The Bear’s Den: February 2, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

Mayer: Feeney thrilled with Howard's success - ChicagoBears.com - Indiana guard Dan Feeney, a potential first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, wasn't surprised with the success that former Hoosiers teammate Jordan Howard had as a Bears rookie.

Finley: Charles Tillman 'I'm sure Chicago is fiending for another QB' - Chicago Sun-Times - A former Bears Pro Bowler and a retired coach both think it’s time for Jay Cutler to go.

Morrissey: t's good to be a former Bear, is Jay Cutler next? - Chicago Sun-Times - Patriots make Bennett, McClellin better.

Finley's podcast: Peanut Tillman on Super Bowl, Tom Brady and Jay Cutler - Chicago Sun-Times - In the latest episode of Halas Intrigue, the Sun-Times' Patrick Finley talks to former Bears star Charles "Peanut" Tillman about the Super Bowl.

Biggs: Bears' director of player development Jerry Butler retires - Chicago Tribune - The Bears are searching for an important resource for their players after Jerry Butler, the team's director of player development, retired after the season ended.

Emma: Dowell Loggains’ Biggest Goal For Bears’ Offense In 2017? Continuity  - CBS Chicago - Loggains has assessed the inconsistencies of his Bears offense in 2016.

Biggs: Falcons GM says Bears castoff Phil Emery 'a vital cog in our wheel' - Chicago Tribune - The Falcons defense improved throughout the season behind its young players, and one behind-the-scenes figure with fingerprints on the rebuild is former Bears general manager Phil Emery, hired as a national scout by the organization one year ago.

Biggs: Howie Long says Kyle Long better after rough reaction to ankle surgery - Chicago Tribune - Kyle Long is doing much better after a rough couple of weeks following surgery to repair pretty much everything in the ankle, which he injured Nov. 13.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

Cabot: Browns buzz on Jimmy Garoppolo, Deshaun Watson and Mitch Trubisky at the Senior Bowl - cleveland.com - Sources say the Browns' interest in Garoppolo is real and that they'll try to trade for him depending on how their draft evaluations go over the next five weeks or so.

Cox: Chicago Bears’ 2017 free agent wish list: Wide receiver - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears need to add talent at the wide receiver position, and the free agent market should have some enticing names.

Emma: Bears Get Up-Close Look At TE Jeremy Sprinkle, Who Addresses Character Questions Head On - CBS Chicago - Sprinkle could be a mid-round fit for the Bears, who are in need of another tight end.

Biggs: Analysts agree, time for Jay Cutler and Bears to part ways - Chicago Tribune - While there is not a clear-cut solution to the Bears' quarterback situation, the consensus from Super Bowl LI is it’s time for a change.

Campbell: Malik Hooker out 4-6 months after two surgeries - Walter Football - Ohio State safety Malik Hooker will be out 4-6 months after having hernia and labrum surgery.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Ken's Note: With all of the articles about Shea McClellin this week about how moving to New England improved him & made him a lot better player, I've been scratching my head. I watched every one of New England's games, and I rarely if ever saw him being in any way a factor on defense. The way the Chicago Media is carrying on about Shea you would think he was an All-Pro this season. In fact, Shea started 4 games playing in 16 total, had 16 solos (a 1 per game average) & 25 assists. Last year in Chicago he started 11 games playing in 12 before being injured, had 53 solos (4.8 per game average) and 28 assists. In other words, his production and playing time were both greatly reduced. He did have one monster block on a kick, but... seriously, guys... he's not yet Hall Of Fame bound here...

Finley: How ex-Bears LB Shea McClellin found confidence again with Pats - Chicago Sun-Times - Shea McClellin had to go away to outrun the label he was tagged with in four seasons with the Bears.

Biggs: Moving all over with Bears has helped Shea McClellin help Patriots - Chicago Tribune - An under-the-radar signing in March, Shea McClellin has been an important addition for the Patriots, who love players who can handle multiple tasks.

Gates: Super Bowl Recipes, Are You Ready To Crock? - Daily Norseman - If you’re having a Super Bowl party, you need to make use of the greatest invention known to man.

Thompson: NFL Bad Lip Reading is back! - Daily Norseman - The annual video has made its triumphant return.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Reisman: Detroit Lions getting new uniforms in April - Pride Of Detroit - Get ready for a brand new Detroit Lions uniform.

Bruton's Green and Bold: Fool Me Once... - Cheesehead TV - For a general manager who doesn't make a splash in free agency all that often, the Packers' Ted Thompson sure has been in the news lately, linked to rumors that this year he'll do just that.

Hirschhorn: Packers 2017 free-agent wide receiver Geronimo Allison hits exclusive-rights free agency - Acme Packing Company - The Packers' top rookie wideout also becomes an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason.

Alper: Goodell says Ejection after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties "a positive thing" - ProFootballTalk - At his annual Super Bowl week press conference in 2016, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell proposed a rule that would call for the ejection of players who received two personal fouls in a game.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Sunderbruch: Fact or Fiction - The Bears Had to Pass More in 2016 - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears struggled on offense, and it’s time to sort cause from effect.

Zeglinski: A Bears’ penalty dilemma - Cleaning up Soldier Field laundry - Windy City Gridiron - There were issues with untimely penalties for the Bears in 2016. With an individual representative on the 2016 "All-Penalty Team", it’s time for a clean wash.

Wiltfong's Chicago Bears 2017 Roster Turnover: The Specialists - Windy City Gridiron - In this 13 part series we'll take an in depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye towards the 2017 season. We'll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential...

Silverstein: How to root in the Super Bowl when your team is not playing - Windy City Gridiron - How do you root in the Super Bowl when the Bears aren’t in it? Jack M Silverstein looks back at the tough choices he’s made in the last 30 years of Super Bowls.

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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