The Bear’s Den, February 27, 2018

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

BEARRRSSSS / DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Finley: RB Jordan Howard on Bears - 'I guarantee we get to the playoffs' - Chicago Sun-Times - Jordan Howard thinks the Bears are going to the playoffs. He promised as much on Monday's "Good Morning Football" on the NFL Network.

Jahns: Bears will benefit in the draft if other teams find their own 'Mitch Trubisky' - Chicago Sun-Times - A run on quarterbacks in the draft undoubtedly will benefit the Bears, who hold the eighth overall selection.

Finley: Bears release OLB Pernell McPhee and S Quintin Demps - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears released outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps on Monday.

Thompson: Mitch Trubisky tapes episode of 'Celebrity Family Feud' - Chicago Tribune - Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky taped an episode of "Family Feud" featuring NFL rookies against veterans.

Wiederer & Campbell: Bears have a demanding to-do list as NFL offseason activity picks up - Chicago Tribune - The Bears' offseason activity is about to pick up with the NFL combine starting this week followed by free agency and the draft. So just what are the priorities for GM Ryan Pace and new coach Matt Nagy? And how can the Bears position themselves to accelerate their turnaround?

Biggs: Pernell McPhee feels 'disappointment in myself' after Bears release linebacker and Quintin Demps - Chicago Tribune - Roster reshaping is an ongoing process for GM Ryan Pace and the Bears now have more than $60 million in projected salary cap space that likely will swell to more than $70 million as busy free-agent period begins March 14.

White: Chicago Bears continue roster purge by releasing McPhee, Demps - Daily Herald - In a cost-cutting move that was expected, the Chicago Bears released linebacker Pernell McPhee and defensive back Quintin Demps on Monday.

Tidwell: Why Chicago Should Bring in a Couple 'Cancers' - Da Bears Brothers - Many will steer clear of a player who's been labeled a locker room "cancer," but DeVante Tidwell argues the Chicago Bears need a few of those players.

Stankevitz: Bears get younger, net more cap savings in releasing Pernell McPhee and Quintin Demps - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears continued shedding high-priced veterans by releasing Pernell McPhee and Quintin Demps on Monday.

Gabriel: 2018 NFL Draft Combine Primer - CBS Chicago - Medicals are vital at the NFL Combine, and the stop watch can be too. Just don't buy too much into the hype.

Chicago Bears Salary Cap Calculator - Over The Cap - Become the fantasy general manager for the Chicago Bears using the OTC salary cap calculator and roster management system

"Caponomics" at the NFL Combine - Over the Cap - "Caponomics" at the NFL Combine - Over the Cap

LeGere: Chicago Bears positional analysis: Safeties - Pro Football Weekly - Bears enter 2018 feeling better about S corps than they have in years

LeGere: Chicago Bears positional analysis: Safeties - Pro Football Weekly - Bears enter 2018 feeling better about S corps than they have in years

LeGere: Chicago Bears continue offseason roster purge by releasing Pernell McPhee, Quintin Demps - Pro Football Weekly - The Bears cleared more space under the salary cap Monday by releasing a pair of veteran defenders, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps.

Bears release linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps - WGN-TV - As Ryan Pace enters his fourth free agency period with the Bears, he's saying goodbye to two of the players he signed in the past. On Tuesday the Bears announced that linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps have been released.

Perez: A guide to watching the 2018 NFL Combine - Bears Wire - A guide for how to watch and understand the 2018 NFL Combine

Cox: Jarvis Landry - Playmaker or product of scheme? - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have been linked to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry, but is he worth the potential investment?

Mayer: Bears release veterans McPhee, Demps - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Monday released outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps.

Gandia: Tremaine Edmunds or Quenton Nelson? – Bears Barroom - If Edmunds and Nelson fell to No. 8, who are you taking?

Dickerson: Chicago Bears release linebacker Pernell McPhee, safety Quintin Demps - ESPN - The Bears released linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps on Monday.

Patra: Jordan Howard guarantees Bears will make playoffs - NFL.com - Running back Jordan Howard joined NFL Network's Good Morning Football on Monday and promised the Bears will make the playoffs, something that hasn't happened in Chicago since Howard was in high school.

Alper: Jordan Howard guarantees the Bears are going to the playoffs – ProFootballTalk - Former Bears head coach John Fox said he believes Chicago is closer to contention than people might think after going 19-45 over the last four seasons and at least one of his former players agrees with him.

Florio: Salary cap is expected to be at least $178 million, could exceed $179 million – ProFootballTalk - With the new league year approaching, the NFL and NFL Players Association soon will be finalizing the salary cap number for 2018. In December, the NFL projected a range of $174.2 million to $178.1 million for the cap.

Smith: Danny Woodhead, Jeremy Maclin among potential Ravens cuts – ProFootballTalk - The Ravens are near the bottom of the league in available salary cap space heading into 2018, so don't be surprised if a couple of well-known veterans are cut and replaced by cheaper alternatives.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Top 101 NFL free agents of 2018: Kirk Cousins tops the board - NFL.com - NFL free agency begins on March 14. Who'll be available for the plucking? Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling have combined their personal rankings to formulate NFL.com's Top 101 Free Agents of 2018.

Florio: With Bortles signed, is Allen Robinson next? – ProFootballTalk - The Jaguars opted to ride with Blake Bortles due in large part to their desire to have cash and cap space available for other players who eventually will need to be paid. Most immediately, receiver Allen Robinson needs to be paid.

Florio: Will free-agent quarterbacks fall victim to collusion? – ProFootballTalk - For the first time since the NFL launched a system of free agency that relies heavily on a salary cap, a healthy complement of veteran quarterbacks soon will hit the open market.

Maske: NFL plans to fine Cowboys owner Jerry Jones more than $2 million - Chicago Tribune - The NFL plans to seek payment of more than $2 million from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for his actions last year related to Commissioner Roger Goodell's contract extension and the suspension of running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Fitzgerald: Thoughts on Blake Bortles New Contract with the Jaguars - Over the Cap - Blake Bortles signed a new 3 year, $54 million contract, $26.5 million of which is guaranteed, which of course had many questioning what the Jaguars were thinking. Bortles career has largely been disappointing though he did play better down the stretch this season. Already the deal is being lumped in with the Brock Osweiler and Mike Glennon mistakes and while its fair to jump to that conclusion the circumstances are really very different.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Bukowski: Relax, the Packers don’t need to throw resources at the tight end position - Acme Packing Company - Fans are clamoring for big upgrades in the offseason, but does Green Bay really need to invest heavily in the position?

2018 Combine preview: 10 linebackers looking to raise their draft stock in Indy - Pride Of Detroit - A look at some of the most notable linebackers who will compete at the NFL Combine.

2018 free agent profile: Will the Lions shell out the money for G Andrew Norwell? - Pride Of Detroit - Breaking down the pros and cons of pursuing one of the best offensive linemen on the market.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiederer: Click here! Click here! What really happened before Jordan Howard’s playoff guarantee - Chicago Tribune - Seriously. Someone help us. Anyone. All day Monday there were Tweets about the bold proclamation running back Jordan Howard made regarding the 2018 Bears. Ken’s Note: Yes, Wiederer is mocking clickbait headlines. I approve.

Zeglinski's Bears free agency preview 2018: Wide receiver - Windy City Gridiron - The worst position group of not only the Bears' offense, but the team as a whole, means this receiving corps needs a drastic overhaul. Diving deep into the free agent market.

Link's Layman’s Guide to Bears Free Agency: Backup Running Back - Windy City Gridiron - Have you ever gone into free agency and hear scores of names but aren’t quite sure who these players are? Well, you’re not alone.

Curl's Chicago Bears Number Mill: 2018 Free Agent Edge Rushers - Windy City Gridiron - On my ongoing number mill series, I will grind through the bark of NFL statistics in the hopes of turning negative logs into positive planks...constant.

Wiltfong: Who do you want the Bears to avoid in free agency? - Windy City Gridiron - I believe the Chicago Bears are going to be spenders in free agency this year. And by spenders, I mean a few top dollar — big ticket — contracts. There will still be a spattering of veteran minimum...

Zeglinski: Bears release Quintin Demps and Pernell McPhee - Windy City Gridiron - The veteran safety brought in to stabilize Chicago’s secondary will not return for the 2018 season. Neither will the once promising "I'm violent" McPhee.

Wiltfong: Jordan Howard guarantees a playoff spot for the 2018 Bears - Windy City Gridiron - Bears fans, are you ready to book your postseason travel plans?

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

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