The Bears Den: March 7, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

Finley's Podcast: Where will the Bears turn after the Combine? - Chicago Sun-Times - From the NFL Scouting Combine, the Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley is joined by special guest Bob LeGere to debate what the Bears do next:

Finley: Bears bringing back Josh Bellamy, Daniel Brown, Bryce Callahan | Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears are bringing back three contributors from last season.

Jahns: Is the price right? Bears have strict approach to free agency - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears want to stick to the financial parameters they’ve established for free agency.

Wiederer: Bears GM Ryan Pace on free agency: 'You're stepping through land mines' - Chicago Tribune - The Bears will enter free agency with plenty of spending money. With the salary cap ballooning to $167 million, the Bears will have close to $55 million in cap space.

LeGere: Chicago Bears don't have to look for for D-line help - Daily Herald - The Bears don't have to use the third overall pick in the draft on Alabama stud Jonathan Allen, as many analysts are predicting, to upgrade their defensive line. They could wait a bit and draft Montini's Jaleel Johnson or Marmion Academy's Ryan Glasgow.

Emma: Bears Re-Sign Daniel Brown, Tender Exclusive Rights To Josh Bellamy, Bryce Callahan - CBS Chicago - Brown earned his way back after emerging late last season.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

Finley: Could Bears make history by jumping for a safety prospect? - Chicago Sun-Times - Jabrill Peppers’ T-shirt said "LB" on the front.

Jahns: Deep, talented TE draft class only helps retooling Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock described the tight-end class as the best he’s seen in years.

Finley: Free agency focus, analyzing the Bears' defense, options - Chicago Sun-Times - Vic Fangio is still here. So are most of his position coaches. Now he just needs more talent.

Emma: Jonathan Allen Could Be A Force For Bears Defense - CBS Chicago - While the Bears have greater needs, adding Jonathan Allen would bolster their budding defense.

SportsTalk Live: Is Mike Glennon a good fit for the Bears? - CSN Chicago - The SportsTalk Live panelists say if they would want to see Mike Glennon in a Bears uniform next season.

Emma: Patrick Mahomes Deserves Bears’ Consideration - CBS Chicago - Forget the system from which he hails and just watch...

Report: Potential Bears target QB Mike Glennon expected to land contract in range of $14-15 million per season - CSN Chicago - According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo, quarterback Mike Glennon is expected to receive a contract in the $14-15 million per season range.

Report: Bears want Brian Hoyer back - CSN Chicago - According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the Bears have made it known to quarterback Brian Hoyer that they want him to return to the team for the 2017 season. Ken's Note: It's La Canfora who (to put it nicely) struggles with his accuracy, so take this with a grain of salt.

Mullin: Bears on outside looking in on trade talks involving No. 1 QB target Kirk Cousins - CSN Chicago - The Bears may be close to being shut out of their No. 1 quarterback target this offseason: Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Stankevitz: Jamal Adams argues why safeties deserve a top pick, could Bears think the same way too? - CSN Chicago - LSU's Jamal Adams explained on Sunday at the NFL Combine why safeties should have top-pick value.

Mullin: Bears playing a bit of QB brinkmanship as free agency approaches - CSN Chicago - With the Bears' quarterback direction unclear, Ryan Pace & Co. are playing a bit of brinkmanship as free agency approaches.

Stapleton: T.J. Watt wants to follow in his famous brothers' footsteps - Daily Herald - Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt is about to join brothers J.J. and Derek in the NFL

Emma: Jamal Adams Could End Bears’ Decade Of Struggles At Safety - CBS Chicago - Safeties don't often go in the top five, but Adams is a highly regarded talent.

Rosenthal: Free agency - Bears, Browns primed to spend big - NFL.com - Will the Bears pay up for Mike Glennon? Might the Titans go for broke for Alshon Jeffery? Gregg Rosenthal sorts through likely big spenders to predict which team will drop the most dough in free agency.

Biggs: To solve QB quandary, Bears might need to double up on first-round picks - Chicago Tribune - The Bears should consider trading up from the No. 36 pick in the second round for a late first-rounder to use on a quarterback.

Haugh: Top QB prospects get only 1 chance to make 1st impression at NFL combine - Chicago Tribune - Unless the Bears trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, GM Ryan Pace cannot say he's serious about developing a quarterback without drafting one with either of the team's first two picks.

Maske: Winners and losers at the NFL scouting combine - Chicago Tribune - Just about all the key front-office decision-makers and coaches from every NFL team were in Indianapolis to assess draft-eligible college players at the

Wiederer: Alabama's Jonathan Allen, possible Bears draft target, is wired for competition - Chicago Tribune - Jonathan Allen is certainly aware of the mock drafts linking him to the Bears with the No. 3 pick. But Allen insists he won't dabble in speculation.

Campbell: Josh Dobbs, Brad Kaaya among potential developmental QB options for Bears - Chicago Tribune - Regardless of whether the Bears sign a free-agent quarterback, it would be surprising if GM Ryan Pace goes a third consecutive draft without selecting one.

Rosenbloom: There's a smarter way for the Bears to spend that rumored Mike Glennon money - Chicago Tribune - For $14 million a year, shouldn’t the Bears get a quarterback with a better rating than Jay Cutler or Brian Hoyer?

Biggs: 10 thoughts from the NFL scouting combine - Chicago Tribune - 10 thoughts following five days at the NFL scouting combine.

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: Tom Thayer - Windy City Gridiron - This weeks Taking a Look in the Bears History Book focuses on Tom Thayer - former '85 Bear and current Bears commentator.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Noonan: Packers Free Agency, when to sign an old man, and why teams should ignore Darrelle Revis - Acme Packing Company - The Packers have hit on gold when signing some 30-something free agents in the past, but they tend to look for versatile skill sets, something one member of this year’s class does not have.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Is Mike Glennon a good fit with the Chicago Bears? - Windy City Gridiron - ESPN Insider, Matt Bowen, believes that free agent quarterback Mike Glennon may be a good fit with the Chicago Bears.

Zeglinski: Bears re-sign Daniel Brown, tender exclusive rights to Bryce Callahan and Josh Bellamy - Windy City Gridiron - The eve of free agency saw the Bears secure some of their own in Brown, Callahan, and Bellamy.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears Free Agency Rumors: The latest on Brian Hoyer, Eddie Royal and Alshon Jeffery - Windy City Gridiron - Check out all the latest free agency rumors about the Chicago Bears.

Zeglinski: Bears window shopping 2017: (O’) Doyle rules! The Colts weapon leads the tight ends - Windy City Gridiron - Zach Miller’s in his early 30’s. The Bears have no reliable options behind him. "Window Shopping" takes a look at free agent tight end options lead by Jack Doyle.

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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