The Bear’s Den: January 31, 2018

Ken’s Note: Windy City Gridiron Draft Guru & contributor EJ Snyder has asked me to post the following message. Please keep EJ & his family in your thoughts.

EJ Snyder: I have some unfortunate news. We’ve had a family health situation crop up fairly rapidly over the last three weeks. I was hoping that we’d be able to find some resolution that would allow me to cover the NFL Draft as I have in past years. However, given how much attention this situation requires I will have to withdraw from covering the draft for now.

I will continue to post some bits on Twitter when/if I have spare time, but I can’t guarantee when or how often that will happen. I’ll probably pop up on a podcast or two if time allows as well. WCG is graciously open to my return when the situation resolves itself, so at some point when this all settles down, I’ll be back.

You (my fellow denizens of WCG) are the reason I started writing about the draft in the first place. I love the entire process and I’ll miss it, and all of you, until this is resolved. In the meantime, you are in excellent hands with Jacob, Andrew, Robert and the rest of the WCG team pitching quality draft-based content your way on a regular basis.

Cheers,

EJ

---

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

BEARRRSSSS / DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Ortman: Bears Poised to be Big Time Players in Free Agency - Da Bears Brothers - For the first time in a long while, Chicago is an appealing destination for free agents. That will lead to Ryan Pace hauling in some caliber players.

Talarico: Allen Robinson vs. Jarvis Landry - What's the Best Option? - Da Bears Brothers - If both receivers are available when free agency opens, who would be the best fit in Chicago?

From Feb. 20 to July 25: Key offseason dates for the Bears - Chicago Tribune - Here’s a rundown of meaningful dates and deadlines that make up the Bears’ 2018 offseason calendar.

Biggs: Chiefs QB Alex Smith raves about what Matt Nagy will do for Bears, Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Tribune - Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith believes new Bears coach Matt Nagy will work wonders for Mitch Trubisky after Nagy helped elevate Smith's career in Kansas City.

Cahill: Bears' Adrian Amos recognized as best free safety in NFL - Chicago Sun-Times - If you asked Bears fans to name the best players on the team, some might get a handful deep before the name Adrian Amos came up. Ken's Note: We had this yesterday, but now the S-T has it so... here it is again.

Mullin: Tom Brady, Bears' Mitch Trubisky and other musings amid Super Bowl Week - NBC Sports Chicago - Here's what Tom Brady's success can tell us about whats' most important to Mitch Trubisky's growth. That and more from Super Bowl week.

Duber: Brian Urlacher - Hall of Fame or not, 'it doesn't change what I did on the football field' - NBC Sports Chicago - Brian Urlacher's trying not to think about the Hall of Fame just yet, telling longtime teammate Lance Briggs that making the Hall "doesn't change what I did on the football field."

Mayer's Chalk Talk: Can Trubisky top 3,000 yards next year? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses the likelihood of Mitchell Trubisky passing for 3,000 yards next season, Bears players who give the best interviews and touchdowns Brian Urlacher scored during his career.

Mayer: Ex-teammates see Urlacher as Hall of Famer - ChicagoBears.com - Some of Brian Urlacher’s long-time teammates are convinced that the former star middle linebacker deserves to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

NFL Draft: Bears upgrade secondary in latest NFL.com mock draft - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears tap into Ohio State's secondary in NFL.com's latest NFL Mock Draft

Perez; 4 keys to a successful offseason for the Chicago Bears - Bears Wire - A look at 4 keys to a successful offseason for the Chicago Bears

Smith: Belichick looks to tie Halas, Lambeau with six NFL championships – ProFootballTalk - Patriots coach Bill Belichick is already the only head coach in NFL history to win five Super Bowls. But on Sunday he can also tie the record for total NFL championships, a record that hasn't been equaled since before the Super Bowl was a thing.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Biggs: New start with Eagles has former Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery happier than ever - Chicago Tribune - Opening Night for Super Bowl LII was a surreal experience for Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. He took time to reflect on five seasons with the Bears but he's never seemed happier than with the Eagles, one win away from a championship.

Silver: The Other Long - Chris Long savoring career resurgence after mulling retirement - NFL.com - After getting released by the Rams following the 2015 season, Chris Long pondered retirement. Now, as Michael Silver chronicles, the Eagles DE has a chance to win his second Super Bowl in as many years.

Knoblach: Alex Smith intrigued by Browns? 1-31 'sounds amazing' - NFL.com - Alex Smith's future with or without the Kansas City Chiefs is quickly metamorphosing into one of the biggest storylines of the offseason, and it looks like he's having some fun with all the crazy possibilities out there.

Campbell: Alshon Jeffery's path to Super Bowl aided by Chicago physical therapist - Chicago Tribune - Receiver Alshon Jeffery has helped the Eagles to the Super Bowl — and earned the long-term contract he coveted — with the help of Chicago physical therapist David Reavy.

Thorman: Chiefs’ Alex Smith traded to Washington Redskins - Arrowhead Pride - The trade rumors were real. Alex Smith is being traded to the Redskins for a third round pick and CB Kendall Fuller, according to reports.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Dougherty: Packers need Clay Matthews playing inside linebacker - Packers News - We’ll learn something about the Green Bay Packers’ new regime by what happens with Clay Matthews this offseason.

Gates: If the Vikings try to toll Teddy Bridgewater’s contract, things could get ugly - Daily Norseman - The NFLPA would likely have an issue with that

Reisman: Did Dean Pees turn down an offer to become the next Detroit Lions defensive coordinator? - Pride Of Detroit - It looks like the Lions missed out on their man.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zeglinski: Peaks & valleys, Mitch Trubisky's rookie year, by start reactions - Windy City Gridiron - There are many ways of evaluating young quarterbacks. Let’s go early start by early start for the Bears' prodigy.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Give our pre-Super Bowl thoughts a peek and be sure to share a few thoughts of your own in our comment section.

Zeglinski: Bears' draft will once again be defined by quarterbacks - Windy City Gridiron - Last off-season, Ryan Pace was dead set on finding his franchise quarterback. This year, the Bears's focus is different, but the effect of quarterback value is all the same.

Wiltfong: What is your go to Super Bowl food? - Windy City Gridiron - We not only want to know what your favorite Super Bowl food is, but we want your recipes!

PowerTool: How Cleveland Could Fleece The Draft - Windy City Gridiron - The Browns have a new GM in John Dorsey. There is no predicting what exactly he could do in the near future for that franchise. Obviously, with 7 top 100 picks in the draft, he and the staff have a...

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - Robert Zeglinski

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.

The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes, and any posts that do this will be deleted and the poster will be admonished. We do not allow comments posted where the apparent attempt is to cause confrontation in the community. We do not allow gender-directed humor or sexual assault jokes. The staff of WCG are the sole arbiters of what constitutes “apparent attempt to cause confrontation”. We do not allow the “calling out” of other members in any way, shape or form. Posts that do this will be deleted on sight. Bottom line, it’s fine to debate about football, but personal jabs and insults are strictly prohibited. Additionally, if you keep beating the same dead horse over and over and fail to heed a moderator’s warning to stop, you will be banned.

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:

WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; 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.