The Bear’s Den: February 24, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

Last week, we gave you a double-header of huge 80’s video hits along with lesser known but still hit songs that had great videos. This week we are going to give you a daily two-for-the-price-of-none yet again, but move it up a decade. Song one is an 90’s video classic, song two is just a great song and video recorded in the 1990’s (some may have been released right at the edge of the 00’s but they were recorded in the 90’s) but you will probably only remember it if you are a fan of the band/artist involved. Be aware some of these songs have political messages, feel free to discuss the songs (but not the politics... besides, these are politics of 25-30 years ago). Enjoy!

The Classic

The “Known To Fans Of The Band/Artist

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

BEARRRSSSS

Wood: Self-Scouting Matt Nagy’s 2019 Play Calling - Da Bears Blog - The Bears’ offense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2019 for a variety of reasons. Today I want to look at down and distance tendencies to see what we can learn about Matt Nagy’s situational play calling. With that in mind, I looked at how effective Chicago’s offense was in various situations compared to the NFL as a whole in 2019. All statistics are from the NFL Game Statistics and Information System and Pro Football Reference’s Game Play Finder.

Should the Bears pursue Derek Carr? - ESPN Video - Bomani Jones and Pablo Torre share their thoughts on whether the Bears should give up draft picks and trade for Derek Carr.

Kenny Willekes interview, scouting combine - Bear Report Podcast - We talk to NFL Draft prospect Kenny Wellekes plus break down what to watch for at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

Bears trade down, acquire TE and OT in 2nd round of new mock draft - BearsWire - The Bears have offensive needs they need to address this offseason, and the 2020 NFL Draft would be the perfect place to start.

Getting to know QBs coach John DeFilippo - ChicagoBears.com - New Bears quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo spoke with senior writer Larry Mayer about coaching quarterbacks, winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles and more.

Kyle Long on his decision to retire - ChicagoBears.com - Former NFL offensive lineman Kyle Long joins

Jimbo Covert on Hall of Fame honor - ChicagoBears.com - Former Chicago Bears offensive tackle Jimbo Covert sits down with Jeff Joniak to discuss his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2020 Bears Offseason Outlook: Who's Gonna Play Next to the Best Safety in Football? - Bleacher Nation - The Bears have a handful of safeties on the cusp of free agency, but at least Eddie Jackson is staying around.

Under Center Podcast: The return of JJ Stankevitz - NBC Sports Chicago - NBC Sports Chicago’s JJ Stankevitz returns to the podcast after a long time off and joins host Laurence Holmes to discuss how the Bears season ended and what they need to do going forward.

Tre Roberson explains why he chose Bears over 9 other teams - Bears Wire - CB Tre Roberson chose the Bears over nine other news, and it’s easy to wonder why. Chicago isn’t exactly a popular free-agent destination.

Bears could have made the playoffs in 2011 and 2012 with No. 7 seed - BearsWire - With the proposed new CBA, there would be a No. 7 seed in each conference. When it comes to the Bears, things could’ve been much different.

Allen Robinson reacts to proposed new CBA: ‘Rip it up’ - BearsWire - The NFLPA is set to vote on the proposed new CBA. And if Bears WR Allen Robinson’s reaction is any indication, it doesn’t sound good.

2020 Chicago Bears NFL Draft prospect meeting tracker - Bear Report - We track all of the visits for the Chicago Bears with college prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft starting with the East-West Shrine Game.

Morrissey: The Bears start their “search’’ for competition for Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Sun-Times - How much do you want to bet that the Bears won’t sign or acquire Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr, Tom Brady or anyone near that level?

Here are 20 quarterback options for the Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - General manager Ryan Pace said last month that incumbent Mitch Trubisky was his starter in 2020. His actions in the next month will speak louder than those words.

Storylines for the Chicago Bears at the NFL combine - Chicago Tribune - Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy have many big tasks ahead this offseason as they plot moves to help them improve on an 8-8 finish in 2019.

Chicago Bears Free Agent Focus: Eric Ebron - NBC Sports Chicago - Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron would be a logical target for the Bears in free agency.

Chicago Bears Free Agent Focus: Case Keenum - NBC Sports Chicago - Redskins quarterback Case Keenum could be the ideal target for Bears GM Ryan Pace in his effort to find competition for Mitch Trubisky.

How Prince Amukamara Loss Affects Bears Defense - There is a shelf life to everything, an expiration date. The gnashing of teeth over how the Chicago Bears could be wasting a dominant defense with Mitchell Trubisky quarterbacking a poor offense can now end. That’s because it appears the window of opportunity for their defense has already passed. Ken’s Note: Every party needs a pooper, SI, and that’s why I invited you!

Bears Bring Back Linebacker Devante Bond on 1-Year Deal - SI.com - The Bears have signed Devante Bond, who could figure in as a special teams player in 2020.

Tom Brady to the Bears, Remembering the Miracle On Ice and more - WGN Radio - Mark Carman brings a fun show of Sports Central to the airwaves of WGN. Could Tom Brady really come to the Bears? Mark discusses the possibilities and take listener phone calls. Would you want #12 on the Bears? Later, Carm chats to Rich King, covering the White Sox down in Arizona.

NFL Combine Preview: Bears Have Key Business In Indianapolis - 670 The Score - As the Bears move forward from their disappointing 8-8 season of 2019 and into the offseason, the trip down to Indianapolis brings an important stage for the team’s future.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Teddy Bridgewater Not Biggest Name on NFL FA QB Market, but He Could Be the Best - Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights - A 27-year-old quarterback with a 22-12 lifetime record as a starter will hit the free-agent market in one month. He’s a potential savior for a team that needs a franchise quarterback but doesn’t have the time to draft and groom one...

Drafting from other teams: Is it smarter to use draft picks for established players? - Our Turf Football - NFL Trade rumors are heating up. OTFB's Dayna O'Gorman asks, for some teams, is it better to use draft picks on established players and not the rookies?

NFL/XFL religation: Could it happen? - Our Turf Football - The XFL kicked off last weekend and had a strong start. But what if the XFL and the NFL had a relegation agreement. OTFB's Sonja Greenfield looks at the logistics.

Three-round 2020 NFL mock draft 2.0: Trades shake up Round 1 - NFL.com - As we approach the combine, Chad Reuter takes a second stab at projecting the 2020 NFL Draft’s first three rounds. And this time, trades really shake things up.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Report: Danny Amendola re-signing with Detroit Lions - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions get their slot receiver back on another one-year deal.

The Salary Cap and Harrison Smith - Daily Norseman - One contract option that’s not really being talked about

Vikings Off Season Plan v5.0 - Daily Norseman - Don’t quit my day job!

Allen Lazard remains “salty” about Packers’ NFC title-game loss to 49ers - ProFootballTalk - Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith admitted during Super Bowl week that he and other teammates weren’t ready to face the 49ers in the NFC Championship. Receiver Allen Lazard apparently was ready. And the loss has made him more than ready to get things rolling again.

Sometimes, Sports Matters - Daily Norseman - 40 years ago today. I was witness to the greatest sports miracle in American history

2020 NFL Combine preview: Cornerbacks the Detroit Lions should watch - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions secondary faces uncertainty both in its level of talent and its future, and is a big part of why this group means so much to the team at the Combine.

Packers re-sign Mason Crosby to three year contract extension - Acme Packing Company - The Packers brought back their veteran kicker after the best year of his career.

Could the Packers go all-in on small ball defense? - Acme Packing Company - Mike Pettine loves to play sub-package defense to the point it’s no longer fair to call it that. Green Bay’s base defense is nickel or smaller and it’s not hard to imagine Brian Gutekunst adding pieces to make that easier.

NFL, NFLPA agree to delay franchise tag decisions by two days - ProFootballTalk - In a possible sign that the league and the union expect some clarity on Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations in the middle of next week, the two sides have agreed to push back the date on which teams can start putting franchise tags on players.

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong’s Chicago Bears 2020 Roster Turnover: Questions at cornerback - Windy City Gridiron - In this 13 part series we’ll take an in depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye towards the 2020 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Pace make.

Wiltfong: Bears re-sign linebacker Devante Bond - Windy City Gridiron - Earlier today the Chicago Bears announced that they have re-signed linebacker Devante Bond to a one-year contract. Bond (6’1”, 236 pounds) originally signed with the Bears last December when they...

Chicago Bears Salary Cap Roundtable: Which contract should they renegotiate? - Windy City Gridiron - We’re tackling the Chicago Bears Salary Cap In this 4-part roundtable discussion, and we’ve enlisted the help of Over The Cap’s Brad Spielberger.

Wiltfong's 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Primer: On-field schedule, participant list, TV broadcast info and more! - Windy City Gridiron - This is literally everything you need to get yourself ready for the 2020 NFL Combine!

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

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: 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.