winefoot? - Den]: Bowles in for busy week of interviews.
[Video] SportsTalk Live - Bears set to interview Todd Bowles.
Why Bears need Rex Ryan (and why they won't hire him) - Steve Rosenbloom: The advantage with fired head coaches is they take the new job already knowing how it works. They don’t have to learn on the job, which I believe will be detailed in Marc Trestman’s next book.
Bears mailbag - Q: Why did Phil Emery go against Rod Marinelli's advice and pick Marc Trestman? Brad Biggs: Marinelli wasn’t going to work with the Bears after Lovie Smith was fired. Period. In addition, Bruce Arians wanted to bring in Todd Bowles as his DC. There’s no way Marinelli played a hand in the hiring process.
Coaching change means no 'Hard Knocks' for Bears - Ed Sherman: The firing of Marc Trestman gets the Bears off the hook in one respect: The NFL can’t "volunteer" them to do "Hard Knocks" next season.
Roster analysis - Michael C. Wright: Entering the 2015 offseason, the Bears have 23 free agents.
Roster analysis: QB - Not-Hub Fishbain with the first of Hub-or-not-Hub.com's series of 2014 positional reviews, analyzing the positives, negatives, key moments and what's to come at the QB position.
Nine NFL teams that need to draft a QB in 2015 - Bucky Brooks lists the Bears among them, but even he finds it hard to believe the Bears could move forward with a Sanchez or a Hoyer.
Roster analysis - Brad Biggs breaks down the details of Roberto Garza's one-year deal.
Marshall opening new training facility - Larry Mayer: Brandon Marshall will officially open his new training facility, Fit Speed, in Northbrook with a grand-opening this Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Jeff Joniak sits down with Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton on Bears Confidential.
Check WCGer Sackman's selection of Bears-themed tops here, or some t-shirt designs here.
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Polish sausage
NFL Health & Safety - John Breech: The family of Junior Seau, the former NFL linebacker who committed suicide in May 2012, would to see the NFL take some accountability in his death.
Marc Trestman interviews with Buccaneers - Not-Hub Fishbain: According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Marc Trestman interviewed for the Bucs' vacant OC position, potentially reuniting him with Josh McCown.
Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky: Mike McCarthy wanted Aaron Rodgers to be the best deep-ball thrower in football, and to that end they adjusted their training camp equipment to make him work on his trajectory.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: Slimmed-down Nick Fairley believes he has a bright future ... Lions have 22 impending free agents.
Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: The Vikings' main 2015 offseason question will revolve around the future of Adrian Peterson in Minnesota, but they don't have major concerns in terms of pending free agents.
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The "Worst Bond Movie theme songs" idea was too depressing, and I really could have left "Die Another Day" up all week. Instead, some Madge before she tried to be trendy grandma.