The Bear's Den: May 26, 2016

BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Wiltfong: Daniel Braverman angling for a spot on Mt. Lunchpail - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears rookie is quickly becoming a fan favorite, and we haven't even started Training Camp yet.

Perez: Kyle Long on playing right guard again: ‘I’ve got a couple of weeks to shake off the rust.’ - Bears Wire - Kyle Long is back practicing at right guard for the Chicago Bears. He admitted he has to shake off some rust prior to training camp.

Cox: Is this Jay Cutler throw one of the greatest in NFL history? - Bears Wire - Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab thinks that one of Jay Cutler's touchdowns from 2006 with the Broncos was one of the best throws in NFL history.

Weaver: Jordan Howard could start for Bears - Cover32 - One guy who fans don't want to sleep on is former Indiana running back Jordan Howard, who the Bears picked in the fifth round.

Emma: Akiem Hicks Brings Bears A Physical, Versatile Presence - CBS Chicago - Hicks can play inside and outside on the Bears defensive line.

Ottochain: DeAndre Houston-Carson should not be counted out because his small-school background - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears' sixth-round pick out of William and Mary has the skills to contribute even as a rookie, with the potential for much more.

Finley: No suprise, no Alshon Jeffery at Bears voluntary camp - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears continued their voluntary minicamp Wednesday without Alshon Jeffery.

Finley: Kyle Long says Bears will miss Matt Forte, Matt Slauson - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears opened voluntary minicamp this week without either Matt Forte or Matt Slauson, veterans the Bears let leave despite their desire to stay.

Mullen: Bears OTA's, Observations from the first all-team practices - CSN Chicago - Insider John "Moon" Mullin provides his obersvations from the first Bears practice of OTAs.

Campbell: Kyle Long attacking 'different' position in move back to right guard - Chicago Tribune - Kyle Long was back at right guard Wednesday working against defensive linemen.

Campbell: Kevin White, Jay Cutler working to develop chemistry at Bears OTAs - Chicago Tribune - Kevin White and Jay Cutler worked together by themselves on a side field Wednesday while the punt units took over the main field for one session in practice.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears' OTA Notes - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears began Phase 2 of their offseason workout program yesterday at Halas Hall, but today's OTA was open to the media. So we finally get some actual on field news.

Dullea: Bears 2nd-year players poised for a breakout season - Cover32 - Chicago Bears' Jeremy Langford and Eddie Goldman flashed in their rookie seasons, but the Bears' under the radar 2nd-year players are ready to step up.

Hub & Arthur Arkus & Fishbain: Alshon Jeffery missing valuable time at OTAs - Pro Football Weekly - Hub Arkush, Kevin Fishbain, and Arthur Arkush report from Halas Hall in Lake Forest, following the first Bears OTA practice open to the media. The biggest thing missing from the practices would have to be Wide Receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Mayer: Trevathan sees attitude as key factor - ChicagoBears.com - Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan believes the key to building a championship defense is to stockpile players who feel like they have something to prove, and that's what he sees with the Bears.

Perez: Does RB Jacquizz Rodgers have a chance to start for the Bears? - Bears Wire - While most of the focus of the Bears' RB position is on Jeremy Langford and rookie Jordan Howard, PFF suggests Rodgers may be best of bunch

Cox: Pernell McPhee absent from Chicago Bears OTAs - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is not at the team's voluntary OTAs as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

Mayer: Bears begin final phase of offseason - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears kicked off the third and final phase of their offseason program Tuesday by conducting the first of 10 OTA practices at Halas Hall.

Emma: 5 Storylines During Bears OTAs - CBS Chicago - We'll get a glimpse at the Bears' position battles during OTAs.

Zierlein: Undrafted rookies list in most favorable situations includes Bear - NFL.com - For undrafted players, it's about finding a good scheme fit or roster situation. Lance Zierlein presents 5 undrafted rookies who find themselves in favorable situations as they try to carve out a role.

Mitchell: Bears sign UDFA LB Jarrett Grace, release LB Danny Mason - Windy City Gridiron - Bears ink rookie Notre Dame product Jarrett Grace Wednesday, May 25, and release LB Danny Mason. Garrett was tryout invitee to the Bears May 13-15 Rookie Minicamp.

Vorel: Versatile Jarrett Grace at Notre Dame Pro Day - 'I'm not done' - Notre Dame Insider: Notre Dame Football - Jarrett Grace didn’t flinch. It would have been understandable if the former Notre Dame linebacker balked on Thursday when an NFL scout asked Grace to run through drills with the defensive backs, at a position he had never practiced or played. Grace was the only linebacker participating in the event, and thus, a relative afterthought when it came to scheduling the workouts.

Mayer: Bears ink rookie linebacker Grace - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Wednesday signed undrafted rookie linebacker Jarrett Grace and waived linebacker Danny Mason.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Dickerson: Walking Dead or Revenge? Bears' Jay Cutler, Kevin White disagree - ESPN - Bears 2015 first-round pick Kevin White said he and quarterback Jay Cutler share common interests.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Demovsy: Packers' new running backs coach thinks Eddie Lacy got the message - ESPN - Ben Sirmans said Eddie Lacy has worked hard and has been coachable this offseason, things that haven't always been the case early in the RB's career.

Twentyman: Marvin Jones building chemistry with teammates - DetroitLions.com - Wide receiver Marvin Jones is working on building chemistry with his new teammates, on and off the field.

Carlson: Purple People Podcast: Episode #203, Hey Teddy - TheVikingPage.com - This week, The guys at the Purple People Podcast talk about OTAs, inviting Teddy Bridgewater to parties, offseason lists, news, transactions and much more!

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. The 2011 story listed Patrick Mannelly as 1998-present... ah, don't we all wish this were still true (not that I have anything against Cody Whitehair... rook could have had a different number :) )

Current Bears who wear these numbers: Cody Whitehair (65), Adrian Bellard (67), Kenton Adeyemi (68) and John Kling (69)

Here's Sam:

Let's get back into it! It's Labor Day and my post is getting up a little late because I got busy yesterday enjoying the long weekend and forgot that even though it's a holiday, WCG never sleeps. So let's take a gander at some of the Bears who labored for the team their entire career while wearing numbers 65-69. There will be at least one current Bear and he's one of the longest tenured ever. Do I really need to tell you who?

65 - Patrick Mannelly, LS (1998-present): Mannelly defines consistency. He plays a position ofter overlooked and he can walk the streets of the city he's played his entire career in with hardly any one bothering him but as long as he goes unnoticed it means his job is getting done right. He's played in 205 games as a Bear and hasn't missed one since 2002!! Of course he has a cult following on here and would get mobbed by WCGers if we saw him on the street but that just goes without saying. Honorable Mention - Noah Jackson, LG (1975-83): Jackson started every game he played in for the Bears (125 to be exact) and that kind of consistency needs to be recognized.

66 - Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, C/LB (1940-52): The guy played two ways his entire career. At center he was a four-time Pro-Bowler and seven-time First-Team All-Pro. At linebacker he led the league with eight INTs in 1942. He also intercepted four passes in five NFL title games.

67 - Jerry Fontenot, C/G (1989-96): Fontenot started 89 games for the Bears at LG and center over his eight season with the team and played in a total of 128 games. He is one of the few players I know of to have played for Ditka as both a Bear and a Saint.

68 - Jim Osborne, DT (1972-84): Osborne played in 186 games with a 154 starts for the Bears. Sacks didn't become an official stat until his 11th season but he picked up 10 and a half of them. He also recovered nine fumbles. Fun fact: Bears DT Jim Flanigan wore number 68 in his rookie season.

69 - Revie Sorey, RG (1975-83): Sorey played in 109 games for the Bears with 77 starts. He played his college ball at Illinois. He was twice a second team All-Conference player and twice a first team All-Conference player.

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