The Bear's Den: November 3, 2016

Ken's Note: I usually ask that people not comment on the Cubs or baseball here in the den, instead encouraging folks to visit our SB Nation friends at Bleed Cubbie Blue. Today will be a one-day exception to that rule, feel free to share your thoughts on the Cubs World Series Championship with your fellow Windy City Gridiron community members. If I have shut you down in the past for talking about baseball here, don't be butthurt. This rule will only be in effect when the for one day when the Cubs or Sox (or Bulls or Hawks in their sports) win the title.

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

NFL rookie rankings has THREE Bears in top 25 - NFL.com - Despite missing four games, Joey Bosa has Daniel Jeremiah's vote for best defensive rookie. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott continues to ball in Dallas. Can either unseat Carson Wentz from the No. 1 spot?

Fishbain: Where can the Chicago Bears improve in the second half of the season? - Pro Football Weekly - Bears can get better in the red zone and taking the ball away on 'D'

Highlights: Top 10 plays from first half - ChicagoBears.com - With the Bears halfway through their schedule and on their bye this week, we took a look back at the first eight games to find the 10 best plays of the season so far.

2017 NFL Draft: Despite Week 8 win, Bears still hold top-5 pick - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have a top-5 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft after eight weeks of the 2016 NFL season

Kwiecinski: John Fox is confident bye week will heal injuries, sustain momentum - Bears Wire - Bears coach John Fox is confident heading into the second half of the season

Perez: Bears RB coach says Jordan Howard was ‘ready for the moment’ - Bears Wire
- Chicago Bears RB coach Stan Drayton said Jordan Howard was ready for the moment in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings. LOUD ANNOYING STUPID AUTOPLAY VIDEO WARNING

Jahns: Bears line coach says Kyle Long's shoulder hasn't been an issue - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears assistant coaches met the media Tuesday before breaking for the bye week, and they offered some insight into some of the team’s injured players.

Mullin: Jordan Howard is NFC Offensive Player of the Week after Bears succeed with basic mindset - CSN Chicago - The Bears were balanced offensively against the Vikings, and Jordan Howard flourished. Now he's the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Biggs: Running game opens play-action passing for Jay Cutler - Chicago Tribune - Jay Cutler completed 7 of 11 passes for 84 yards on play-action attempts, from the pocket on most occasions. Eight of those 11 throws were intended for tight ends.

Campbell: Jay Cutler's successful return at least made for a night to remember - Chicago Tribune - Jay Cutler at least temporarily brushed aside speculation about his future and questions about the dynamic between coach John Fox and him.

Wiederer: Jordan Howard named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after career night - Chicago Tribune - Midway through his rookie season, Bears running back Jordan Howard is learning how to ride the NFL roller coaster.

Renner: PFF ranks all 32 NFL running back groups - Pro Football Focus - Do the Bears slot in at the top? The bottom?The muddled middle? Matt Forte fans might want to skip this one, Renner is a bit brutal towards the former Bear.

Fishbain's All-22 Slideshow: Chicago Bears executed well on both sides of the ball in upset win - Pro Football Weekly - Bears O-line won in the trenches and the 'D' stood tall, as seen using the coaches film

Finley: Evaluating the Bears' top 4 rookies at the season's midway point - Chicago Sun-Times - Leonard Floyd’s only complaint about his first NFL games is that there weren’t enough of them.

Mullin: Some stories ending, some starting with Bears at the break - CSN Chicago - The Bears are halfway through the season, and though it's been mostly bad, ending the first half on a high note provides some hope.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Menges: Drunk man falls 30 feet while trying to do 3 chin-ups on railroad bridge, stops train traffic - nemonews.net - An old bridge in Knox County, known to locals as a late-night drinking and gathering spot, was the scene of an idiotic accident over the weekend. Ken's Note: This has absolutely, positively NOTHING to do with the Bears, NFL or football, it's a story by my podcast partner and the kind of thing we (NEMONews.net) cover every day and the dude in it is just too stupid for words, so I am sharing it to give you a laugh.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Thompson: Norv Turner resigns - Daily Norseman - Ken's Note: Oppsy, we broke the Vikings

Gates: Minnesota Vikings Game Ball: Week 8 Award - Daily Norseman - No voting this week, as there’s only one player this week that actually deserves it.

Thomas: Here’s how the Vikings’ offense can get back on track without Norv Turner - SBNation.com - Pat Shurmur and Sam Bradford know how to elevate terrible offenses to mediocre ones.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Sunderbruch: Jay Cutler and the Real Quarterback Controversy in Chicago - Windy City Gridiron - The real quarterback controversy in Chicago has nothing to do with the husband of Kristin Cavallari or the journeyman from Ohio. Depending on who you believe, that matter might have settled in the...

Berckes: Jordan Howard named NFC Offensive Player of the Week - Windy City Gridiron - Jordan Howard awarded player of the week honors for his magnificent performance against the top ranked Vikings defense.

Wiltfong & Mitchell: NFL Power Rankings, The Chicago Bears Start Climbing The Ladder - Windy City Gridiron - One big win doesn't shoot the Bears to the top, but it sure beats the bottom!

Mitchell: WCG Power Rankings Week 9 - Windy City Gridiron - New England stays up, Cleveland stays down, Vikings sink, Bears up.

Berckes: Five Questions With Windy City Gridiron Part 1 - Windy City Gridiron - For the bye week, we use Five Questions for an introspective look at the team. Today’s subject - Jay Cutler.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - I may be a day later than usual, but here are my Ten Thoughts on the NFL. As always be sure to play along and drop a few thoughts of your own in the comment section!

Silverstein: The Greatest Night in Chicago Sports History - Windy City Gridiron - For 30 years, Super Bowl XX has held the belt as the undisputed modern era Greatest Night in Chicago Sports History. With the Cubs playing tonight in Game 7 of the World Series, that title is at...

FANPOSTS

FanPosts - Recent - Windy City Gridiron - Here's a link to our FanPost section, where YOU have the opportunity to contribute to Windy City Gridiron. Take a few minutes and write a post about what you are thinking about regarding the Chicago Bears, and there'a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments, FanPosts, usernames or anywhere else in an SB Nation community: Comments, FanPosts or usernames that are intolerant or prejudiced; Personal attacks or threats on community members; Gendered insults of any kind; Trolling; Click link for full information.

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