The Bear's Den: March 22, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

Gagnon: Looking back at the historically bad 2013 NFL Draft class, four years later - TheComeback.com - With the opening of 2017 NFL free agency, several players who were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft have finished their rookie contracts. Who's done well? (Hint: Kyle Long)

Mayer: Braunecker leads Bears' NCAA pool - ChicagoBears.com - Heading into the Sweet 16 in the NCAA basketball tournament, tight end Ben Braunecker leads a pool of 16 current Bears players with 54 points.

Mayer: Rashied Davis hosting charity benefit - ChicagoBears.com - Former Bears receiver Rashied Davis is hosting a fundraiser to benefit his charity, Saturday Place, at Kings Bowl Lincoln Park at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30.

Mayer: Bears announce key offseason dates - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Tuesday announced a list of important offseason dates, including the start of their offseason program (April 18) and their rookie minicamp (May 12-14).

Cox: Bears hosting visit with free agent running back Benny Cunningham - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears held a visit with free agent running back Benny Cunningham, who also offers a lot of special teams value.

Finley: Bears to re-sign receiver/returner Deonte Thompson - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears are re-signing receiver and kick returner Deonte Thompson, sources confirmed Tuesday.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Reisman: NFL competition committee to propose hiring full-time refs in 2017 - Pride Of Detroit - NFL owners will have the opportunity to discuss hiring full-time officials at next week’s owners meetings.

Trahan: Pat McAfee discusses Edgerrin James' 'adult ballet' on The Dan Patrick Show - TheComeback.com - McAfee also called James's new club an adult ballet, so in a way, it's also an example of James supporting the arts, if you think about it.

Florio: Nick Folk won’t be sharing too many secrets with Roberto Aguayo - ProFootballTalk - The Buccaneers have added kicker Nick Folk as, at a minimum, competition for Roberto Aguayo. At most, Folk will be the team's new kicker. Folk is hoping for the "at most," even though he understands that, until the Buccaneers pick one guy or the other, Folk and Aguayo are competing...

DeSalva: The 10 biggest spenders of 2017 NFL free agency - FOX Sports - These teams have spent more than $1 billion combined on outside free agents.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

Cox: Kyle Long is a fan of Stanford’s Solomon Thomas - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long took to Twitter to give his opinion on one of his favorite NFL draft prospects, Solomont Thomas from Stanford.

Western's 2017 NFL Draft Profiles: Adam Shaheen is a talented receiver in a blocking tight end’s body - Acme Packing Company - The small-school prospect might be built like a blocker, but it is his receiving ability that should get his name called fairly early on in April’s draft.

Mike Mayock's 2017 NFL Draft position rankings 2.0 - NFL.com - There's a new No. 1 at running back, safety and cornerback, as well as movement all over the board, in Mike Mayock's latest positional rankings.

Goodbread: What we learned Tuesday, Trubisky helps himself at pro day - NFL.com
Former UNC QB Mitchell Trubisky helped himself at the Tar Heels' pro day workout Tuesday, with at least two general managers in attendance, including the San Francisco 49ers' John Lynch.

Orr: Shaquill Griffin stuck by his twin, now NFL teams are catching up - NFL.com - A promise took Shaquill Griffin to UCF -- and now NFL teams are discovering his potential. Griffin talks to Conor Orr about the priorities that shaped him and the whirlwind life of a hidden gem.

2017 NFL Draft: Ranking Chicago Bears' Top Needs After Free Agency - FOX Sports - After a busy-but-underwhelming free agency period, the Chicago Bears still have somesignificant needs to fill when the 2017 NFL Draft rolls around in late April.The Chicago Bears went into this offseason with some serious ground to gain. However, after spending loads of money via free agency, they...

2017 NFL Draft Profile: North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky - CSN Chicago - Get to know North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with our latest NFL Draft Profile.

2017 NFL Draft Profile: Michigan OLB Taco Charlton - CSN Chicago - Get to know Michigan outside linebacker Taco Charlton with our latest NFL Draft Profile.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Wludford: How Latavius Murray Fits the Vikings Offense - Daily Norseman-The Vikings acquisition of the Latavius Murray, while certainly not a blockbuster deal, could help the Vikings offense in a number of ways beyond Murray’s own production. Over at 1500ESPN they did...

Hirschhorn's Packers mock draft: Could Green Bay go running back in first round? - Acme Packing Company-Christian McCaffrey could entice the Packers at pick No. 29 if available, at least according to the latest SB Nation mock draft.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears sign Benny Cunningham - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears have added another veteran free agent.

Zeglinski: Gale Sayers, another tragedy and not the last - Windy City Gridiron-The Bears Hall of Famer has dementia. Sayers’ career and new battle are just another symbol of the tragic football condition.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron-Check out my latest Thoughts on the NFL, and be sure to leave a few thoughts of your own in the comment section!

Householder: Time for Ryan Pace to put up and shut up - Windy City Gridiron-Bears GM keeps talking, showing little

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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