The Bear's Den, June 8, 2016

BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Atkins: Chicago Bears OLB Lamarr Houston reveling in return to OTAs - Pro Football Weekly - Team sack leader has come a long way since last offseason's ACL rehab

Mayer: Young in much better place this spring - ChicagoBears.com - After overcoming a serious injury and learning a new position, defensive end-turned-outside linebacker Willie Young is looking to build on a productive 2015 season.

Weaver: Bears backfield, who will be the odd man out? - Cover32 - Which Chicago Bears running backs will make the cut and how much they'll play this year is a major story-line to follow in 2016.

Emma: Charles Leno Hopes To Repay Bears’ Belief - CBS Chicago - The Bears have stood behind Leno at left tackle.

Mayer: Three Bears honored at White House - ChicagoBears.com - Danny Trevathan and two other Bears players rejoined their former Broncos teammates Monday for a ceremony at the White House honoring last season's Super Bowl champions.

Video: 5 NFL players ready to get paid - Pro Football Weekly - After one of the most expensive offseasons in NFL history, plus several more extensions, here are 5 guys that are ready for big contracts.

BIGGS TRIBUNE MAILBAG (broken down for your convenience)

How much is Pat O'Donnell to blame for punting game problems? - Chicago Tribune - How much of Pat O'Donnell's problems with punt blocks/net average are from atrocious blocking/spotty snaps and how much is on him? -- @wcgbearsdendude

Would Kyle Fuller make a better safety than cornerback? - Chicago Tribune - Do you think Kyle Fuller is best suited as a free safety? -- @cush200

Have the Bears stocked enough talent at tight end? - Chicago Tribune - Why is it the Bears year after year seem to put so little importance in the tight end position while it has become de rigueur as a difference making position?

How do the Bears' rookie safeties look so far? - Chicago Tribune - What are the initial observations on the two new safeties that were drafted? -- @koek77

Can Jay Cutler improve even more? - Chicago Tribune - Is it too late in Jay Cutler¿s career for me to hope for a better touchdown/interception ratio?

Would the Bears trade Alshon Jeffery, go after Muhammad Wilkerson? - Chicago Tribune - Any chance the Bears consider trading Alshon Jeffery? Is the Jets¿ Muhammed Wilkerson still out of reach?

Where is Marquess Wilson in the wide receiver pecking order? - Chicago Tribune - Do you see Marquess Wilson as a lock for the No. 3 receiver or someone else? Could they bring in someone behind Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White?

Is Pernell McPhee's knee worse than the Bears are letting on? - Chicago Tribune - It's starting to seem to me like Pernell McPhee's knee injury is much more serious than the Bears are letting on. Fair assessment?

POLISH SAUSAGE

Prisbell: NFL claims Twitter hack after tweets falsely report Roger Goodell is dead - USA Today - League confirms Goodell is still alive after three tweets are posted to official account.

Obama honors Super Bowl champion Broncos at White House, mentions '85 Bears D - Chicago Tribune - President Barack Obama honored the Denver Broncos at the White House Monday for winning Super Bowl 50 with one of the best defenses of all time

McGuire: Aqib Talib claims he made like Plaxico and shot himself - TheComeback.com - Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib reportedly told "people close to him" that he accidentally shot himself.

Orr: Kelly sees Kaepernick, Gabbert as similar players - NFL.com - Today in news that will cause riotous laughter and careless hot takes about the power spread offense: 49ers head coach Chip Kelly sees Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert as similar players.

David Kaplan, former Bears play at Celebrity Pro-Am - CSN Chicago - CSN's David Kaplan and former Bears players competed at a Celebrity Pro-Am at Ivanhoe Club.

Gantt: Jermon Bushrod fought off thoughts of retirement, ready to return - ProFootballTalk - Last year was a frustrating one for veteran tackle Jermon Bushrod, from an injury to losing his starting job to a seventh-round pick. So it's natural he thought he might have been at the end of the line.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Williamson: Why the Packers defense will improve in 2016 - theScore.com - As usual, Green Bay did little to rock the boat this offseason. The Packers enter the 2016 campaign with most of the same cast of characters to group with an incoming class of rookies. Little was done on the free-agent front, which really should come as no surprise, despite rumors to the contrary beforehand.

Payton: Has Jim Caldwell made Matthew Stafford better? - Pride Of Detroit - Is Matthew Stafford a better quarterback with Jim Caldwell?

Zinski: Xavier Rhodes, Is he ready to take the next step? - TheVikingAge.com - Vikings fourth-year cornerback Xavier Rhodes is having his best spring according to head coach Mike Zimmer.

Patra: Lions not afraid to toss Taylor Decker into the fire - NFL.com - While some teams have kept rookie offensive tackles away from the left side in their first season, the Detroit Lions aren't afraid of putting first-round pick Taylor Decker in the pressure cooker.

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