The Bear’s Den, January 8, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

Turns out its Drumming Week here at the Den. Here’s my favorite all time drummer, the incomparable Neil Peart of Rush.

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

BEARRRSSSS

It Sounds Like Pat Shurmur Would Accept a Job as an Offensive Coordinator (Hello, Bears?) - Bleacher Nation - Wanting to take some time away from the game after getting fired is only natural for most coaches - especially those hoping to get their ducks in a row, before

Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace Lay Out an Offseason Plan for Mitch Trubisky - Bleacher Nation - After a disappointing 8-8 season in 2019, the Chicago Bears have their fair share of work to do in order to get back to where they were in 2018, let alone where

Defending Ryan Pace. Well, Sorta. - Da Bears Blog - Grading NFL general managers is not a simple process. Most are happy with hit rates of 50% in the draft. Most make mistakes in free agency. Most haven’t created perfect rosters because the salary cap makes a “perfect roster” impossible. Most get a coach hire wrong at some stage.

Wood: Heading into the 2020 Off-Season, a Primer. - Da Bears Blog - A disappointing 2019 season is over, and it’s time to start thinking about what the Bears can do over the next several months to set up a 2020 rebound. To start the offseason, let’s take a look at where things currently stand for the roster.

Addressing Tight End A Top Priority For Bears - 670 The Score - The Bears’ leading tight end amassed 91 yards for the entire season, with injuries and inconsistencies taking their toll at a pivotal position in coach Matt Nagy’s offense. What will they do this offseason?

5@5: Would Pace Rather See Mahomes Or Watson Win? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.

What is Mitch Trubisky’s future with the Chicago Bears? - Chicago Tribune - As the Bears head into a critical offseason after a disappointing 8-8 finish, our team of Bears writers weighs in on four timely topics.

Jimbo Covert, Ed Sprinkle to be considered for Hall of Fame in 2020 - ChicagoBears.com - Former Bears greats Jimbo Covert and Ed Sprinkle could reach the pinnacle of the sport Wednesday when they are considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bears’ 2019 position review: Running back - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears traded up in the third round of last year’s draft to select David Montgomery, and the rookie from Iowa State responded with a solid first NFL season, rushing for 889 yards and six touchdowns.

Lunch With Urlurker (and Larry): 01.07.20 - ChicagoBears.com - Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer looks back on the 2019 season, answers roster questions, and gives insight into what’s next for the Bears during his weekly Q&A with fans.

Letizia's 2020 Chicago Bears Mock Draft 1.0 - Chicago Audible - Steve Letizia's first Chicago Bears mock draft of the new year.

Who's going to be the Bears' next offensive coordinator? Here are a few names - NBC Sports Chicago - Who will be the Bears' offensive coordinator? Does it even matter?

How Bears GM Could Shrug Off Mahomes Vs. Watson - SI.com - The worst nightmare for Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace didn't come against the Kansas City Chiefs when the Bears were embarrassed 26-3 by Patrick Mahomes in Matt Nagy's worst defeat as coach. Ken's Note: Ryan's worst nightmare involves a Great White land shark, a jar of crunchy organic peanut butter and a pair of crutches. He told me all about it the last time we were hanging out at the bar. Trust me.

What are Bears’ biggest priorities heading into 2020 NFL Draft? - Bears Wire - There are no shortage of needs for Bears heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, which will make every one of GM Ryan Pace's draft picks important.

Pricey Decisions for Bears on Clinton-Dix, Amukamara - SI.com - Tough economic realities for the Bears this offseason threaten to break up one of the league's better secondaries.

POLISH SAUSAGE

David Tepper blows up the coaching salary curve – ProFootballTalk - Panthers owner David Tepper apparently didn't get the memo that, despite the absence of a salary cap for coaches, NFL teams don't spend as freely as they could on the men who run their teams. Adam Schefter of ESPN.

The Rooney Rule (still) isn’t working – ProFootballTalk - To say that the Rooney Rule isn't working is to presume that it ever did. It never truly did, at least not in the way it was intended. Ideally, the rule requiring at least one minority candidate to be interviewed for every head-coaching vacancy will prompt owners to engage in a deliberate, patien...

“It was like love at first sight” between Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy – ProFootballTalk - The slow divorce between Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett was followed by a Vegas wedding for Jones and Mike McCarthy. "It was like love at first sight," a source with knowledge of the dynamics between Jones and McCarthy said when explaining the quick move by the Cowboys to make McCarthy the new head coach... Ken's Note: Just EWW!!!!!! Makes me want to take a shower.

Jadeveon Clowney: Eagles have “worst fans in the world” – ProFootballTalk - Eagles fans are not happy with Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney after he injured quarterback Carson Wentz with a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter of Sunday's game. Clowney does not like Eagles fans, either. Ken's Note: Jadeveon Clowney is a smart, perceptive man.

It’s about time teams gave more consideration to special-teams coaches – ProFootballTalk - Special-teams coordinators rarely get the respect and consideration that they should, when teams are hiring head coaches. The Giants decided to reverse that trend on Tuesday, making Patriots special-teams coach Joe Judge their new head coach. It's about time.

Tua Tagovailoa's best NFL fits: Dolphins, Chargers make sense - NFL.com - Where will Tua Tagovailoa end up? Gil Brandt picks out five of the best potential NFL team fits for the quarterback prospect, including the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers.

‘Very Cavallari’ recap: Kristin’s ‘on a high’ with Jay Cutler but under pressure elsewhere - Chicago Sun-Times - The jewelry mogul is sweating a new store in Chicago and the collapse of a friendship while in a happy place with her ex-Bear husband.

Column: ESPN needs new Monday Night Football announcers - Chicago Tribune - ESPN should replace "Monday Night Football" announcers Booger McFarland and Joe Tessitore in the offseason, though it can be tough to admit mistakes.

What’s next for Tom Brady after an early playoff exit? Here are 5 potential landing spots. - Chicago Tribune - Teammates and opponents, coaches and NFL executives, even most fans recognize that Tom Brady has nothing left to prove. There might be one dissenting voice: Brady himself.

Cincinnati Bengals: What trade value does Andy Dalton hold? - Stripe Hype - All signs indicate the Cincinnati Bengals will move on from Andy Dalton this off-season. Here, we look at his trade value.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong's Ten Thoughts on the NFL: New coaches, playoff picks, and more - Windy City Gridiron - 1) Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph pushed off on his game winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints.

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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