The Bears Den: March 30, 2016

BEAR DOWN!!!!

DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Biggs: Bears considering Manny Ramirez for offensive line depth - Chicago Tribune
The Bears will be host to veteran offensive lineman Manny Ramirez on a visit in their continued effort to add depth to the roster via free agency.

Ottochian: Bears’ focus should be on a backup quarterback - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears need to solidify the backup quarterback position to minimize the devastation that a Cutler injury would cause.

Mullen: Bears have five of first 127 picks | CSN Chicago - The Bears' picks get progressively better as the NFL Draft moves along and they will select five players in the top 127 slots.

Campbell: Bears have five draft picks in top 127, as NFL announces draft order - Chicago Tribune
The NFL announced its full draft order Tuesday morning, confirming what the Chicago Bears already knew: They own five of the first 127 selections.

Perez: Ranking the five best players the Chicago Bears could draft at No. 11 - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears hold the No. 11 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Here is a list of five players that would make ideal first-round choices.

White: Ronnie Stanley could be the best tackle in the 2016 NFL Draft - SBNation.com - Mississippi's Laremy Tunsil has the athleticism and as much upside as any offensive tackle in the draft this year. However, when push comes to shove, retired NFL defensive end says he'd take Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley before Tunsil.

Stites: Which player do mock drafts project each team to pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? - SBNation.com - UPDATED roundup and compilation of all the expert mock drafts on the Internet in beautiful pie charts.

Breitenbach: PFF's Five Boom-Or-Bust projects in NFL Draft - Each NFL draft class possesses a handful of prospects who flash elite upside, but fail to generate the consistency required to make them sure-fire studs at the next level. Today I’m taking a look at a handful of players in this year’s class — set to hear their name called last month — that I believe fit the boom-or-bust criteria

Fishbain: Pro Football Weekly's 2016 NFL Draft Prospect Preview: DeForest Buckner - Chicago Football - Oregon's D-lineman has outstanding size for the NFL

Perez: Chicago Bears 2016 NFL Draft countdown: 30 – Inside Linebacker - Bears Wire - Counting down the final 30 days before the 2016 NFL Draft, this time touching on the inside linebacker position.

BEARRRSSSS.......

Dickerson: Chicago Bears rank 24th in latest ESPN NFL Power Rankings - The Bears climbed a couple of spots in ESPN's NFL Power Rankings since the free-agency period started.

Mayer: Chicago feels like home to Tracy Porter -Tracy Porter had other options in free agency. But his decision to re-sign with the Bears earlier this month was an easy one for the veteran cornerback.

Breitner: Bears Mailbag, Is Jeremy Langford ready to run? - Cover32 - In today's running back by committee NFL, all the Bears really have to do is find a late round running back to pair with Langford...

Mayer: Looking at players drafted at No. 11 - With the Bears holding the 11th pick in the draft, we take a look at every player selected in that spot since 1981, a list that includes quarterback Jay Cutler.

Cox: New Bears linebackers: "We’re gonna go in and put in work" - Bears Wire - Jerrell Freeman is excited to work with Danny Trevathan, telling SiriusXM NFL that the two linebackers are going to "put in work."

Gantt: Former P.E. major John Fox wants to raise Bears admissions standards | ProFootballTalk - Bears coach John Fox is the proud owner of a degree in phys ed from San Diego State University. But he wants to bring Ivy League standards to the Bears, as he works to improve the overall level of talent on his roster by starting with more qualified candidates.

BEARRRSSSS FOR LIFE......

Bears History By The Decades: 1960's - The Bears won their final title under Halas in 1963, beating the NY Giants, 14-10, at Wrigley Field. A new era was signaled in 1965 when the club drafted Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers in the first round of the college draft. Sayers set a NFL record with 22 TDs as a rookie, including six in a single game against the 49ers.

Perez: A look at how the Chicago Bears have fared with the No. 11 pick in past NFL Drafts - Bears Wire - The 2016 NFL Draft is not the first time that the Bears have held the No. 11 pick in the first round. Here's a look at how they've fared.

Dickerson: Chicago Bears interested in extra help on offensive line - Chicago Bears Blog- ESPN - While the Bears have made some additions to their offensive line, coach John Fox admits they need more depth, preferably a swing man.

CONCUSSIONS

Florio: NFL predicts a dismissal of new CTE lawsuit | ProFootballTalk - Former NFL defensive lineman Tracy Scroggins has sued the NFL under a variety of legal theories arising from the league's alleged efforts to conceal the risks of head trauma arising from football. The NFL is confident that the lawsuit will fail, quickly.

Florio: Lingering CTE debate launches new lawsuit against NFL - ProFootballTalk - The NFL has been unable to get certain owners to not spout off nonsense about the link between football and Chronic Traumatic Encephelopathy. The good news is that the league now has a sufficiently compelling reason for telling the members to quit putting their feet in their mouths regarding CTE.

Florio: NFL demands retraction of New York Times article | ProFootballTalk - The NFL continues to mount an aggressive response to last week's controversial New York Times article alleging incomplete concussion research and touting ties between pro football and Big Tobacco. And the strategy is taking on a more official and ominous feel.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Mays: For Jihad Ward, It Was The Journey - Jihad Ward was raised in Philly but made in Manhattan, where he endured a grueling daily commute just to get to class and practice at a New York City junior college. As the defensive lineman prepares for next month’s NFL draft, memories of those broke, hungry and desperate juco days still fuel him. Helmet tip to Mike Ditka's Cigar for the link.

Brady: Teams that need to find their next QB in 2016 NFL Draft - SBNation.com - The Cowboys, Chargers and Cardinals are fine for now at quarterback, but what about down the road?

Silver: Myles Jack won't hold personal pro day, likely won't run timed 40 - NFL.com - There was talk two weeks ago that UCLA LB Myles Jack intended to run the 40-yard dash April 1 at a personal pro day, but NFL Media has learned that such a workout won't happen and that Jack likely won't run a 40 before the draft.

Frank: Von Miller being fined for farting on 'Dancing with the Stars' - Sportsnaut.com - Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller has a farting problem on "Dancing with the Stars." Here's him and his partner discussing it.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Gantt: Lions sign former Jets cornerback Darrin Walls - ProFootballTalk - Lions General Manager Bob Quinn might be onto something, free agents will come to Detroit. Or something. The Lions announced they had signed free agent cornerback Darrin Walls, who is leaving behind the bright lights of New York after four years with the Jets.

Tomasson: Laquon Treadwell falling to Vikings with No. 23 pick? - Laquon Treadwell's uninspiring 40-yard dash times don't mean he can't be an excellent NFL receiver.

Smith: Packers have discussed Ronnie Hillman - ProFootballTalk - The Packers like to build through the draft, not free agency. But they signed one free agent today in Jared Cook, and they could sign another. Green Bay has been poking around free agent running back Ronnie Hillman, Tom Pelisssero of USA Today reports.

Gantt: New Lions G.M. declares Detroit "an attractive place to go" - ProFootballTalk - The Lions can't sell warm weather, or a lack of state income tax, or a winning tradition. But new General Manager Bob Quinn said he still thinks they can be an attractive free agent destination. "It really hasn’t [been an issue]," Quinn said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

DRAFT PROSPECTS OF INTEREST TO BEARS FANS

NFL Draft Profile: SE Louisiana DB Harlan Miller | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: Colorado State WR Rashard Higgins | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: USC LB Su'a Cravens | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: Oregon WR Bralon Addison | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: LSU DB Jalen Mills | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: Michigan St. OL Jack Conklin | CSN Chicago

Housekeeping notes:

Helmet Tip to DaBearBus for the poll idea.