The Bear’s Den, August 14, 2018

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

BEARRRSSSS / DRAFT / FREE AGENCY

Knoblauch: Roquan Smith agrees to $18.4M rookie deal with Bears - NFL.com - The long wait is over for Roquan Smith and the Chicago Bears. The rookie linebacker agreed to terms on his four-year contract with the team on Monday, Ian Rapoport reports.

Cox: Will Roquan Smith be ready to start for the Chicago Bears by Week 1? - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears first-round pick Roquan Smith ended his holdout, but now the question is whether he'll be ready to start by Week 1.

Perez: Roquan Smith could make Bears debut Saturday vs. Broncos - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears first-round pick Roquan Smith could make his NFL debut Saturday against the Denver Broncos

Perez: Bears sign first-round pick Roquan Smith to 4-year, $18M contract - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears signed first-round pick Roquan Smith to a four-year contract on Monday

Perez: Predicting the Chicago Bears’ 53-man roster after Preseason Week 1 - Bears Wire - Predicting who will make the Chicago Bears final roster after the first week of preseason action.

Stankevitz: Setting the expectations for Roquan Smith as holdout comes to an end - NBC Sports Chicago - Roquan Smith's holdout is nearing an end, and with that will come high expectations for the eighth overall pick once he does start practicing.

Mullin: With Roquan Smith arriving, Bears gain major element of their present and future - NBC Sports Chicago - It was only a matter of time before Roquan Smith was going to be in a Bears uniform because of contract issues. Now that he is, Chicago gained a critical component of a defense in dire need of impact players.

Stankevitz: Stalemate between Roquan Smith, Bears nearing an end - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears and Roquan Smith are nearing an agreement to end the first-round pick's four-week holdout, according to multiple reports.

LeGere: Roquan Smith, Bears agree to contract terms - Daily Herald - The Bears and first-round draft choice Roquan Smith are close to a contract agreement.

Campbell: Roquan Smith's 29-day holdout nearing an end as the Bears close in on a contract - Chicago Tribune - Roquan Smith’s holdout is nearing an end. The rookie linebacker’s representatives and the Bears are finalizing details of his contract, which is expected to be completed very soon, two people with knowledge of the situation said Monday.

Eurich: Bears pass rush must be creative - 247Sports - Vic Fangio will have to get creative in 2018 with his Chicago Bears pass-rush.

Wiedman: Enough About Roquan Smith - Our Turf Football - In an OTFB editorial, Bears reporter Wanda Wiedman tells us why she thinks its time Roquan Smith come to camp. Ken's Note: This article was published right before the contract agreement.

Schefter: Roquan Smith agrees to rookie contract with Bears - ESPN Video - Adam Schefter reports that Roquan Smith will be signing a four-year, $18M rookie contract with the Bears.

Hughes: Why Are We So Hard on Kevin White? - Da Bears Blog - Kevin White did nothing to you. He didn’t beat up your mother. He didn’t steal your birthright. He didn’t tape over your Warren Zevon: Live at the Capitol Theater bootleg. All he did was get selected seventh overall by the Chicago Bears because he was one of the most supremely gifted athletes in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Medina: Oh No! Oddsmakers List Packers as the Favorites to Land Khalil Mack - Bleacher Nation - Oddsmakers don't see the Bears as a team in the running for Khalil Mack.

Medina: Bears and Roquan Smith Have Reportedly Agreed to Terms - Bleacher Nation - A conclusion is drawing near with regards to Roquan Smith's contract holdout.

Medina: With the Bears Set at Center, a New Position Battle Has Opened Up for James Daniels - Bleacher Nation - If Cody Whitehair is the Bears' No. 1 center, then James Daniels will have to look elsewhere for a starting gig.

Mayer: Bears eager to practice with Broncos in Denver - ChicagoBears.com - Coach Matt Nagy believes that conducting joint practices with the Broncos this week in Denver will give the Bears a change of scenery that breaks up the monotony of training camp.

Chalk Talk: Will Whitehair be moved to guard? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses the likelihood of the Bears moving center Cody Whitehair to left guard, when receiver Allen Robinson II could make his preseason debut and how often the Bears have held joint practices with another NFL team.

Report: Roquan Smith finalizing deal with Bears – ProFootballTalk - Roquan Smith, the final unsigned draft pick, is close to being the last signed draft pick. The Bears and the first-rounder are finalizing an agreement and should have the deal completed by the end of the day, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Emma: Bears, Roquan Smith End Standoff Just In Time - 670 The Score - If Smith is what the Bears hope, this contract impasse will be forgotten.

Roquan Smith, Bears Reportedly Agree to Contract; Final Rookie to Sign Deal - Bleacher Report - The Chicago Bears and linebacker Roquan Smith agreed to his rookie contract on Monday, ending a lengthy holdout, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The two sides are still "finalizing the language," per Rapoport...

Bernstein: This Just Has To Stop - 670 The Score - Football has to root out the cruel coaches who put kids at risk.

Perez: Allen Robinson on debut: ‘I’m excited to get back out there and play’ - Bear's Wire - Chicago Bears WR Allen Robinson will make his Bears debut against the Denver Broncos in Week 2 of the NFL preseason

Tarsitano: Roquan Smith misses all of Bears camp in Bourbonnais - WGN-TV - Roquan Smith never made it to training camp. The Bears top pick is still holding out as the only player in his class to remain unsigned. Smith was projected to be the starting middle linebacker.

Eurich: Roquan Smith debut could be vs. Broncos - 247Sports - The hope is for the Chicago Bears linebacker to be on the field as soon as possible.

Eurich: Roquan Smith timeline with Bears - 247Sports - The holdout between Roquan Smith and the Chicago Bears appears to be over.

Pearson: When should we expect to see Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith on the field? - Roquan Smith will likely make his preseason debut against the Kansas City Chiefs, but is he on target to play vs. Green Bay?

Eurich: Roquan Smith has agreed to terms, per report - 247Sports - Roquan Smith is close to signing his rookie contract with the Chicago Bears.

Eurich: Broncos the Bears should watch in joint practices - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears can use their practices with the Denver Broncos as a scouting session.

Campbell: Bears training camp awards - Camper of the year, most impressive rookie and more - Chicago Tribune - The Tribune's annual Bears training camp awards. Cornerback Prince Amukamara was the best player in camp, while quarterback Mitch Trubisky's uneven growth and Roquan Smith's holdout commanded the most attention.

Bears training camp 2018: Observations and analysis from Adam L. Jahns - Chicago Sun-Times - The Chicago Bears' training camp had ended Bourbonnais. Here's what Adam L. Jahns thinks about Mitch Trubisky, Roquan Smith and more.

Kane: Bears not changing their tune on Cody Whitehair starting at center over rookie James Daniels — yet - Chicago Tribune - As the Bears wrapped up their final two days of training camp at Olivet Nazarene University, coach Matt Nagy indicated Cody Whitehair remains the starting center, not rookie James Daniels.

Bears training camp 2018: Observations and analysis from Patrick Finley - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times' Patrick Finley breaks down how the Bears progressed through training camp, which ended Sunday, and what lies ahead.

Jahns: Roquan Smith holdout: With contract imminent, it's time for Smith to be great for Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - Rookie linebacker Roquan Smith missed all of training camp in Bourbonnais, but he still has to time prove how great he can be for the Chicago Bears.

Morrissey: Bears, top-pick Roquan Smith end contract impasse - Chicago Sun-Times - This was a stupid fight, and it was stupid when we didn’t know such clauses even existed. Both sides wanted to make Smith a line in the sand.

Stapleton: Broncos demote former first-round pick Paxton Lynch to third-string quarterback - Chicago Tribune - Quarterback Paxton Lynch inched closer to full-blown bust status Monday when he was demoted to third string after Chad Kelly's solid debut in the Denver Broncos' exhibition opener.

Bears training camp 2018: Observations and analysis from Mark Potash - Chicago Sun-Times - Be excited about ... a season of Bears football without the dread of watching a wayward team spinning its wheels and a coaching staff death watch.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Chad Kelly jumps Paxton Lynch on Broncos’ depth chart - NFL.com - Paxton Lynch has hit a stumbling block in his battle to keep the Broncos’ backup quarterback job. The 2016 first-round selection was demoted to the third-team offense in favor of Chad Kelly.

Texans donate old turf to school flooded in Hurricane Harvey - Chicago Tribune - A high school hit hard by Hurricane Harvey is getting a new playing surface thanks to the Houston Texans.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Richie Incognito stirs the pot again with Vikings coach Mike Zimmer - Daily Norseman - It’s Richie’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

Packers’ Aaron Rodgers wants to play at Lambeau Field in second preseason game - Acme Packing Company - Rodgers has often suited up only for the third exhibition game in the past, but he wants to take the field in front of home fans this August.

Packers should trade for Khalil Mack if he becomes available - Acme Packing Company - The Raiders probably won’t trade their superstar pass rusher ... but what if they do?

Aaron Rodgers on “piss poor” criticism of young WRs: It’s not personal; I’m trying to win games – ProFootballTalk - Some of the Packers’ young receivers took Aaron Rodgers’ comments about them last week as a challenge. But the quarterback said Monday he wasn’t trying to send a message when he called their effort “piss poor” after a practice. “I hope we’re not that soft,” Rodgers said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

PODcast dissects the Detroit Lions’ preseason debut vs. Raiders - Pride Of Detroit - Mansur Shaheen joins the pod to break down the Lions’ preseason opener.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Bears’ fans, join Windy City Gridiron FanPulse - Windy City Gridiron - We want to hear from you. Yes, you!

Wiltfong & Zeglinski: Chicago Bears sign Roquan Smith to rookie contract - Windy City Gridiron - After much consternation and hair-pulling, finally a deal is done. Finally, there is peace.

Poll of the Day: Will Roquan Smith suit up week one for the Bears? - Windy City Gridiron - Now that the Chicago Bears have signed Roquan Smith, there are 27 days before they open up the season against the Green Bay Packers, so is there still time to get the Georgia rookie up to speed?

Leming: Chicago Bears - Predicting the 53-man roster, preseason edition - Windy City Gridiron - A look at who has the inside track to a roster spot heading into the third preseason game.

Infante: Identifying potential future Bears needs heading into 2018 - Windy City Gridiron - Depending on how this year plays out, these positions that aren’t currently needs could be positions that the Bears will need to fix next offseason.

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 - iTunes - Robert Zeglinski

THE RULES

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