The Bear’s Den, January 4, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

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

BEARRRSSSS

Emma: Bears’ Deal With Eddie Jackson A Win-Win - 670 The Score - Two days after the Bears made a defining selection of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky at No. 2 overall in a 2017 NFL Draft that will forever be remembered in Chicago, they made a pick that at the time received little attention outside of Halas Hall. The Bears selected safety Eddie Jackson in the

Bears’ Cordarrelle Patterson Named AP All-Pro - 670 The Score - Bears special teams standout Cordarrelle Patterson has been named to the Associated Press All-Pro as a kickoff returner.

Bears, Eddie Jackson Agree To 4-Year Extension - 670 The Score - The Bears have locked in safety Eddie Jackson on a four-year contract extension worth up to $58.4 million and with $33 million guaranteed, his agency announced Friday.

5@5: Should Tannehill’s Resurgence Give Trubisky Hope? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.

Eddie Jackson extension: Bears make Jackson NFL’s highest-paid safety - Chicago Sun-Times - The fourth-round pick hit jackpot with $58.4 million deal.

Chicago Bears make Eddie Jackson NFL's highest-paid safety - Chicago Tribune - The Bears and safety Eddie Jackson agreed to a four-year contract extension, his agency tweeted Friday.

Chicago Bears need legitimate Plan B for Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Tribune - Publicly, Bears general manager Ryan Pace is backing Mitch Trubisky as the team's undisputed starter. But Pace's actions will speak louder than words when it comes to filling the backup quarterback role. Did the Titans provide the blueprint?

Podcast sets stage for Bears' 2020 offseason - Chicago Tribune - Bears management had a lot to say after the team finished a disappointing 8-8 in 2019 — though details were sparse at time. What does it all mean? Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer break it down on the Bear Download podcast.

Report: Bears sign Eddie Jackson to four-year, $58.4 million extension - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears and safety Eddie Jackson have agreed to a four-year, $58.4 million extension, his agency announced Friday.

Eddie Jackson's extension is latest example of why it's hard to judge Ryan Pace's tenure - NBC Sports Chicago - There's been a lot to like about Pace's time in Chicago. There's just that one issue.

For the Bears and Anthony Miller, the 2020 offseason already feels like déjà vu - NBC Sports Chicago - Despite another surgery on his shoulder, the Bears message for wide receiver Anthony Miller remains the same.

Cordarrelle Patterson named first-team All-Pro as kick returner - NBC Sports Chicago - Bears specialist Cordarrelle Patterson has been named to the AP NFL All-Pro first-team as kick returner.

Cordarrelle Patterson named first-team All-Pro kick returner by Associated Press - ChicagoBears.com - A few weeks after Cordarrelle Patterson was voted to the Pro Bowl, the Bears kick returner added an even more prestigious honor Friday when he was named first-team All-Pro.

Bears All-Decade Team: Devin Hester was simply the best - NBC Sports Chicago - Bears return specialist Devin Hester was the best that ever did it, making him an obvious choice for the Bears All-Decade Team.

Chalk Talk: When do Bears pick in draft? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses when the Bears pick in the 2020 draft, Bears who have had or will have offseason surgeries and where Cordarrelle Patterson ranks in NFL history in kickoff return average.

Answering the Bears’ biggest questions at the start of the 2020 offseason - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times’ Mark Potash answers the Bears’ most pressing questions in the first week of their 2020 offseason:

Chicago Bears offseason: Answering the team’s biggest questions - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley answers the Bears’ most pressing questions in the first week of their 2020 offseason:

Bears’ Cordarrelle Patterson named All-Pro - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears versatile wide receiver was second in the NFL in kick-return average (29.5), including a 102-yard return for a touchdown against the Saints — his seventh career kickoff TD.

Chicago Bears offseason: Making plans for busy time after 8-8 failure - Chicago Sun-Times - Helping this team make the leap to Super Bowl contention starts with the quarterback, but that’s one of many decisions facing the Bears this offseason.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Bill Polian and two Sirius colleagues did not vote Lamar Jackson All-Pro – ProFootballTalk - Before the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson, Hall of Fame General Manager Bill Polian famously opined that Jackson should be a wide receiver, not a quarterback, in the NFL. Polian has since admitted he was wrong, but he’s not ready to admit that Jackson is the best quarterback in the NFL.

NFL attendance hits a 15-year low – ProFootballTalk - More people are watching the NFL on TV. Fewer people are watching the NFL in person. According to David Broughton and Andrew Levin of Sports Business Daily, the NFL averaged 66,648 attendees at home games in 2019. That’s the lowest average since 2004.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Eric Kendricks named First-Team All-Pro at linebacker - Daily Norseman - Not good enough for the Pro Bowl, though

Inside the advanced metric that loves Aaron Rodgers this season - Acme Packing Compan
- What is Total Points and why does it love Aaron Rodgers? We talked to the people who created it about the goal of the metric and what it says about Rodgers this season.

Ohio State DE Chase Young officially declares for 2020 NFL Draft - Pride Of Detroit - The top defensive player in the nation will enter the 2020 NFL draft and may be in play for the Lions.

Vikings have “every intent” of Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman remaining in Minnesota – ProFootballTalk - The team whose G.M. once declared he has "no intent" to trade Percy Harvin has no intent to move on from said G.M., or from the team's head coach. In a statement issued Friday, Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf addressed speculation regarding the status of coach Mike Zimmer and G.M. Rick Spielman.

Detroit Lions finish 2019 dead last in various power rankings - Pride Of Detroit - On the bright side, things can only get better.

2019 Detroit Lions rookie snap count among highest in NFL - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions were a very young, inexperienced team in 2019.

The Detroit Lions’ pass rush was uniquely bad in 2019 - Pride Of Detroit - This chart says it all.

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante's 2020 NFL mock draft: Predicting Bears’ picks after regular season - Windy City Gridiron - The regular season is over, so now is a good time to look deeper at the Bears’ possible draft options.

Infante: Bears’ Cordarrelle Patterson named first-team All-Pro returner, second-team special teamer - Windy City Gridiron - This marks Patterson’s fifth total All-Pro appearance.

Infante: Bears extend Eddie Jackson to four-year deal - Windy City Gridiron - The two-time Pro Bowler is in it for the long haul.

Berckes & Snyder: Bears Over Beers: Season Finale, Settling Bets, and Playoff Picks - Windy City Gridiron - Jeff and EJ wrap up the season with some thoughts, settle up pre-season bets, and predict the playoffs

Duerrwaechter: Fixing the Bears - What’s Next? ECD’s Version - Windy City Gridiron - Josh Sunderbruch kicked off the series with his visions and plans. ECD follows up with a completely different master plan.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

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. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

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