The Bear’s Den: March 2, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

Campbell: Bears wait for Alshon Jeffery to test free agency; Jay Cutler situation 'fluid' - Chicago Tribune - With only eight days remaining before business opens on the NFL’s new league year, Bears general manager Ryan Pace met with reporters.

Wiederer: With Alshon Jeffery entering free agency, Bears see options if he leaves - Chicago Tribune - The Bears are hopeful they can be active in negotiations with free-agent wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. But only if it's at a price they deem reasonable.

Haugh: Is Ryan Pace willing to trade down for QB or bluffing? Are his lips moving? - Chicago Tribune - Ryan Pace sounded amenable to trading down from the No. 3 spot and accumulating picks to position the Bears more strategically to select a quarterback.

Biggs: If Bears hope to turn the corner, they must prioritize secondary - Chicago Tribune - Do the Bears need cornerbacks? They set an NFL record for futility in a 16-game season with only 11 takeaways in 2016, one fewer than the 2006 Redskins.

Campbell: Four things we learned from Ryan Pace, John Fox at NFL scouting combine - Chicago Tribune - Bears officials offered protected responses to questions about Jay Cutler's status, the team's quarterback situation at large and other issues.

Perez: Should the Bears consider signing Johnny Manziel? - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears need a QB, and Johnny Manziel is making a comeback. Are they a match?

Emma: Bears Plan To Be Cautious, Composed In Free Agency - CBS Chicago - Bears general manager Ryan Pace knows well the inherent risk that comes with free agency.

Mullin: Scenarios where Jay Cutler returns to Bears still in play 'That's one of the options' - CSN Chicago - While the Bears are actively shopping quarterback Jay Cutler, GM Ryan Pace says bringing back the signal caller is an option, too.

Stankevitz: For Bears, interior OL a good strength to build on for 2017 - CSN Chicago - Teams that go 3-13 usually don't promote their strengths, but the Bears feel they have one inside their offensive line.

Mayer: Three Bears share Combine memories - ChicagoBears.com - With the NFL Combine taking place in Indianapolis this week, we asked 2016 Bears draft picks Jordan Howard, Cody Whitehair and Deiondre' Hall about attending last year's event.

Perez: Ryan Pace prioritizing value over need at No. 3 pick - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears won't reach for a QB in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Bears Talk Podcast: Breaking down 2017 NFL Combine - CSN Chicago - On this Bears Talk Podcast, the panel breaks down the 2017 NFL Combine.

Emma: Bears Guard Kyle Long Won’t Require Shoulder Surgery - CBS Chicago - Long is mending shoulder and ankle injuries this offseason.

Biggs: One Bears QB option vanishes if Patriots don’t trade Jimmy Garoppolo - Chicago Tribune - One of the Bears' potential quarterback options for 2017 appeared to have been eliminated as the Patriots are not expected to trade Jimmy Garoppolo.

Yoder: Jay Cutler's legacy with the Bears - Chicago Tribune - Jay Cutler's mixed-up Bears legacy

Mullin: A year after using franchise tag, Bears preparing for post-Alshon Jeffery scenarios - CSN Chicago - Without actually saying it, Bears GM Ryan Pace made it clear that the team is prepping for life without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Jahns: Five ways the Bears could replace Jay Cutler - Chicago Sun-Times - Fluid is the Bears’ buzzword. It’s how general manager Ryan Pace characterized Jay Cutler’s situation.

Kwiecinski: Bears emerge as suitor for free-agent QB Mike Glennon - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have Tampa Bay free agent Mike Glennon on their free-agent radar.

Jahns: Bears' QB situation is fluid, but GM Ryan Pace likes his options - Chicago Sun-Times - Cutler's future with the Bears after eight seasons with them is in doubt.

Perez: Bears are building for long-term success, not quick fixes - Bears Wire - Bears GM Ryan Pace met with the media at the 2017 Scouting Combine and said the team is building for long-term success, not quick fixes.

Morrissey: Pats won't trade Garoppolo? Bears hope it's one lie among many - Chicago Sun-Times - He might be their best route.

Finley: Five ways the Bears could replace Alshon Jeffery - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears and Alshon Jeffery disagree on the wide receiver’s value. They’ll let the league’s other 31 teams decide.

Jahns: John Fox has good things to say about final coaching staff moves - Chicago Sun-Times - John Fox makes first comments on new staff members.

Biggs: Bears shouldn't be out of market for Alshon Jeffery, but price could soar - Chicago Tribune - Bears have the money to pay wide receiver Alshon Jeffery market value, but his value is unclear given two subpar seasons.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

Imrem: Patriots might save Garoppolo from football purgatory - Daily Herald - New England Patriots might save Jimmy Garoppolo from Chicago Bears' quarterback purgatory.

TAKING A LOOK AT BEARS HISTORY WITH HONEYBEAR HOUSEHOLDER

This offseason I will be linking the outstanding series that Honeybear Householder put together a few years ago so that those of you who missed out on it the first time can enjoy it and learn more about the storied history of your Chicago Bears!

Honeybear Householder: Taking a Look in the Bears History Book: Willie Galimore - Windy City Gridiron - The newest edition of Taking a Look in the Bears History Book. After a long hiatus, the series is back and looking at a historic player whose life was tragically lost before his time.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Gantt: John Fox admits he never scouted Jimmy Clausen before drafting him - ProFootballTalk - The Bears are going to be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. This time, coach John Fox will probably see the guy they end up going with. While discussing their looming search for their next starting quarterback Wednesday, Fox admitted he may have been caught a little off-guard the la...

Jackson: Rams switching to white-horned helmets, having fans vote on facemask color - ProFootballTalk - The Rams announced Wednesday that they're going to white-horned helmets to honor the team's past, and they announced a fan vote to determine the facemask color. Fans can choose between a blue facemask and a white facemask by voting via the team's Twitter account.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Packers Rookie Review: 2016 class looks for big step forward in year two - Acme Packing Company - We look to see which members of last year’s Packers rookie class need a big improvement in their second NFL seasons.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Watch Chicago Bears’ Roy Robertson-Harris getting ready for the 2017 season - Windy City Gridiron - Check out the offseason work being put in by Chicago Bears outside linebacker Roy Robertson-Harris.

Wiltfong: Ryan Pace and John Fox meet the media - Windy City Gridiron - Chicago Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox met the media today, check out the nuts and bolts of what was said.

Wiltfong: NFL Combine 2017, Chicago Bears preview - Windy City Gridiron - Lester previews the 2017 NFL Combine, from a Chicago Bears perspective, in his latest T Formation Conversation Podcast.

Zeglinski: The Bears must be wary in being misguided by Scouting Combine tropes - Windy City Gridiron - A crucial but overanalyzed weekend is on the horizon for the NFL. For the Bears, its best not to get too caught up in the hoopla of non-game action.

Sunderbruch: Four Moves Ryan Pace Should Consider - Windy City Gridiron - Ryan Pace has taken a very steady approach to rebuilding the Bears. It’s time for him to get more aggressive.

Zeglinski: The Bears must be wary in being misguided by Scouting Combine tropes - Windy City Gridiron - A crucial but overanalyzed weekend is on the horizon for the NFL. For the Bears, its best not to get too caught up in the hoopla of non-game action.

FANPOSTS

PowerTool: Poll - Kaepernick as an Option - Windy City Gridiron - Colin Kaepernick, the veteran QB of the San Francisco 49ers has let teams know that he plans to opt out of his contract this Thursday. This means he will be available as an unrestricted free...

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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