The Bear’s Den, July 12, 2017

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

BEARRRSSSS

Biggs: Throwback to fullback in Bears offense? Could be up to Michael Burton - Chicago Tribune - Michael Burton enjoyed a productive rookie season for the Lions in 2015 before the position was phased out of the offense in Detroit midway through last season.

Bears Talk Podcast: What has to happen for Bears to escape cellar? - CSN Chicago - In Episode 55 of our BearsTalk Podcast, Chris Boden and JJ Stankevitz break down ways in which the Bears can escape last place. They also discuss the contract numbers for Mitch Trubisky and check in on the Packers offseason. Later, they go "Off the Grid" with some quick entertainment suggestions. Listen to the Bears Talk Podcast below:

Boden: 3 burning questions for the linebackers - CSN Chicago - With training camp starting, Chris Boden examines the top three questions facing the linebacking corps in 2017.

Kwiecinski: What are the Bears’ chances of making the playoffs? - Bears Wire - If you expect the Chicago Bears to improve in 2017, there’s a good chance you could be correct. They’re coming off the worst season in franchise history.

PFT preseason power rankings No. 30: Chicago Bears - ProFootballTalk - Quarterback is such an important position in the NFL that it's almost impossible to overpay for a good one. But the biggest question facing the Bears heading into the 2017 season is whether they overpaid for two bad ones.

2017 Chicago Bears training camp preview: Running Backs - Pro Football Weekly - Spotlight is on Pro Bowl RB Jordan Howard to lead Bears offense

Banks: Dick Butkus Doesn't know "what the hell" Keeps the Chicago Bears Down - The Sports Report - Dick Butkus on his former team the Chicago Bears: "it really burns me that they’re not competitive. I don’t know what the hell it is."

Kading: Is Vic Fangio the next great NFL Head Coach? - Cover32 - Throughout the offseason, rumors have been swirling about the job security of Bears head coach John Fox. Apparently he is on the hot seat if the Bears don’t turn things around this year. While I do not believe this to be true in the slightest, it is interesting to hypothesize about.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Alper: Dan Mullen says “Hard to say” teams missed on Dak Prescott - ProFootballTalk - Before Dak Prescott made his regular season debut with the Cowboys last year, his Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen appeared on PFT Live and said he was "shocked" Prescott lasted until the fourth round because Prescott "was a winner" in college.

KNOW THY ENEMY

PFW Podcast 052: Breaking down Vikings and Lions offseasons - Pro Football Weekly - Back from holiday break, our latest podcast features the Pioneer Press' Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) and Nate Atkins of M Live (@NateAtkins_) analyzing the offseasons of Vikings and Lions, respectively. Tomasson and host Arthur Arkush discuss the

Florio: Did the Lions successfully bluff Calvin Johnson? - ProFootballTalk - Of all the intriguing things said to the Italian press by former Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, this quote intrigues me the most: "They told me they would not release my contract, so I would have to come back to them.

Reisman: Calvin Johnson slams Lions - ‘I didn’t see a chance for them to win a Super Bowl’ - Pride Of Detroit - Calvin Johnson retired, and part of it had to do with not thinking the Lions were competitive enough.

WLudford: Vikings Offense Poised For A Breakout Year? - Daily Norseman - We’ve been in this place before. New talent acquired on offense. Some promise from returning veterans. New and/or updated scheme. And yet, despite all that, the offense continues to struggle...

Packers 2017 53-Man Roster Predictions: Williams and Jones back up Montgomery at RB - Acme Packing Company - APC expects the Packers to keep four backs on the roster, with two rookies for depth behind the starter.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Curl: 10 thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Offseason narratives, player salaries, and timid game-calling highlight this week’s musings on the NF League.

Zeglinski: WCG Radio, Episode 5 - Bears Post-Ditka roster 2017 - Windy City Gridiron - The second edition of the Post-Ditka Bears roster is finally complete as the guys reveal the results and break it down in full.

Jordan Howard will be the best thing about the Bears in 2017 - Windy City Gridiron via SBNation.com - Chicago has a stud tailback who will be the target of each opposing team’s defense this fall.

WIltfong's 10 Most Important Bears of 2017: #7 Will the offensive tackles hold up? - Windy City Gridiron - For the 9th straight year, I'm bringing you who I believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season. At #7, the offensive tackles.

Zeglinski: Rugby-styled tackling could do the trick for Leonard Floyd and the Bears - Windy City Gridiron - A transition in tackling technique and form would benefit the Bears and most importantly moving forward, Leonard Floyd.

Infante: Determining the Bears’ best draft pick from each of the past 10 years - Windy City Gridiron - Although the Bears haven’t had the best of luck with their drafting in the 21st century, they’ve still made a few solid selections.

Infante: Determining the Bears’ best draft pick from each of the past 10 years - Windy City Gridiron - Although the Bears haven’t had the best of luck with their drafting in the 21st century, they’ve still made a few solid selections.

FANPOSTS

RCanBears: Just my thoughts - Windy City Gridiron - First I loved the draft. Secondly I don't think Pace lost it as to how this will play out.

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's a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments, FanPosts, usernames or anywhere else in an SB Nation community: Comments, FanPosts or usernames that are intolerant or prejudiced; racial or other offensive epithets; Personal attacks or threats on community members; Gendered insults of any kind; Trolling; Click link for full information.

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:

WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Andrew Link; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.