The Bear's Den: September 9, 2016

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

BEARRRSSSS

Hub Arkush: Chicago Bears better than last year? Hard to say - Pro Football Weekly - No guarantee they will improve on last season's 6 wins

Mayer: Bears look to turn tables on Osweiler - ChicagoBears.com - After losing to Brock Osweiler last season, the Bears will look to even the score with the 6-foot-8 quarterback in Sunday's season opener against the Texans in Houston.

Cox: Kyle Long says ‘I’m going to retire a Chicago Bear’ - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears' newly extended Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long said that he wants to spend the rest of his career with the team.

NFL Picks 2016, Week 1: Experts all agree, Texans to defeat Bears - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have been given almost no chance to win against the Houston Texans in Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season

Perez: Bears vs. Texans 2016: Chicago’s offensive tackles will be key to game - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears offensive tackles will be responsible for keeping the likes of Watt, Clowney and Mercilus off of QB Jay Cutler in Week 1

Finley: Bears 'open' to naming rights for Soldier Field, in theory - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears would be open to issuing naming rights to Soldier Field in theory, though there’s no reason to think it would happen anytime soon

Jahns: Pernell McPhee still vital part of Bears' future - Chicago Sun-Times - Telling outside linebacker Pernell McPhee that he couldn’t play in the first six weeks because his left knee isn’t where it needs to be couldn’t have been easy. "Man, you guys know his personality," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said this week. "He’s a passionate guy. He gets emotional."

John Fox: Bears encourage players to stand for national anthem - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears expect their players to stand for the National Anthem, Bears coach John Fox said after practice Thursday at Halas Hall.

Haugh: Northwestern product Trevor Siemian is NFL's unlikeliest starting QB - Chicago Tribune - Trevor Siemian was 250th player picked in 2015 draft, and now he's succeeding certain Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as QB for Super Bowl champion Broncos.

Wiederer: Bears season preview, Defensive growth chart - Chicago Tribune - The Bears' biggest upgrades this offseason came at middle linebacker, with $18 million in guaranteed money used to sign Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman.

Campbell: Bears secondary working through growing pains - Chicago Tribune - As the Bears prepare to defend the Texans’ retooled passing game in Sunday’s season opener, one particular word comes to mind about their secondary: unproven.

Wagner-McGough: Teddy Bridgewater's injury opens playoff race for Bears, Cowboys, Redskins, Lions - CBSSports.com - The Vikings still have a shot, but the loss of their QB opens up a spot for another team

Dickerson: Bears' Paul Lasike in running for Polynesian Football Player of Year - ESPN - Paul Lasike has only played football since 2012, but is now a starting fullback in the NFL.

Finley's Podcast: Breaking down Bears, Texans in advance of Week 1 - Chicago Sun-Times - In the 10th episode of Halas Intrigue, the Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley breaks down three Texans and three Bears to watch Sunday in Houston:

Mullen: Kyle Long's four-year contract extension a Bears mission statement - CSN Chicago - When the Bears stepped up with a four-year extension for Kyle Long, the result was putting him exactly where he wanted to be since Day 1.

Daily Herald Staff: Our experts' 2016 NFL season predictions - The NFL season begins tonight, and we asked Mike Imrem, Barry Rozner, Bob LeGere and Joe Aguilar to predict each division and playoff matchup. How will the Chicago Bears fare?

Emma: Bears Receiver Kevin White Dealing With Hamstring Injury - CBS Chicago - White was limited in Thursday's practice, the first he has appeared on the injury report.

Finley: Bears WR Kevin White limited with hamstring injury - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears receiver Kevin White was limited in practice Thursday because of a hamstring injury, coach John Fox said.

Emma: Bears Defense Facing The Unknown In Houston - CBS Chicago - The Texans have new personnel on offense that presents an additional challenge.

Mullen: Bears No. 1 pick Leonard Floyd needing to get past 'choppy' preseason - CSN Chicago - The Bears haven't soured on Leonard Floyd, but he struggled with injuries during training camp and they would like to see more from the top draft pick.

Campbell: Naturally, Jay Cutler's play one of five factors key to Bears success - Chicago Tribune - In coach John Fox's second season, Bears are optimistic continuity and familiarity will lift them past 6-10 record of a year ago.

Stevie Sunshine’s Bears prediction (Rosendoom): Sorry, not 16-0, but a playoff berth (seriously) - Chicago Tribune - How about 10-6 for the Bears and making the playoffs? Stevie Sunshine is calling it right here, right now. Legit. Honest. True fact.

Biggs: Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman could restore Bears' linebacking tradition - Chicago Tribune - With subpar linebackers, the Bears' run defense was a mess last season. It ranked 22nd in the NFL and allowed 4.5 yards per carry, ranking 26th.

Wiederer: Baby Bears, development of under-25 club key to this season - Chicago Tribune - A Bears franchise that has made only one playoff appearance over the last nine seasons is hoping an infusion of young energy can catalyze a resurgence.

Wiltfong: Give me the over on both of these Alshon Jeffery prop bets - Windy City Gridiron - Another injury to Alshon Jeffery is the only thing that will stop him from eclipsing these two pro bets.

Householder: Chicago Bears Game Preview Week 1 - Houston Texans - Windy City Gridiron - The regular season is here, fans! After months of free agency, the draft, minicamps, OTAs, training camp, meaningless preseason games, lists, rankings and predictions, the season is here. First up the Bears will travel to Houston to play the Texans on Sunday.

Wiltfong: Kevin White limited with a hamstring injury - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s the injury run down from Chicago Bears’ practice today.

Wiltfong: Yeah, Josh Sitton is so done... - Windy City Gridiron - He’s done paving the way for Green Bay’s rushing attack! The Packers’ loss is the Bears’ gain. Check out these clips of Josh Sitton dominating defensive linemen.

Finley: What can Bears expect from Jay Cutler this season? - Chicago Sun-Times - In this week's edition of 'Take 2,' Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times and Kevin Fishbain of Pro Football Weekly take a look at the reasonable

POLISH SAUSAGE

Tankersly, Harlan: We optimized the NFL by moving teams to new cities. Sorry, Cleveland - Chicago Tribune - Over the winter, one professional football team doubled its value with nothing more than a few moving vans.

Sherman: Charles Tillman's new job with Fox Sports not a huge leap for ex-Bear - Chicago Tribune - Former Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman hardly is a stranger to the microphone, making regular appearances on radio and TV as a player.

Abynum: What's your preferred NFL pregame show? - Windy City Gridiron - This is something I frequently discuss with friends and family. (For some, it never changes; others, it changes from season to season; for others yet, it depends on who is talking and when.) In...

KNOW THY ENEMY

MikeBullock: J.J. Watt To Get His Very Own Pitch Count? - Battle Red Blog - After practice yesterday, Bill O'Brien and J.J. Watt discussed the possibility of Watt having his snaps limited in his first game back from back surgery.

BattleRedCoat: Texans-Bears 2016 Regular Season Preview: Four Things To Watch - Battle Red Blog - The Texans kick off their regular season with a visit from the Bears, so what's worth the watch?

Capt Ron: 2016 Houston Texans Season Predictions From The BRB Staff - Battle Red Blog - The BRB staff lays their 2016 Houston Texans season predictions on you, so pull up a chair and prepare to cheer (or mock), and then join the conversation with your bold expectations.

TexasTakeaway: The Dominance Of The Houston Texans' Defense - Battle Red Blog - A look at Houston's defense and what they hope to accomplish in the coming season.

UprootedTexan: BRB Ministry Of Information's Week One Preview: Texans-Bears - Battle Red Blog - The ever-scrupulous Ministry of Information has written a brief summary of the glorious Houston Texans' week one matchup against the corrupt, inept, and irrelevant Bears of Chicago. You read now.

FANPOSTS

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