The Bear's Den: June 17, 2016

BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Mullen: Minicamp wrap, three answers to 'So, how do the Bears look?' - CSN Chicago - How exactly do the Bears look as minicamp wrapped up? Three answers to that question emerged over the past several weeks.

LeGere: New-look offensive line for Chicago Bears - Daily Herald - Of the five offensive linemen who started the first three games for the Bears in 2015, only one, Kyle Long, will be in the 2016 opening day lineup, and he'll be playing a different position. But quarterback Jay Cutler says the new and youthful group has been impressive.

Legere: Chicago Bears receiver Jeffery dealing with his decision - Daily Herald - Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was well aware that his decision to skip the optional part of the off-season program was unpopular. But he's dealing with it.

Haugh: Alshon Jeffery's me-first attitude a negative before prove-it season - Chicago Tribune - Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery's offseason dissing of his team and teammates another reason Bears would be foolish to sign him now to long-term deal.

Potash: Upbeat Christian Jones facing uphill battle at OLB head-on - Chicago Sun-Times - "There’s a lot of guys from last season that aren’t here and I’m still here. So that shows right there that they have faith in what I can do."

Emma: Bears’ John Fox Has Pieces In Place For Another Year 2 Turnaround - CBS Chicago - Fox has brought two teams to the playoffs during his second season as head coach.

Graziano: Predicting NFL franchised player outcomes, will Alshon Jeffery, Cousins and Miller get extensions? - ESPN - Will Alshon Jeffery, Von Miller and Kirk Cousins get long-term deals? With the deadline looming for franchise players to negotiate long-term deals, Dan Graziano picks who will sign a new deal -- and who won't.

Fishbain: John Fox cancels practice to conclude Chicago Bears veteran minicamp - Pro Football Weekly - Bears are now off until reporting to training camp July 27

Cox: McPhee, Jeffery land on list of top 101 players in the NFL - Bears Wire - Both Pernell McPhee and Alshon Jeffery made Pro Football Focus' list of the best 101 players in the NFL right now.

Mullen: Cody Whitehair gets invaluable experience with Ted Larsen out - CSN Chicago - Ted Larsen has not been seen at practice during minicamp, meaning rookie Cody Whitehair has gotten invaluable practice time in his place.

Perez: Bears end minicamp with a stretch - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears ended their 2016 minicamp a day early and will next practice together on the first day of training camp

Jahns: Eat this. Bears seeing plenty from rookie OLB Leonard Floyd - Chicago Sun-Times - The rookie has impressed his teammates during the offseason program.

Jahns: Rookie guard Cody Whitehair finishes Bears minicamp as a starter - Chicago Sun-Times - The second-round pick has taken over at left guard with Ted Larsen injured.

Wiederer: John Fox calls off practice last day of Bears minicamp - Chicago Tribune - John Fox's reward to a group that showed great effort through the past month was to cancel the last practice of Bears minicamp.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears place 2 on the PFF Best Players in the NFL Right Now list - Windy City Gridiron - Yes another list because you know you just love seeing Chicago Bears make these top player lists!

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears head coach John Fox cancels practice - Windy City Gridiron - We were all set to bring you the Chicago Bears day three minicamp news and notes, but that just wasn't in the cards.

Infante: Bears linebackers can be among NFL's best - Cover32 - A borderline elite pass rusher and a three-man rotation of starter-quality players will make the Bears linebackers a force to be reckoned with...

Dwojak: Past key to future for Bears tight end Zach Miller - Chicago Tribune - Zach Miller's experience at quarterback isn't only useful for evading defenders. Miller has used it to help him transform into the Bears' starting tight end.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Alper: Rex Ryan says "We won the offseason" - ProFootballTalk - You may want to hold onto your hats for this one because, believe it or not, Rex Ryan closed out the Bills' offseason program with some big words about where the team stands a few months before the start of the season.

Jackson: Panthers reward Rivera with raise, extension - ProFootballTalk - The Panthers have rewarded head coach Ron Rivera with a one-year extension that will pay him more than $6 million per year, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported Thursday. The report said the deal was done "quietly" earlier this spring and not announced by the team.

Kelly: Dolphins cut quarterback Logan Thomas - Sun Sentinel - The Miami Dolphins cut quarterback Logan Thomas and defensive tackle Charles Tuaau hours after the conclusion of the team's mandatory minicamp on Thursday.

Bieler: Eugene Monroe, released by Ravens, says 'I will never stop pushing' NFL to accept marijuana - Chicago Tribune - Former Baltimore Raven Eugene Monroe doubled-down on his pledge to keep advocating for medical marijuana for NFL players on Thursday.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Gates: Minnesota Vikings release former Bears DT Bruce Gaston, Travis Lewis - Daily Norseman - With their mini-camp officially in the books, the Vikings have cut ties with two players, dropping their roster to 88.

Reisman: Ezekiel Ansah snubbed from another Pro Football Focus list - Pride Of Detroit - The analysts at Pro Football Focus just don't seem to think the Detroit Lions defensive end is that good.

Western's APC Podcast 6/15: Tex checks in with Packers’ minicamp report - Acme Packing Company - After taking in minicamp practice on Wednesday, Tex hops on the show to break down his observations.

CHICAGO BEARS ROSTER MOVES

Dickerson: Chicago Bears sign veteran tight end Tony Moeaki - ESPN - The Bears signed tight end Tony Moeaki and defensive lineman Marquis Jackson.

Fishbain: Chicago Bears sign TE Tony Moeaki, DL Marquis Jackson - Pro Football Weekly - Moeaki, a Chicago-area product, has struggled with injuries since productive rookie campaign in 2010

Cox: Bears sign tight end Tony Moeaki - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears signed free agent tight end Tony Moeaki, who attended their minicamp practices on a tryout basis this week.

Finley: Bears sign TE Tony Moeaki, a Wheaton-Warrenville South alum - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears moved to add depth at perhaps their most troubling position, signing NFL veteran and Wheaton-Warrenville South alum Tony Moeaki

Krinch: Bears sign Chicago native Tony Moeaki, defensive lineman Marquis Jackson - CSN Chicago - According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have signed former Wheaton Warrenville South standout Tony Moeaki.

Biggs: Bears sign tight end Tony Moeaki, DL Marquis Jackson - Chicago Tribune - The Bears devoted considerable time looking for tight end options after Zach Miller and signed local product Tony Moeaki to a one-year contract.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears sign Marquis Jackson, waive two players - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears have officially announced four roster moves.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears sign tight end Tony Moeaki - Windy City Gridiron - After their two and a half days of minicamp practices, the Chicago Bears have decided to add tight end Tony Moeaki to their 90 man roster according to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs.

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