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The Den will be taking a look at one of the Chicago Bears' 2017 unrestricted free agents (UFA's) and restricted free agents (RFA's) each day until we have knocked out the list.
I will be talking about the player, whether I personally would sign the player and to what contract, and what my best guess the Bears will do with him.
Today I’m doing a double, since frankly Eric Kush and Ted Larsen are a lot alike, both quality backup players.
Here’s their bios from the Chicago Bears website:
Eric Kush: Played in three games with the Chiefs in 2013 and seven contests with the Rams in 2015. Kush was elected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round (170th overall pick) in the 2013 NFL Draft. On September 5, 2015, he was waived by the Chiefs. On September 6, 2015, Kush was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay.
Kush played in 8 games, starting 4 of them for Chicago in 2016.
Ted Larsen: Enters first season with the Bears in 2016 after seeing action in 86 games (57 starts) over six seasons with Tampa Bay (2010-13) and Arizona (2014-15)... Has experience at all three interior spots along the offensive line, starting 34 games at left guard, 13 games at right guard and 10 games at center during his NFL career in the regular season... Has added two starts at right guard and one at left guard in the playoffs... Appeared in all 16 contests in four (2011-14) of his six NFL seasons.
Larsen played in all 16 games, starting 8 for Chicago, and he plays both guard and center.
I am not a fan of Pro Football Focus for grades in general, but some people are, and interior linemen are hard to judge. Kush graded out by PFF as 69.6 while Larsen graded out as 72.3. For some reason PFF lumps Kush in with the centers. Larsen’s grade would be considered low average and Kush upper end of the below average range. For example, Josh Sitton had a top 10 grade of 86.2 while Cody Whitehair came in as the sixth best Center at 87.2. Kyle Long was 78.1 playing injured.
Would I bring them back? Yes, both of them, absolutely, I would and I would feel perfectly comfortable with them as backups again next year. They both did a very solid job in that role.
Will the Chicago Bears bring them back? Yes, both of them, and I expect that while their will be competition in camp, chances are very good that the Bears backups next year on the OL will be Larsen, Kush, Hroniss Grassu and a yet to be acquired tackle for competition to beat out Massie and/or Leno, or just be swing tackle.
Share your thoughts below and in the poll!
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!
BEARRRSSSS
Cox: Bears CB grades, LeBlanc rose above the rest at embattled position - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears fielded many different young cornerbacks this season, and Cre'von LeBlanc was the only one who made a name for himself.
Finley's Podcast: Ranking the Bears' offensive needs, and how to fill them - Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley ranks the Bears' offensive needs, position-by-position, and looks at how they'll try to fill them:
Cox: Bears will coach several talented draft prospects at 2017 Senior Bowl - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears' coaching staff will be leading the North team at the Senior Bowl, running their group of 53 players through practices next week in advance of the game itself on January 28th.
Perez: Jay Cutler will have plenty of suitors if Bears cut ties this offseason - Bears Wire - Jay Cutler could be starting for a new team in 2017. Here's four teams that would make a natural fit.
Emma: Tony Romo Doesn’t Fit For Bears’ Quarterback Quandary - CBS Chicago - It's worth remembering that general manager Ryan Pace is looking for "long-term solutions that lead to long-term success."
Thompson: Ex-Bear Charles Tillman admits first child knocked him off his game - Chicago Tribune - One of the former Bears' biggest career hurdles came courtesy of his first-born daughter.
Mayer: Bears hire three assistant coaches - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Thursday announced that they have hired offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn (pictured), running backs coach Curtis Modkins and assistant defensive backs coach Roy Anderson.
Potash: secondary assistant Roy Anderson latest addition to Bears' staff - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears finally announced a coaching staff shake-up Thursday following their 3-13 season Thursday offensive line
Mayer: NFL analysts share thoughts on Bears - ChicagoBears.com - ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and other NFL analysts share their thoughts about who the Bears may select with the third pick in the draft, the team's quarterback situation and other issues.
In The Loop: David Haugh on importance of NFL quarterbacks - CSN Chicago - Chicago Tribune columnist David Haugh joins Chris Boden to talk about the importance of quarterbacks in the NFL.
Krinch: Kiper says Deshaun Watson would be a stretch at No. 3 for Bears - CSN Chicago - If the Bears decide to select a quarterback at No. 3 in the NFL Draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. believes Clemson's Deshaun Watson would be a stretch that high.
JJ Stankevitz: A safety at No. 3? Historically it's a reach, but maybe not for Bears in 2017 | CSN Chicago - LSU's Jamal Adams could be the highest-drafted safety in seven years in the 2017 NFL Draft. Could he be an option for the Bears at No. 3?
Wiederer: Bears announce new additions to John Fox’s coaching staff - Chicago Tribune - The Bears officially announced the hiring of three new assistants to John Fox’s coaching staff on Thursday evening.
DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY
Kamka: Players drafted by NFL head coach who led team at Senior Bowl - CSN Chicago - The Bears coaching staff will get a close look at some of the draft's top prospects when they head to Mobile to coach the 2017 Reese's Senior Bowl on Jan. 28. CSN stats guru Chris Kamka compiled a list of players drafted by the NFL head coach who led their team at the Senior Bowl.
NFL Mock Draft 2017: Two-round projections - San Diego Union Tribune - Bears take QB Deshaun Watson in the first, OT Garett Bolles out of Utah in the second.
2017 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 | Drafttek.com - Drafttek.com uses a computer program to simulate a 7-round 2017 NFL Mock Draft. Each team has an individual analyst who supplies data on 2017 NFL Draft Team Needs. The team needs are matched up against a list of 2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (Big Board) in order to generate each selection in our 2017 NFL Mock Draft.
2017 NFL Mock Draft - WalterFootball.com - Detailed NFL Mock Drafts, Player Prospect Rankings, One of the Largest Mock Draft Databases on the Web, Power Rankings and Much More for the NFL and Other Sports.
Jeremiah mock draft 1.0: 49ers, Jets, Texans fill QB needs, Bears take Allen - NFL.com - Daniel Jeremiah takes a look at how the 2017 NFL Draft could unfold, including the 49ers, Jets and Texans filling QB needs, and the Panthers pairing Cam Newton with the draft's top RB.
PFF's Latest 2017 Mock Draft - Pro Football Focus - Bears take QB Mitch Trubisky out of North Carolina.
2017 NFL Mock Draft: Jonathan Allen Still at No. 1 - WithTheFirstPick.com - Here we are again with another 2017 NFL Mock Draft as Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen remains the No. 1 overall pick.
Soong: Kirk Cousins is the talk of the free agent market for QBs - Chicago Tribune - The NFL free agency approaches and it's not exactly the strongest group of available quarterbacks.
POLISH SAUSAGE
Damien: Happy Tuck Rule game anniversary, Raiders officially file for relocation - Silver And Black Pride - Hey there, Raiders fans! Anyone up for a good punch in the gut? How ‘bout a stab in the back? Well, if so, then today is YOUR day. It’s January 19.
Our statement re Raiders. pic.twitter.com/Ru4BNulNUK
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) January 19, 2017
Patra: Andrew Luck has surgery on his right shoulder - NFL.com - Andrew Luck is on the mend after undergoing a successful surgery to fix a right shoulder injury that has lingered since 2015, Colts owner Jim Irsay said Thursday.
Gantt: Broncos hire Brock Olivo (Dave Toub's assistant) as special teams coach - ProFootballTalk - The Broncos interviewed Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub for their head coaching opening. They hired his assistant to be one of their assistants. According to Mike Klis of KUSA, the Broncos are hiring Brock Olivo to coach their special teams.
Rosenbloom: On the NFL bingo card of hate, the Patriots are the free spot, but someone's moving up - Chicago Tribune - There is not an actual NFL Hate Scale, but only because the league has failed to match it to a corporate sponsor.
Jackson: Manziel admits he was "lost in the sauce," vows to be better - ProFootballTalk
- Ex-Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel fired off a series of tweets Thursday afternoon, writing that he hasn't "been this happy in a long time" and apologizing for some of his past behavior.
KNOW THY ENEMY
Platte: 2017 Detroit Lions offseason needs, when and how the team addresses running back - Pride Of Detroit - Recapping the Lions running backs from 2016 and looking toward replacement options in 2017.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Wiltfong: Mel Kiper mocks the Chicago Bears Jonathan Allen - Windy City Gridiron - Check out who ESPN Insider Mel Kiper Jr. mocks to the Chicago Bears in his first mock of the season.
Zeglinski: Keeping a low bar of expectations for the Bears and Kevin White - Windy City Gridiron - White has had a career plagued by injuries so far. It’s best the Bears treat anything he offers moving forward as a bonus instead of as a core piece.
Householder: Should the Bears take Deshaun Watson if... - Windy City Gridiron - What if the QB wasn’t quite the player some expect?
Sunderbruch: 2016 Bears in Context: Offensive Penalties - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have cleaned up penalties a little on the offensive side of the ball, but there is still work to do.
FANPOSTS
FanPosts - Recent - Windy City Gridiron - Here's a link to our FanPost section, where YOU have the opportunity to contribute to Windy City Gridiron. Take a few minutes and write a post about what you are thinking about regarding the Chicago Bears, and there'a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.
THE RULES
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