The Bears Weekend Den: March 19-20, 2016

Enjoy your Weekend Den. Have fun and play nice.

BEAR DOWN!!!!

DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Weitzman: The largest NFL free agent contracts are usually a waste of money - SBNation.com - The last five years are littered with millions of dollars of unrealized expectations from free agency. Here's a closer look at the two largest contracts handed out every spring since 2011 and how those players and teams have fared.

Klemko: How NFL scouts view problem draft prospects - Sports Illustrated - As is the case every year, questions surrounding off-field transgressions and other issues are dogging several prospects ahead of the draft. NFL scouts and personnel men share their views on four such players.

Kadar: Replacing free agent losses in the 2016 NFL Draft - SBNation.com - What happens when teams lose players to big-money free agent deals? They turn to the draft. Here's how teams like the Broncos, Bengals, Seahawks and more will fill holes on their rosters, whether it's early or late in the draft.

Benne: Where every NFL team stands after the 1st week of free agency - SBNation.com - The Giants and Jaguars have been big spenders, but does that mean they're big winners?

Around the NFL - Podcast, NFL.com - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling and Marc Sessler break down the latest news in the NFL, including tight end Martellus Bennett being traded to the Patriots and Chip Kelly’s comments on Colin Kaepernick.

Wesseling: Free agency grades: NFC North - NFL.com - The Bears haven't wasted any time reshaping their roster this offseason, but how have they performed on the open market compared to their NFC North brethren?

Wiltfong: Mocking The Mocks, A look at some recent Chicago Bears mock drafts - Windy City Gridiron - I take a look at 8 recent mock drafts to see where the "experts" have the Chicago Bears going with the 11th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Ka'iminoeauloameka'ikeokekumupa'a Fairbairn Draft Profile – NFL.com - Fairbairn is one of the guys we could bring in to give Robbie some competition. While true, in reality I linked this so I could set the all-time world-record for "Bears Den Most Letters In A Name In A Headline." Helmet tip to Bear Guy for the link.

NFL Rumor Central: Clady drawing interest from '4-5 teams' - ESPN - With Russell Okung on board, the Broncos have suitors for Ryan Clady. Could the Giants or Lions be interested? How about the Seahawks or Bears?

Kaberon: Notes from the North - Free agent news - ChicagoBears.com - We take a look at how the Bears' division rivals have fared in the first 10 days of free agency, including the Lions' signing of former Bengals receiver Marvin Jones.

Perez: Chicago Bears 2016 NFL Draft, A look at the tight ends - Bears Wire - A look at some tight end prospects from the 2016 NFL Draft that could interest the Chicago Bears.

Perez: Bears schedule visit with Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears are set to visit with 2016 NFL Draft prospect from Oklahoma State, Emmanuel Ogbah

Finley: How Bears' free agent signings impact their draft plans - Chicago Sun-Times - Finley: "Here are six areas the Bears will address in the draft, in order of urgency, and how their free-agent moves affected them." (EDITOR'S NOTE:) "Will" address? Wow, we are quite positive of ourself.

BEARRRSSSS.......

Matt Forte, Danny Trevathan, Jaye Howard among free agency values - NFL.com - With a rising salary cap, NFL teams are tossing cash around like never before. But where's the smart money? Our analysts cite free agency values like Matt Forte, Jaye Howard and Danny Trevathan.

Mullen: New Bears OC Dowell Loggains has been dealt an interesting hand | CSN Chicago - New Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has been dealt an interesting hand. He is tasked with engineering an offense that has lost nearly one-third of its yardage production and 30 percent of its touchdowns from 2015.

Ottochain: Ryan Pace doing more in one year than Phil Emery did in three - Bears Wire - Ryan Pace drafted two defensive studs in his first draft, and Phil Emery struck out on most of his 11 defensive draft picks.

Cox: Jeremy Langford trying to hit 1,000 yards in 2016 - Bears Wire - Jeremy Langford said in an interview that it's "definitely realistic" that he could rush for 1,000 yards in 2016.

Householder: Bears remain unsettled at tight end and in the secondary - Windy City Gridiron - Following an active free agency period and a trade, where do the Bears stand in terms of positional needs with the draft on the horizon?

Indianapolis police wish Jerrell Freeman good luck in Chicago - Windy City Gridiron - Over the last two years Jerrell Freeman formerly of the Indianapolis Colts donated his block of 10 tickets to the men and women of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

MARTY...

Bahr: Amid commitment questions, Martellus Bennett wants to be "dandelion" - FOX Sports - Amid commitment questions, Martellus Bennett wants to be "dandelion"

Cox: Ryan Pace wishes Martellus Bennett farewell - Bears Wire - Ryan Pace and Martellus Bennett both spoke to the media about the trade that sent the tight end to the New England Patriots.

Brown: Bears Reportedly Questioned Martellus Bennett's Commitment To Team - Larry Brown Sports - The Chicago Bears questioned Martellus Bennett's commitment to the team.

Cox: The real reason Martellus Bennett wanted out of Chicago | Bears Wire - Martellus Bennett complained about his role on the Bears, but he wouldn't have been upset had the Bears been winning games.

Mullen : Martellus Bennett has curious role model as he heads to Patriots | CSN Chicago - New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett spoke via conference call on Thursday and was philosophical about the need to be adaptable in NFL life.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Payne: Russell Okung's deal is structured in an interesting way - Mile High Report - Payne likes the way this contract is structured.

Gowton: Here's what Chip Kelly was going to trade to get Marcus Mariota - Bleeding Green Nation

Orr: James Starks returns to Packers on 2-year, $6M deal - NFL.com - James Starks is re-upping with the Green Bay Packers. The running back agreed to a two-year deal worth $6 million deal.

POLISH SAUSAGE

ITB: Spice, Screeden tour Panama - Marquess Wilson and Inside the Bears co-host Lauren Screeden learn to salsa dance from a Panamanian local.

Sessler: Which rule changes will be considered next week? - NFL.com - The league's Competition Committee will be getting together at next week's NFL Annual Meeting and there will be plenty on the table to discuss. What big changes might be coming this way?

Bears superfan Mila Kunis - Cover32 - Things are finally looking up for the Bears. To celebrate, let's take a moment to appreciate the most beautiful Bears fan in the world, Mila Kunis.

Wells: Peyton Manning wants 10-year Super Bowl reunion when Colts play Bears - ESPN - Next year will be a decade since Peyton Manning's Colts beat the Bears in the Super Bowl, and the future Hall of Famer thinks it's time for a reunion.

Painter: Vikings drop effort to rename Chicago Avenue near U.S. Bank Stadium - StarTribune.com - "We were taken aback by the negative reaction at the city," said Lester Bagley, vice president of the Vikings. "Frankly, I’m just not sure we have the stomach for the tenor that exists down there [at City Hall] on this particular matter."