The Bear’s Den, July 9, 2018

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

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Pro Football Focus analytics give Bears 25 percent chance to make playoffs - Bears Wire - The analytics over at Pro Football Focus give the Chicago Bears a 25 percent chance of making the playoffs in 2018.

Ranking the NFC North Position Groups: Special Teams - Acme Packing Company - The Lions may have the best overall special teams unit in the division with a consistent kicker and explosive punt returner.

2018 NFL Supplemental Draft offers value; Keenan Allen's secret - NFL.com - The NFL Supplemental Draft rarely garners much attention, but Bucky Brooks explains why this year's edition should NOT be overlooked. Plus, Keenan Allen's unique brilliance and Dak Prescott’s immense potential.

Eurich: Predicting rookie roles for each Chicago Bears draft pick - 247Sports - The 2018 Chicago Bears draft class has a lot of expectations to live up to this year.

Cox's Bears 2018 training camp preview: Offensive tackle - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears didn't have much turnover at the offensive tackle position but there is a backup spot up for grabs.

Eurich: Five former Chicago Bears named among best defensive ends ever - 247Sports - Some of the greatest defensive ends of all-time played for the Chicago Bears.

Mayer: Burton a key component of new Bears offense - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears will arrive in Bourbonnais July 19 with an upgraded tight end position after signing Super Bowl hero Trey Burton away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eurich: 5 bold predictions for the Bears defense in 2018 - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears defense is ready to take it to another level in 2018.

Fitzgerald: Simms one of 10 worst of bad NFL contracts - The overpaid and the underachieving - Sporting News - The Bears’ 2017 free agent class was so bad that most of their big signings are already off the team … with the exception of Dion Sims, who technically was the best of the worst.

Mayer: Bears sporting upgraded receiving corps - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears will arrive in Bourbonnais in two weeks with a revamped receiving corps that features veteran Allen Robinson II after targeting the position in both free agency and the draft.

Cox: ESPN ranks Bears backfield as 15th-best group in NFL - Bears Wire - ESPN ranked every team's backfield, and the Chicago Bears' combination of Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen and Benny Cunningham came in 15th.

Cox: Taylor Gabriel is ‘so tired’ of being overlooked - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears wide receiver Taylor Gabriel has a chip on his shoulder entering the 2018 season. He's "so tired" of being overlooked.

Cox's Bears 2018 training camp preview: Tight end - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have a lot of unproven talent at tight end, and their exact roles for 2018 remain up in the air.

2018 NFC North preview: Ranking the division’s defensive backs - Pride Of Detroit - Lions or Vikings? Who takes the top spot?

Eurich: Bold predictions for the Bears defense in 2018 - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears defense is ready to take it to another level in 2018.

POLISH SAUSAGE

See if he cares: Jay Cutler mopes along on Kristin Cavallari reality show - Chicago Sun-Times - As Kristin Cavallari works to build a business on the slick series ‘Very Cavallari,’ former Bears QB Jay Cutler does a whole lot of nothing.

NFL adds 15-yard penalty for grounds crew clearing snow for a field goal – ProFootballTalk - Just before Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri lined up for a game-tying extra point on a snowy day last season in Buffalo, the Colts sent some sideline personnel onto the field to attempt to remove snow from the area where the kick would be lined up, and help Vinatieri get better footing.

KNOW THY ENEMY

For the Lions’ 2018 offense, ‘the more tight ends on the field, the better’ - Pride Of Detroit - Say hello to “13” personnel.

Even the Vikings’ “worst” contract still isn’t all that bad - Daily Norseman - But a lot of former Vikings have some pretty bad deals.

Greenfield: Why the Lions are doing things right: An offseason story - Our Turf Football - OTFB's Sonja Greenfield talks about a conversation that she had with a person in this offseason about the Lions coaching changes.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: The Bears have the fewest travel miles in the NFC North - Windy City Gridiron - If you’re looking for another reason to be optimistic about the Chicago Bears’ chances in 2018, then you’ve come to the right place. Only we’re not talking draft picks, new coaches, free agents, or...

Infante’s Sculpting the Offense: How the Bears can get the most out of Allen Robinson - Windy City Gridiron - In the third edition of a new offseason series, we’re going to dive into how the Bears can work their offense around Allen Robinson’s strengths.

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

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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.

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