The Bear’s Den, April 18, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This week we are on to Notorious Earworm songs... those songs that you can’t get out of your head...

Today’s a two-for!

Our two-for is the one song that will send Mrs. Denmaster off in an uncontrollable rage if she hears one note, because she hates the song so much, and it will stick in her head for weeks. I actually asked her to put on headphones and leave the room so she didn’t hear any snippet of it as I was checking it out to make sure it was safe for posting. Cool video, somebody took the graphics from the old classic science fiction flick Metropolis. Works.

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

BEARRRSSSS

Prepare for a Wild NFL Draft, Because the Mocks You’ve Seen Are Apparently “Wronger” Than Ever - Bleacher Nation - Bring on the chaos!

Arkush: D Front 7 All That’s Off Bears’ Board Early - 670 The Score - When the Bears are on the clock in the second round of the NFL Draft next Friday — assuming they don’t trade out of it altogether — there will be a variety of long-term positional needs for them to consider addressing.

Source: Bears To Release TE Trey Burton - 670 The Score - The Bears will release tight end Trey Burton, a source confirmed Friday afternoon. He had just 14 catches in an injury-marred 2019 season.

Report: Bears To Sign OT Jason Spriggs On 1-Year Deal - 670 The Score - The Bears will sign offensive tackle Jason Spriggs to a one-year deal, ESPN reported Friday. Spriggs, 25, was a second-round pick of the Packers in 2016.

Prospect Profile: TE Adam Trautman - 670 The Score - As a standout tight end coming out of Dayton, Adam Trautman understands there will be doubts regarding his draft stock. It’s why he savored that opportunity at the Senior Bowl in January.

Bears Cut Their Losses with Release of Trey Burton - SI.com - The Bears have released one of their most perplexing players. Tight end Trey Burton has been cut at a cost of over $4 million in cap space this year, the team confirmed following a report by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo .

Bears release TE Trey Burton - ESPN - Trey Burton, who had 14 catches for 84 yards in eight games before having hip surgery in December, has been released by the Bears.

NFL GMs think the remote draft will alter the trading scene - WGN Radio - To trade or not to trade? An especially difficult question in this year’s NFL draft? The coronavirus pandemic has forced the NFL to conduct its annual draft remotely, which might reduce the number of times Commissioner Roger Goodell or anyone else announces a trade.

Roster Moves: Bears announce five transactions - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Friday re-signed offensive lineman Rashaad Coward and tight end J.P. Holtz, added free agent offensive lineman Jason Spriggs and kicker Ramiz Ahmed, and released tight end Trey Burton.

Chalk Talk: Which O-linemen will be on board? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses the offensive linemen who could potentially be available when the Bears pick in the second round of the draft, the likelihood of the Bears trading down to acquire additional selections and the last time the Bears had tw

Who analysts predict Bears will pick in draft - ChicagoBears.com - With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching, some national writers updated their mock drafts this week. Take a look at who they think the Bears will select with their first two picks.

Payton keyed Bears' outstanding 1975 draft - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the Bears' 1975 draft class, which was led by legendary Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, as the fourth best in franchise history.

Here Comes the Kicking Competition Sequel: Bears Sign Kicker Ramiz Ahmed - Bleacher Nation - The Bears announced a flurry of afternoon signings, including a new kicker.

Caesars' Way-Too-Early Odds Pick the Vikings as Favorites to Win the NFC North - Bleacher Nation - The Vikings, huh? OK, Caesars ... what do you know that we don't?

Bears to Sign Ex-Packers OL Jason Spriggs - Bleacher Nation - Jason Spriggs was a four-year starter in college, but didn't live up to the hype after being drafted by the Packers.

Chicago Bears cut TE Trey Burton - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears informed veteran tight end Trey Burton that he will be released.

Column: Chicago Bears' Ryan Pace may eye trade in NFL draft - Chicago Tribune - The virtual NFL draft will be a test of teams’ ability to communicate via social media platforms and process information that normally is handled by a team of front-office executives, scouts and coaches in a war room.

NFL draft: Where Illinois players are projected - Chicago Tribune - Where do mock NFL drafts have players from Illinois high schools and colleges, plus Notre Dame, getting selected?

Bears are reportedly cutting Trey Burton, ending rocky tenure in Chicago - NBC Sports Chicago - The tight end never quite found his rythym within the Bears' offense.

2020 NFL Draft: 5 safeties Bears could pick in second round - NBC Sports Chicago - Eddie Jackson might need a better partner than Deon Bush/Jordan Lucas/DeAndre Houston-Carson, and that guy can be found on Day 2 of the NFL Draft next week.

Bears sign Ramiz Ahmed to compete with Eddy Pineiro for the starting kicker job - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears are far from set at kicker, apparently.

2020 NFL Draft: How league is managing unprecedented, virtual event - NBC Sports Chicago - The NFL is doing what it can to provide a respite to football fans by conducting its draft under unprecedented circumstances next week.

Bears re-sign OL Rashaad Coward, TE J.P. Holtz to 1-year deals - Bears Wire - The Bears have re-signed two exclusive-rights free agents in OL Rashaad Coward and TE J.P. Holtz.

Bears have added competition for kicker Eddy Pineiro - Bears Wire - The Bears appear to have a kicking competition on their hands with the addition of kicker Ramiz Ahmed to a one-year deal.

Bears signing former Packers OT Jason Spriggs to 1-year deal - Bears Wire - The Bears added depth at offensive tackle with the signing of former 2nd-round pick Jason Spriggs.

Roundup: Bears cutting TE Trey Burton after 2 years - NFL.com - The Bears are releasing tight end Trey Burton, just two years after inking him to a four-year, $32 million deal. After posting a career year in 2018, the former Eagle caught just 14 passes during an injury-plagued 2019.

Bears cut Burton, sign Rashaad Coward, J.P. Holtz, Ramiz Ahmed - ProFootballTalk - The Bears announced several moves Friday. Besides releasing veteran tight end Trey Burton and signing veteran offensive lineman Jason Spriggs, which previously were reported, the Bears also signed offensive lineman Rashaad Coward, tight end J.P. Holtz and kicker Ramiz Ahmed.

Bears release productive, oft-injured TE Trey Burton after two seasons - Chicago Sun-Times - Burton signed a four-year, $32 million deal that looked like smart money in 2018, but struggled through injuries last season.

2020 NFL Draft: Experts tell Bears to pass on 2nd-round quarterbacks - Chicago Sun-Times - If the Bears want a quarterback of the future at No. 43 or 50 in the second round, they’re likely choosing between Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm and Jalen Hurts. Who do the experts recommend? None of them. So now what?

POLISH SAUSAGE

Roger Goodell on holding the draft as scheduled: It's important to have normalcy - ProFootballTalk - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league’s decision to have the draft as scheduled next week is part of keeping as much of a sense of normalcy is possible at this time.

Dolphins have the most draft capital, by far - ProFootballTalk - The Dolphins’ rebuilding effort has been focused on the 2020 NFL draft, and next week a ton of new talent will be heading to Miami.

Roger Goodell: NFL Draft-A-Thon great way to 'give back' - NFL.com - The NFL announced Friday that the 2020 NFL "Draft-A-Thon" will be hosted on the league's digital and social channels and will be featured across the live draft coverage on NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ABC on April 23-25.

Chad Reuter seven-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Round 1 - NFL.com - From pick No. 1 (LSU QB Joe Burrow) to No. 255 (South Carolina RB Rico Dowdle), Chad Reuter reveals his seven-round mock of the 2020 NFL Draft, which includes the Saints moving up 14 spots for Drew Brees' successor.

NFC Roster Reset: Bucs, Cards add spice to loaded conference - NFL.com - Will Tom Brady's Bucs upend the NFC? Are Drew Brees' Saints sitting comfortably above the fray? Can Kyler Murray's Cards make some noise? Marc Sessler assesses the pecking order in this loaded conference. Are the Bears contenders, pretenders or somewhere in between?

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Green Bay: Nobody cares

Detroit: Nobody cares

Minnesota: Nobody cares

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante: Bears release tight end Trey Burton as post-June 1 designation - Windy City Gridiron- The former big-money free agent signing has been released after an injury-filled two years in Chicago.

Wiltfong: Bears sign Jason Spriggs and Ramiz Ahmed - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears have announced five roster transactions today!

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears 7-round All Offense Mock Draft - Windy City Gridiron - In my latest "theme" mock draft for the Chicago Bears, I’m sticking with a fix the offense philosophy.

Zeglinski: The Bears’ body slam heard around Lake Michigan - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears were on the precipice of greatness, until they weren’t. The memory of a missing ring (or two) lives on.

Wiltfong: Grading Ryan Pace’s Fifth Round Draft Picks - Windy City Gridiron - In this seven-part series we’re asking you guys to grade each round of Ryan Pace’s drafts through the years.

THE RULES

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