The Bear's Den: May 18, 2016

BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Barnwell's offseason report cards - Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings - ESPN - The Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings kept plenty busy this offseason. Bill Barnwell grades how each NFC North team fared now that the signings and trades are all but finished.

Podcast: Reviewing Chicago Bears rookie minicamp - Pro Football Weekly - We got to watch some (sort of) football last weekend at Halas Hall, as Kevin recaps Bears rookie minicamp. We played an interview with new QBs coach Dave Ragone (3:15) and talked with friend of the program Pat Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times (14:15)

ITB (video): Langford ready to run - ChicagoBears,.com - Bears running back Jeremy Langford talks to Jeff Joniak about making the transition from cornerback to running back at Michigan State.

Mayer: Physical RB Howard perfect for Bears - ChicagoBears.com - As a downhill, physical, north-south runner, rookie Jordan Howard appears to be a perfect fit for a team that makes no secret of its desire to pound opponents on the ground.

Perez: Bears believe in Charles Leno, Ka’Deem Carey in the mix at RB - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have handed the left tackle job to Charles Leno, while Ka'Deem Carey will fight for reps at running back in 2016.

Cox: Bears are best situation for Leonard Floyd to succeed - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have a strong staff in place to build and develop Leonard Floyd with the luxury of being able to be patient with him.

STL: Will Jay Cutler thrive under yet another OC? - CSN Chicago - The SportsTalk Live panel discusses whether Jay Cutler can continue thriving under yet another offensive coordinator.

Rich Campbell and Patrick Finley on the latest Bears news - CSN Chicago - Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune and Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times talk about Leonard Floyd's weight, expectations for Jonathan Bullard

STL: What are reasonable expectations for Leonard Floyd? - CSN Chicago - The SportsTalk Live panel discusses what to expect from Leonard Floyd in his rookie season and long-term with the Bears.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Florio: With Jon Runyan running rules department, the fox is running the henhouse - ProFootballTalk - On one hand, former NFL offensive tackle Jon Runyan is a curious choice to impose fines and other discipline for players who violate on-field rules. On the other hand, who knows the lay of the land better than a guy who wasn't afraid to take the rules to the limit, and beyond? Consider the foll...

Car crash fatal for Barrington Hills man, injures former Bears Caleb Hanie, Joey LaRocque - CSN Chicago - Former Bears Caleb Hanie and Joey LaRocque were injured in an auto accident that killed the driver of the car Monday night in Barrington Hills.

Thompson: Ex-Bears make cameos on 'Empire' finale - Chicago Tribune - Ex-Bears Nathan Palmer and Bruce Gaston, and Giants tight end and Naperville native Matt LaCosse, appear on the season finale of "Empire."

KNOW THY ENEMY

Lemieux: Joique Bell still hopes deal is on the table to return to the Lions - Pride Of Detroit - Although he turned down an offer in February to restructure his contract, the former Lions running back has seemingly had a change of heart.

Barnwell: Vikings Had Great Offseason - Daily Norseman - Another day, another member of the football media at large singing the praises of the Minnesota Vikings' offseason moves.

Hirschhorn: Packers 90-man roster preview: Clay Matthews returns to the edge - Acme Packing Company - As APC reviews Green Bay's offseason roster, we examine the outside linebacker that return from 2015.

GREATEST BEARS BY THE NUMBER

In 2011, WCG's Sam Householder did an outstanding "Bears By The Number" series that a lot of folks with us today haven't read. With Sam's permission, I am sharing some of the info with you folks over the couple of weeks as it appeared in 2011, plus the link to the original post that contains more information.

For the most part, little has changed, but there are some numbers that may well be transforming from one "greatest Bear" to a new one.

Here's Sam:

Well let's see here, numbers 30-34...I wonder who will be mentioned in this post...hmm....I feel like there is a number in this group that is going to be awfully important to the history of our team but I can't put my finger on it. It must be 33. Right? Nah, I'm just kidding, let's see who else makes the list aside from the greatest player ever to play the game.

30 - Mike Brown, S (2000-08): We all know what Brown did for us. He's the franchise leader in defensive TDs with seven; four INTs and three fumble recoveries. There might not have been as clutch a player as him, either. His back-to-back overtime pick sixes will forever live in Bears and football legend and he also returned a fumble for a TD during the "Miracle in the Desert" Monday night come back. If injuries hadn't slowed him down, who knows what could have been. Anyway here is compilation video of some of his TDs including the above mentioned.

31 - Joe Fortunato, LB (1955-66): The guy was a 5-time Pro-Bowler and a 3-time First Team All-Pro. His tackling stats weren't listed on PFR but he had 16 career picks and 22 fumble recoveries. He played beside both Bill George and Dick Butkus.

32 - Johnny Lujack, QB/DB (1949-52): Number 32 hasn't been kind to us, especially in recent history, as I'm sure I don't need to remind you. However, back in the late '40s and early '50s we had a very good 32. Lujack took over for the legendary Sid Luckman. In fact in his rookie year he didn't even play QB but had eight INTs as a DB! He was twice a Pro-Bowler and once a first team All-Pro. In fact, in 1950 (when he was a Pro-Bowler and All-Pro) he threw 21 INTS against only four TDs. However, he had 11 rushing TDs. In '49 he threw for a league-leading 2,658 yards and 23 TDs. Unfortunately for the Bears, his career was cut short by knee injuries. Futility at the QB position became an annual occurrence.

33 - Charles Tillman, CB (2003-Present): He is probably one of the few guys who will end up making this list and NOT have an All-Pro or Pro-Bowl appearance on his resume. That's not to say he isn't deserving though. For all the things we give crap for, mainly slipping, the man has been a consistent playmaker for us for the last eight seasons. He has 27 INTs, 23 FFs (A testament to his ability to poke the ball out) and four TDs. Who could forget when he robbed Randy Moss of a TD as a rookie?

34 - Walter Payton, RB (1975-87): Did this even need to be said? He retired as the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards. He had six straight 1,000 yard seasons, he broke the record for consecutive 100 yard games in '85 and he was the franchise leader in scoring until Kevin Butler broke it. Considered by many as the greatest football player ever, he was a nine time Pro-Bowler and a five time first team All-Pro. And in case you were wondering, he is still second all-time on the franchise's career scoring list. Wow!

Sam's Original Article

The Greatest Bears by Number (30-34) - Windy City Gridiron - The next in our series on the greatest Bears by jersey number includes the greatest Bear of all-time and one of the greatest football players of all-time!

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