The Bear’s Den, March 20, 2019

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

BEARRRSSSS / FREE AGENCY / DRAFT

Dannehy: Safety Swap Should Help Keep Bears On Top - Da Bears Blog - When the Bears signed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix for roughly a third of what the Packers paid Adrian Amos, it was a great example of how teams on top stay on top.

Gabriel: Assessing Bears’ Needs After Initial Wave Of Free Agency - 670 The Score - After the first wave of free agency, the Bears still need to find a running back and add an outside linebacker.

5@5: Buying Analytics Group Commending Raiders For Khalil Mack Trade? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.

Win two tickets to every Bears game this season - ChicagoBears.com - Fans can now enter the fifth annual Chicago Bears Schedule Prediction Challenge, which features the largest sweepstakes prize in franchise history.

Lunch with Larry: 3.19.19 - ChicagoBears.com - Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer breaks down the first week of free agency, what the team may look to do next and the impact of the newest Bears players.

Registration open for PNC Chicago Bears 5K at Soldier Field - ChicagoBears.com - Fundraising for Bears Care will support local anti-violence efforts

Medina: The Lure of Playing With Khalil Mack Has Already Helped the Bears in Free Agency - Bleacher Nation - The Mack Factor extends beyond the playing field.

Medina: Love it or Hate it? The Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Buster Skrine Signings Are Drawing Very Different Reviews - Bleacher Nation - The Bears’ two newest defensive backs are on opposite ends of PFF’s grading system. What gives?

Finley: Punter Pat O’Donnell back for 2 years, $4 million - Chicago Sun-Times - O’Donnell, who also served as the holder on field goal and PAT attempts, averaged 45 yards per punt last season, right on par with his career average

Thompson: Charles Tillman is afraid of water — but that won’t stop him from rowing across Lake Michigan for childhood cancer research - Chicago Tribune - A conversation Charles Tillman had with a stranger at a gala has turned into two friends’ plan to row together across Lake Michigan to raise money for their childhood cancer charities.

Zeglinski: An imperfect balance - How the Bears’ 2019 free agency signings fit – The Rock River Times - After four off-seasons, the Bears were finally a contending team patiently sanding over the edges with relative questions as to how some of their additions fit into their plans.

Mayer: Bears move up to No. 8 in power rankings - ChicagoBears.com - In Elliot Harrison’s NFL power rankings released Tuesday on NFL.com, the Bears moved up one slot since the post-Super Bowl rankings to No. 8 in the league.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Raiders sign Vontaze Burfict – ProFootballTalk - Vontaze Burfict wasn’t out of work long. Burfict was released by the Bengals on Monday, but he was on his way to Oakland to visit with the Raiders on Monday and that meeting was all it took for him to land another job. The Raiders announced that Burfict has signed with the team on Tuesday night.

NFL Power Rankings: Browns hit top 10 via free agency/trades - NFL.com - In the wake of a wild week highlighted by blockbuster trades and high-profile signings, what is the current state of the NFL hierarchy? Elliot Harrison updates his Power Rankings.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Former Packers wideout Randall Cobb to sign with Cowboys, per reports - Acme Packing Company - One of the Packers’ best receivers over the past decade has left to join an NFC rival.

Packers hope Adrian Amos turns out far better than their last major signing at safety - Acme Packing Company - The last time Green Bay signed a long-term deal with a free agent at the position, the contract was terminated after just one season.

The Packers have paid out over $24M in roster bonuses since 2019 league year began - Acme Packing Company - Including signing bonuses, the team wrote checks for over $80M last week.

Clay Matthews agrees to two-year deal with Rams – ProFootballTalk - Linebacker Clay Matthews already has changed his profile picture on Twitter, showing him in a Rams uniform with the familiar No. 52. Matthews reached agreement on a two-year deal with the Rams, via multiple reports. Matthews, a USC product, lives near the Rams' training facility.

RapSheet and Friends: Breaking the Odell Beckham trade, Za'Darius Smith and Adam Humphries - RapSheet and Friends - Omny.fm - In the aftermath of the free agency frenzy, Ian's guests this week include new Green Bay Packer Za'Darius Smith (12:45) and new Tennessee Titan Adam Humphries (48:30)

Detroit Lions sign RFA running back Malcolm Brown to an offer sheet - Pride Of Detroit - If the Rams can’t match the Lions’ offer, the Lions will have a new backup running back.

Detroit Lions sign WR Tommylee Lewis - Pride Of Detroit - Detroit has a speedy receiver that will contend for a roster spot due to his special teams skills.

2019 NFC North odds: Detroit Lions’ odds 7 times longer than divisional foes - Pride Of Detroit - Vegas ain’t impressed by the Lions’ free agent period.

Detroit Lions podcast: 2019 free agency recap with PFF’s Brett Whitefield - Pride Of Detroit - Why does PFF love the Lions’ free agency moves? We asked them directly.

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Report: Dan Bailey re-signs with the Vikings - Daily Norseman - Habemus Kicker!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Schmitz' Bear With Me: Scouting the Chicago Bears’ New 2019 Free Agents - Windy City Gridiron - On the latest episode of Bear With Me, Robert S. gives a detailed scouting report on all four newly signed Bears (Mike Davis, Buster Skrine, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix) as well as a few thoughts on re-signed punter Pat O’Donnell

Superfans: Did the Raiders fleece the Bears in the Khalil Mack trade? - Windy City Gridiron - Please, do tell us how the 4-12 Raiders pulled one over on the 12-4 Bears.

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 Blitz Network

THE RULES

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