The Bear's Den: February 17, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

NFC North rookie grades: Jordan Howard boosts Bears - NFL.com - Bucky Brooks grades the rookie class of each team in the NFC North. Did Leonard Floyd's Bears outperform Kenny Clark's Packers? Plus, each squad's combine/free agency focus.

PFW Chicago Podcast: Discussing Jimmy Garoppolo and the Chicago Bears' QBs - Pro Football Weekly - We are back from a little break to dive into the trade waters and decide whether or not the Bears will or should trade for Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Chris Wesseling of NFL.com (@ChrisWesseling) joins the show to break down Garoppolo's trade value

Mayer: Harris inspired by memory of his wife - ChicagoBears.com - Former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris has written a heartbreaking story for "The Players' Tribune" about the death of his wife, Ashley, in 2012 and how her memory inspires him.

Cox: Should the Bears sign Branden Albert? - Bears Wire - The Miami Dolphins released veteran left tackle Branden Albert, and the Chicago Bears could be interested in his services.

Biggs: Catching on? Bears looking at three candidates for wide receivers coach - Chicago Tribune - Bob Bicknell, Ronald Curry and George McDonald have all been interviewed for the Bears wide receiver coaching job, an NFL source told the Tribune.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

Nick’s Quick Breakdown: Jonathan Allen – Defensive Lineman (Alabama) - Da Bears Brothers - Nick breaks down and gives insight on a potential Bears draft pick, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen out of Alabama.

Mayer: Bears planning to bolster secondary - ChicagoBears.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace has vowed to add more playmakers to a secondary that's led by veteran cornerback Tracy Porter.

Emma: Set To Hit The Open Market, CB A.J. Bouye Would Fit For Bears - CBS Chicago - Bouye, 25, is set to hit free agency as one of the top cornerbacks available.

Krinch: Complete Bears' 2017 seven round NFL Mock Draft - CSN Chicago - Check out CSN's full seven round 2017 NFL Mock Draft and see why the Bears can find their QB of the future by pulling off a trade.

Reuter's 4-round mock draft: Top talent drops with early QB run - NFL.com - Three quarterbacks in the first 13 picks and a couple of surprise top-10 selections cause some talented players to drop in Chad Reuter's four-round mock draft.

Rosenthal: On the bubble, NFC players who could be released - NFL.com - With the new league year right around the corner, Gregg Rosenthal scoured each NFC roster in search of potential cap casualties. Could Tony Romo, Adrian Peterson and Jay Cutler be among them?

Thompson: Latest mock drafts have Bears passing on QB with first pick - Chicago Tribune - NFL draft guru Mel Kiper projects the Bears will go for defense over their pressing need at quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft in April.

Most interesting NFL players who soon could be cut - Chicago Tribune - Here are some of the higher-profile players who potentially could be released.

2017 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 - DraftTek - Drafttek.com uses a computer program to simulate a 7-round 2017 NFL Mock Draft. Each Bears take Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama.

Consensus Mock Draft Report - Walter Football - Chicago has Jonathan Allen, DT Alabama at 35 percent.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Filorio: Dolphins tap the brakes on cutting Branden Albert - ProFootballTalk - The Dolphins will cut Branden Albert. Unless they don't. The veteran left tackle has become the latest example of a player who is told that he's out and then, once the team realizes there could be a trade market for him, the process stops.

Boonsteel: Tom Brady doesn't realize that not everyone in the NFL can be Tom Brady - Chicago Tribune - Let's get this out of the way first: Based on everything we know about the guy, Tom Brady is a healthier physical specimen than me, than you, than just about

KNOW THY ENEMY

Rod Wood: Lions ticket prices won’t increase for 30,000 seats - Pride Of Detroit - Lions ticket prices won’t go up for nearly 50 percent of seats.

WLudford: Vikings’ Salary Cap Priorities - Daily Norseman - Now that free agency is nearing, and the Vikings have a number of needs and player decisions to make this off-season, it seems a good time to spend a little time playing armchair GM.

Noonan: Assessing the value of running backs to the Packers’ offense and the NFL - Acme Packing Company - One APC writer feels the Packers should focus on receiving and blocking skills and that inside power running is actually a net negative for the offense.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Snyder: Chicago Bears Draftwatch - QB Triple Header: Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes II, and Brad Kaaya - Windy City Gridiron - If big arms equal big expectations, this trio will have fans pinning their sights sky high.

Householder: Alshon Jeffery Franchise tag: WCG Contributors weigh in - Windy City Gridiron - Our writers opine on one of the biggest questions surrounding Bears free agency

Zeglinski: Pay the man? A Bears’ financing dilemma with Alshon Jeffery - Windy City Gridiron - It’s beyond difficult to commit long-term to Alshon Jeffery without risk. Nevertheless, a decision looms.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears 7 Round Mock Draft: BPA Edition - Windy City Gridiron - In my first Chicago Bears mock draft of the season, I’m taking a best player available philosophy to my picks.

FANPOSTS

ThatsUrIQBuddy_ZERO: Brian Hoyer is not the Answer as Starter or Bridge for our Bears - Windy City Gridiron - As a Bears' fan who has suffered the craptastic history of the carousel of starting QBs we have endured seemingly forever, I am of the opinion that Hoyer has done absolutely nothing, ever, to EARN the right to be the starting QB for my team. Rather than comparing him to any other QBs, I offer the following biography of his career to be evaluated by you on its own merits or lack thereof.

TJGOBIG: Gamble on a CB/S at #3? History says HECK NO! - Windy City Gridiron - Do you like gambling? I certainly don't. I'm more of a "sure thing" kind of guy. I like good odds and stacking the deck to my benefit. Well when it comes to the NFL draft there are no "sure...

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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