The Bear's Den: Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Cornelius Washington is one of the "Bears On The Bubble" this off season. After spending last year on IR with a quad injury, will CornWash have a legit shot of making the roster? Our poll asks your opinion, join us for that and all the Chicago Bears free agency & draft news you need...

By Ken Mitchell@WCGBearsDenDude Apr 13, 2016, 2:00am CDT

BEAR DOWN!!!!

DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Dickerson: Chicago Bears' history at No. 11 is ... complicated - ESPN - The Bears have had some lean years with the No. 11 overall pick, but they also found two 1980s cornerstones with Keith Van Horne and Wilber Marshall.

Cox: Top cornerback prospect works out for Bears - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears worked out Houston cornerback William Jackson III, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Wiltfong: Mocking The Mocks, Todd McShay still has no clue the Bears have already moved Kyle Long back to guard - Windy City Gridiron - When we last explored the mock drafting prowess of ESPN Draft Guru Todd McShay, I was left befuddled. It wasn't his pick for the Chicago Bears at 11 overall, because I think Jack Conklin of...

Podcast: Peter Schrager of Fox Sports talks NFL Draft and what the Chicago Bears could do - Chicago Football - It's time to get (kind of) serious about the NFL Draft, which is two weeks away, so Peter Schrager of Fox Sports (@PSchrags) joins Kevin to discuss his favorite part of the pre-draft media hype (2:42), potential Bears prospects like Ronnie Stanley, and much more.

Perez: League names 25 prospects who will attend the 2016 NFL Draft - Bears Wire - The NFL Draft is a little more than two weeks away, with teams like the Bears finishing their prospect workouts and private visits in an effort to finalize their board prior to April 28. The NFL announced the names of 25 NFL Draft prospects who will attend the 2016 NFL Draft in Chicago.

Finley: Bears draft preview: Illini S Clayton Fejedelem underdog again - Chicago Sun-Times - Clayton Fejedelem wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. In quieter moments, it bothered him. Despite finishing fifth in the nation in total tackles last year, the Illini safety’s name wasn’t on the who’s-who list of draftees in February.

BEARRRSSSS

2012 NFL Draft Do-Over: Bears don't take Shea (I know, shocking!) - NFL.com - How would the 2012 draft shake out if teams had a chance to do it all over again? Chad Reuter plays general manager for all 32 teams in this redo.

Mayer: Draft capsules of current Bears players - ChicagoBears.com - We dusted off some old NFL draft previews to see what was being said about Alshon Jeffery and several other Bears players when they were entering the league.

Weaver: Three Chicago Bears positives for 2016 - Cover32 - Things are looking up. Here are three reasons why you should feel better about the Chicago Bears now than you did at this same time last year.

Mayer: Reliving memorable home openers - ChicagoBears.com - With the Chicago Cubs recording a dramatic comeback win in their home opener Monday night, we take a look back at some memorable Bears home openers.

Mayer's Chalk Talk: Have Bears ever gone worst-to-first? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses whether the Bears have ever won a division title after finishing in last place the previous year, the status of center Will Montgomery and the last time the Bears played the Super Bowl champions in the preseason.

BEARRRSSSS FOR LIFE

Chicago Bears in the Hall - Mike Ditka - Veteran observers agreed that Mike Ditka might have been outstanding as a linebacker, or as a defensive end or a fullback or perhaps even on the offensive line in pro football. But the Chicago Bears, who drafted the Pittsburgh all-American No. 1 in 1961, opted to use him as a tight end, a relatively new position that called for a talent big enough and tough enough to block the most ferocious defenders but someone who possessed the good hands and speed to be a contributor to the forward passing attack.

CONCUSSIONS

Andrews: 40 percent of former NFL players suffer from brain injuries, new study shows - Chicago Tribune - A study that will be presented offers one of the most conclusive pieces of evidence yet of a definitive link between brain injury and playing football.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Hanzus: Does Cam Newton have future with ... USA Water Polo? - NFL.com - Is Cam Newton trying to earn an Olympic spot on the USA water polo team? Don't panic just yet, Panthers fans. We have no evidence pointing to a career change for the reigning NFL MVP.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Check out the longest running weekly series in the history of Windy City Gridiron, Ten Thoughts on the NFL! (NOTE: Placing this or any other article under the POLISH SAUSAGE heading simply means that it is either not specifically related to any other category)

KNOW THY ENEMY

"Leaner" Jameis Winston ready for second NFL season - ProFootballTalk - Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston capped his rookie season with a Pro Bowl berth. In Hawaii, he saw things that could propel him to reach an even higher level of success in his second year. The Bears will face Tampa at Tampa in 2016.

Reuter: Packers, Vikings in five first-round draft trades that would make sense list - NFL.com - Could the 49ers be targeting the Chargers' first-round slot in a trade up for a QB? Chad Reuter reveals five trades for the first round that would make sense.

Glover: The DN Mailbag Answers The Meaning Of Life* - Daily Norseman - *Not really. But they do answer questions. Lots of questions.

Gotleib: 5-year analysis, grading the 2011 Minnesota Vikings draft class - FOX Sports - We all know the mantra by now: You can't really tell anything about a draft until 3-5 years down the road. With that in mind, we're here to see exactly how the Minnesota Vikings fared in the NFL Draft five years ago, in 2011.

Birkett: Detroit Lions are using more analytics to supplement scouting - Detroit Free Press - Some NFL teams are more open to incorporating the use of analytics in their game and practice plans.

Pasche: Five ways Lions GM Bob Quinn approaches the NFL draft - dailytribune.com - Bob Quinn is preparing for his first NFL draft as a general manager, but he is not a newcomer to the process.

Mancini: Randall Cobb set for bounce back 2016 - Lombardiave.com - What can we expect from Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb in 2016 after a down season? He is set to bounce back to form with Jordy Nelson back.

Wesseling: Slimmed-down Eddie Lacy will make Packers happy - NFL.com - A slimmed-down Eddie Lacy is ready to surprise the Packers when the offseason program starts next week. Find out more about Lacy's remarkable transformation over the past two months.

DRAFT PROSPECTS OF INTEREST TO BEARS FAN

NFL Draft Profile: Ohio State DL Adolphus Washington | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: Notre Dame OL Nick Martin | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: Penn State DL Carl Nassib | CSN Chicago

NFL Draft Profile: Notre Dame WR Chris Brown | CSN Chicago