The Bear's Den: February 9, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

Jordan Howard registers second-fastest speed for RB in NFL plays - NFL.com - Next Gen Stats introduced player speed in the 2015 NFL Season. Fastest Ball Carriers shows the maximum speed, measured in Miles Per Hour (MPH), a player achieves on a given play when carrying the ball on offense (rusher, passer or receiver) or special teams (punt or kick returner). This stat highlights many of the fastest players in the league. Jordan Howard's 57-yarder against Indy clocked out at 22.03 MPH.

Boden: No offseason for Bears as coaches begin assessment period - CSN Chicago - The NFL is off the radar for a few weeks, but for the Bears, now is the time for coaches to begin their assessment period.

Rozner: Big game offers Chicago Bears some Super clues - Daily Herald - Atlanta's strategy of mugging the New England receivers is something the Chicago Bears might want to try, especially against the Packers.

Mayer: Porter reflects on winning Super Bowl - ChicagoBears.com - Cornerback Tracy Porter reflects on his pick-six that clinched a Super Bowl win for the Saints seven years ago Tuesday and discusses his faith in Bears general manager Ryan Pace.

Kwiecinski: Pro Football Focus ranks Bears’ receivers among league’s worst - Bears Wire - The Bears receivers ranked poorly on Pro Football Focus' 2016 rankings

Boden: Zach Miller attacking familiar foe but confident he'll be ready for OTAs - CSN Chicago - Zach Miller has done this before. But the tight end is confident he'll come back better than ever from yet another broken foot.

Mayer: Jeffery's status to be determined soon - ChicagoBears.com - One of the most important issues the Bears will face over the next few months will be resolving receiver Alshon Jeffery's contract situation.

Cox: 4 players the Bears could cut to create more cap space - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears could create even more cap space for themselves if they cut a few of their more expensive veterans.

Perez: Bears CEO Ted Phillips hints at free-agent spending spree in letter to season ticket holders - Bears Wire - Bears CEO Ted Phillips hinted at a free agent spending spree in his open letter to season ticket holders

Finley's Podcast: Did Super Bowl affect Jimmy Garoppolo's availability? - Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley examines how the Super Bowl affected Jimmy Garoppolo's availability, and wonders if the Bears are the favorites to trade for him

Biggs: Bears raising ticket prices after 3-13 season - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears said the average cost increase for season tickets in 2017 will be 2.6 percent. Club seats will rise by an average of 2 percent while nonclub seats will go up 2.9 percent.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

Nick's Quick Breakdown: DeShone Kizer Quarterback (Notre Dame) - Da Bears Brothers - Nick breaks down and gives insight on a potential Bears draft pick, quarterback DeShone Kizer out of Notre Dame.

ESPN’s Todd McShay sends Bears help along defensive line in latest 2017 NFL mock draft - Bears Wire - Todd McShay sends the Bears a member of the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide defense in his latest 2017 mock draft. Ken's Note: Since McShay's draft is behind a paywall, I linked this story instead of going directly to "those people's" website. Lester's article linked below is better.

Davis: And with the third pick, the Bears select UNC QB Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Sun-Times - Now that the Super Bowl is over, it's time to start thinking about the draft. Here's this year's first mock draft.

CSN Chicago's 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Version 1.0 - CSN Chicago - Check out CSN's 2017 NFL Mock Draft version 1.0 and see why the Bears should go with a defensive player not named Jonathan Allen at No. 3.

2017 NFL draft: Fresh look at the top 50 prospects - Chicago Tribune - Which players will get that invite to the 2017 NFL draft in Philadelphia? Plenty of those among my Top 50 will get that coveted invitation to Philadelphia, so let's take a look at my Big Board heading into the combine at the end of the month.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Shook: Cleveland Browns release veteran QB Josh McCown - NFL.com - It was filled with plenty of bumps, bruises and blowout losses, but Josh McCown's time in Cleveland has come to an end. The Browns have released McCown and cornerback Tramon Williams.

Thompson: Sportscaster Mike Adamle shares health struggles in TV interview - Chicago Tribune - Sportscaster Mike Adamle has post-traumatic epilepsy, the result of years playing football, dementia and the symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephelopathy.

Bernstein: Those Were Catches - CBS Chicago - Super Bowl LI featured two memorable catches late in the game.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Thompson: Rick Spielman loves collecting draft picks - Daily Norseman - You already knew that, but now there’s a nifty chart to prove it.

Burke: Packers cut Sam Shields, according to the cornerback’s Instagram - Acme Packing Company - We have breaking news right from the source, as the Packers corner posted that he has been released today.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Is there value in adding players from winning organizations? - Windy City Gridiron - In the latest episode of Lester’s T Formation Conversation podcast, he looks at some players that the Chicago Bears could pry away form the team that won 2 of the least 3 Super Bowls, the New England Patriots.

Sunderbruch: Why Chicago’s Quarterbacks Struggled in 2016 - Windy City Gridiron - Barkley, Cutler, Hoyer, and even Fales were all victims of something worse than an injury-laden receiving corps.

Zeglinski: Self-awareness at a premium for George McCaskey and the Bears - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears chairman and family mean well, but can’t look in the mirror.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears 2017 Roster Turnover: Will Jonathan Bullard solidify the d-line? - 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...

Wiltfong: Todd McShay mocks the Chicago Bears Jonathan Allen - Windy City Gridiron - We take a peek at the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Todd McShay, to see how he has the Chicago Bears drafting.

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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