The Bear's Den: December 14, 2016

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

BEARRRSSSS

Nick's Quick Column: Alshon Jeffery Is Back (Can He Redeem Himself?) - Da Bears Brothers - These final three games will determine if he will continue wearing the navy and orange next season.

Mamola: What Can Matt Barkley Do With Alshon Jeffery Back? - NFL Spin Zone - Matt Barkley has shown positive signs while starting for the Chicago Bears, but can he elevate his performance more with Alshon Jeffery back?

Lunch with Larry 12.13.16 - ChicagoBears.com - Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer discussed quarterback Matt Barkley, draft approaches, injury updates and more in this week's Lunch with Larry.

2017 NFL Draft: Pro Football Focus sends Bears an edge rusher in latest mock draft - Bears Wire - Pro Football Focus sent the Chicago Bears help on defense in their second 2017 NFL mock draft.

Biggs: Bears Q&A: Secondary issues, Josh Bellamy's drops, QBs and more - Chicago Tribune - Bellamy is going to have a difficult time living down the dropped pass in the end zone against the Titans and he has failed to catch some other catchable passes. The fourth-down throw against the Lions on Sunday at the end of the game would have been a difficult play against cornerback Darius Slay in tight coverage, but the game was on the line and he needed to come down with the grab.

Cox: Bears sign Vikings’ practice squad TE MyCole Pruitt, waive CB De’Vante Bausby - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears added one of the most athletic tight ends from the 2015 NFL Draft off of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.

Cox: Jordan Howard has a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year - Bears Wire - Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will most likely win Offensive Rookie of the Year, but Jordan Howard has a strong case too.

Mulligan: One new coach or player won't magically save Bears - Chicago Tribune - When a team is in the throes of toxic disappointment (as the Bears are this season) remember one important thing: When many things must be fixed, one solution is rarely the answer.

Potash: DeShone Kizer in the draft is good for the Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - A day after Matt Barkley kept his hat in the ring in a 20-17 loss to the Lions that dropped the Bears to 3-10, DeShone

Emma: Alshon Jeffery’s Place In Bears’ Plans Still An Unknown - CBS Chicago - Jeffery has yet to earn a long-term deal with the Bears. So what could come next?

Joniak’s Journal: Bears Should Look To Ground Game Against Packers - CBS Chicago - The Bears (3-10) host the Packers (7-6) on Sunday at noon.

Mullin: Dowell Loggains a liability for Bears QB future? Look a little deeper - CSN Chicago - Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has had a big hand in getting the best out of three Bears quarterbacks in less than two years.

Wiederer & Campbell: Just how much change will soon be in the works at Halas Hall? - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears are in an all-too-familiar spot, cemented in last place in the NFC North for the third consecutive season and out of the playoffs for the sixth straight year. Once again, the flood of losses has broken the dam of speculation about the team's direction for the future.

Mullin: 'Bears Classics' goes deep into Bears-Packers rivalry - CSN Chicago - The nature of "rivalry" has changed over the years since Mike Ditka and Forrest Gregg traded epithets.Bears have become Packers (Steve McMichael, Jim McMahon, Jim Morrissey, Julius Peppers). Packers have become Bears (Edgar Bennett, Glyn Milburn, Josh Sitton). Ditka and Green Bay guard Jerry Kramer worked together to help struggling former players through the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund that Kramer established.

Rosenbloom: No Joshing, Bears have to stop using Bellamy as a receiver - Chicago Tribune - Do you think Matt Barkley drops back, goes through his progressions, finds an open man, throws the pass, and then regrets it immediately when he discovers it's Josh Bellamy? He has to. He must. He's human, and any normal person would feel that way. Any normal person would recoil.

Campbell & Wiederer: Bear Download Podcast - Chicago Tribune - Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer, reporting for rumor patrol. Tension at Halas Hall and possible changes next season (4:08 mark), how to report on rumor vs. reality: John Fox vs. Vic Fangio edition (29:34), checking in on Adam Gase and the Dolphins (46:20) and how the NFC North race is faring (53:06).

POLISH SAUSAGE

Jackson: Ravens release Devin Hester - ProFootballTalk - The Ravens released veteran return specialist Devin Hester on Tuesday. Hester had played in 12 games for the Ravens, usually returning both kicks and punts. He hadn't been especially effective and in recent weeks had misread some punts.

Smith: Shea McClellin says timing is key to leaping field goal blocks - ProFootballTalk - Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin made a spectacular play on Monday night against the Ravens, leaping over the line to block a field goal. But it raises a question: If McClellin can do that, why doesn't he do it every time the opposing team lines up for a kick? McClellin says the reason it's not...

2017 NFL Mock Draft: Myles Garrett Goes No. 1 - FOX Sports - The NFL has a lot of good defensive prospects coming into the 2017 NFL Draft. Jonathan Allen and Myles Garrett are battling it out for who is the best among them.The 2017 NFL Draft probably isn't the best draft to find a quarterback or left tackle. There just simply aren't that many with...

NFL Playoff Picture - 2016-2017 NFL Standings - CBSSports.com - 2016-2017 NFL playoff picture seeds and scenarios. See the NFL Playoffs standings and wild card game schedule if the season ended today.

KNOW THY ENEMY

PFW Chicago Podcast: Bears-Packers preview with MMQB's Emily Kaplan and Packers News' Aaron Nagler - Pro Football Weekly - It's Packers Week! But first, Kevin recaps another close loss, this time to the Lions, and what to make of the final few Bears games. Emily Kaplan of The MMQB (@emilymkaplan) joins the show to discuss her time in Green Bay, what the Bears' draft phil

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Check out this week’s Ten Thoughts on the NFL and be sure to play along by adding a thought or two of your own in the comment section.

Householder: Dowell Loggains should return in 2017 - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have problems but offensive coordinator might not be one

Wiltfong: The Chicago Bears need better safety play in 2017 - Windy City Gridiron - In Lester's latest Podcast, he looks at Chicago's current safety group in detail, I talk about a few free agency options they could have this offseason and go over a few prospects that could be available in the 2017 NFL Draft

Zeglinski's Bearish and Bullish, Week 14: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions - Windy City Gridiron - Another close loss had the Bears secondary in the spotlight - for both good and bad - in the Week 14 stock report.

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

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