The Bear's Den, July 13, 2016

Ken's Note: There are several Ken's Note entries today, PFF just kinda rubs me the wrong way but I include them for conversation sake.

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Emma: Deadline Looming For Bears, Alshon Jeffery To Reach Long-Term Deal - CBS Chicago - The future between Jeffery and the Bears looms uncertain after Friday.

Bears still have long way to go - ESPN Video - Darren Woodson and Jerome Bettis say the Bears still have too many question marks to begin turning things around this season.

Fishbain: 2016 Chicago Bears training camp preview, Running Backs - Pro Football Weekly - Langford, Carey and Howard will combine to replace Matt Forte in Bears' backfield

Perez: Kyle Long says he’s ‘built to dominate Pokemon’ - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears RG Kyle Long is having fun with Pokemon Go, saying on Twitter that he's built to dominate the game

Muillen: Changes loom as Bears on final approach to training camp - CSN Chicago - The only NFL constant is change, and the Bears will present one high-profile case study in that reality when training camp commences on July 27.

Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings square off over Pokemon Go - ESPN - 'Pokemon Go' has sent the world into a tizzy, and that includes some NFL teams and other professional athletes.

Fishbain: 2016 Chicago Bears training camp preview: Quarterbacks - Pro Football Weekly - Jay Cutler leads a group of Bears QBs with a new, better backup plan.

ITB: Young, Houston overcome injuries - ChicagoBears.com - Willie Young and Lamarr Houston shared similar paths in 2015. Both were coming off serious injuries and both were adjusting to playing in a new system under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Mayer: Houston-Carson destined to join NFL - ChicagoBears.com - Since he was in diapers, Bears rookie safety DeAndre Houston-Carson seemingly has been destined to become a professional football player.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Check out my latest Thoughts on the National Football League.

LIVING IN THE SEASON OF THE LISTS

Wiltfong: Expect the Chicago Bears to stay in the NFC North cellar through 2018 - Windy City Gridiron - According to the annual ESPN NFL Future Power Rankings, we should expect the Chicago Bears to lag behind their NFC North counterparts the next three years.

Lambert: Rising Chicago Bears Corner Draws Big Time Comparison - Sports Mockery - One of the names that has garnered a lot of interest this off-season is Bryce Callahan. The more experts have dug into the tape and the stats from last year regarding the former undrafted cornerback, the more they like him. It certainly was a surprise when the Chicago Bears coaching staff promoted him into the starting lineup midway through the season. Never mind his draft status, he also had the stigma of being just 5’10". That’s not ideal height for a defensive back.

Jahnke: Bears OL ranks 30th in NFL - Pro Football Focus - PFF has no love for the Chicago Bears OL. Ken's Note: I have no love for the entirely BS way PFF rates offensive linemen, so I guess we are even? If you want a fair ranking, ask somebody who knows what the difference between a designed play and a breakdown is... that wouldn't be PFF. They might also learn that Ted Larson isn't the projected starter at LG, either.

Fishbain: 2016 Bear Necessities No. 11, RB Jeremy Langford - Pro Football Weekly - In Year Two, can Langford be the Bears' answer in replacing Matt Forte?

Monson: PFF Ranks all 32 QB situations in the NFL - Pro Football Focus - PFF's Monson fauns all over Aaron Rodgers. Ken's Note: Surprise, surprise, surprise, PFF ranks Chicago's QB situation well down the lower half of the list behind well behind such great QB tandems as Teddy Bridgewater/Shaun Hill, Tyrod Taylor/EJ Manual, Phillip Rivers/Kellen Clemons, Matt Ryan/Matt Shaub. Cutler was ESPN's 17th rater passer and Hoyer their 19th. As an FYI, they both were ahead (in actual 2015 performance) as the starters Rivers, Winston, Carr, Luck & Bortles all ranked above the PAIR of the Bears. I smell dirty fish.

Wiltfong's 10 Most Important Bears of 2016: #5 How much will real NFL inside linebackers help their defense? - Windy City Gridiron - For the 8th straight year, I'm bringing you who I believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season. Kicking off my top 5 are the two big free agent acquisitions for this season, the brand new inside linebacker tandem.

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFC North Q&A: Who is the division's rising star (Hit: not a Bear)? - ESPN - When asked who the rising star is in the division, our NFC North reporters came up with four different players.

Buchmasser: New England Patriots roster breakdown, #58 LB Shea McClellin - Pats Pulpit - The free agency acquisition Shea McClellin projects to play a prominent role on defense this year.

FANTASY

Berckes Fantasy Files: Divisional Previews – AFC West - Windy City Gridiron - AFC West names and stories you need to know for your fantasy football draft

KNOW THY ENEMY

Rivard: Green Bay Packers fan site picks winners' scrapheaps - ESPN - Lombardiave.com continues its numbers countdown to the 2016 regular season opener. Today we stop at #61 and talk about winners' scrapheaps.

Gates: Minnesota Vikings 2016 Schedule Preview: Houston Texans - Daily Norseman - The Vikings will welcome the defending AFC South Champions to U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 5.

Eric Ebron: Lions must move on after 'big brother' Megatron - 247 Sports - It's been a few months since Calvin Johnson has walked away from the Detroit Lions, but it's clear his presence still lingers over the team and other players on the offense. Monday, Eric Ebron joined SiriusXM NFL Radio and was asked about the aftermath of Johnson's retirement. The tight end said it was more than just a simple matter of football between he and Johnson. It's been a few months since Calvin Johnson has walked away from the Detroit Lions, but it's clear his presence still lingers over the team.

Florio: Adrian Peterson is still running sub-4.5 40s - ProFootballTalk
Adrian Peterson has complained in recent months about the grind of training camp and OTAs. But those workouts pale in comparison to what Peterson does on his own. Ben Goessling of ESPN.com chronicled Peterson's sessions in Houston following the conclusion of the Vikings' offseason program.