The Bear’s Den, April 22, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This week we are on to Bass Master... who knows, there are so many greats this may end up being a multi-week thing... today’s Bass Master is the late, great Jaco Pastorius...

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

BEARRRSSSS

Ryan Pace Pushing off Mitchell Trubisky’s 5th Year Option Until the Bitter End – On Tap Sports Net - Ryan Pace once again bypassed a question regarding Mitchell Trubisky’s fifth-year option. Could the Bears be targeting a QB in the second round?

Bears started virtual offseason program Monday - ChicagoBears.com - With NFL team facilities closed due to the coronavirus, the Bears on Monday kicked off their voluntary virtual offseason program with a two-hour classroom session.

“High-Ranking Bears Executive” Wants to Draft Alabama CB Trevon Diggs - Bleacher Nation - Stefon Diggs’ younger brother is reportedly on the Bears’ radar.

QB Prospect Steven Montez Says the Bears (and Three Other Teams) Have Shown the Most Interest - Bleacher Nation - Colorado’s Steven Montez has drawn interest from the Bears, Packers, and others.

5@5: Can NFL Pull Off Draft Without Tech Glitch? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.

Behind Bears’ Virtual Draft In Ryan Pace’s Dining Room - 670 The Score - Teams are embracing the setup and challenges of an unprecedented NFL Draft that will be conducted virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pace, Bears Comfortable Trading In Virtual NFL Draft - 670 The Score - Bears general manager Ryan Pace is prepared to conduct his work in a virtual NFL Draft from his home dining room, and in front of him will be a phone with other teams’ top executives one button away.

Inside what it’s like to prepare for 2020 NFL Draft amid coronavirus pandemic - NBC Sports Chicago - Jeremy Chinn, Broc Rutter and Joe Gaziano expalined on the Under Center Podcast how they've prepared for the 2020 NFL Draft in the age of coronavirus.

NFL Draft 2020 projections: Could Jalen Hurts end up on the Bears? - NBC Sports Chicago - JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis, and Adam Hoge take turns drafting for the Bears.

Under Center Podcast: 3 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft you should know - NBC Sports Chicago - JJ Stankevitz is joined by prospects Jeremy Chinn, Broc Rutter and Joe Gaziano to discuss how different this year's draft process has been.

Bears Ready for Virtual NFL Draft Unless Someone Pulls the Plug - SI.com - There's no chance the Ryan Pace family will disrupt the Chicago Bears draft as it's being run out of the GM's home this week by maxing out their WiFi with Netflix.

Ryan Pace Labels Trey Burton Release an Availability Issue - SI.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace called the decision last week to cut tight end Trey Burton one based on a medical situation.

Bears Need New Speed Receiver in Draft And Not Marqise Lee - SI.com - Maybe it's something about being a receiver in Chicago.

5 fun historical facts about No. 50 pick in draft - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer shares five factoids about the No. 50 pick the Bears own in this year’s draft, including one that involves the only player the Bears have selected in that spot since World War II.

Chalk Talk: Will Bears consider drafting a QB? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses what Bears GM Ryan Pace said during a conference call with the media Tuesday about drafting a quarterback and the team’s plans at the right guard position.

Bears seeking draft picks with high football IQ - ChicagoBears.com - With the coronavirus limiting NFL offseason programs and possibly training camp this year, the Bears are placing an even greater focus than usual on drafting players who possess a high level of football intelligence.

Mack donates $350,000 to COVID-19 relief fund - ChicagoBears.com - Bears Pro Bowl outside linebacker Khalil Mack has donated $350,000 to a COVID-19 relief emergency fund operated by A Better Chicago, the organization announced on its website Monday.

Bears bail on Trey Burton at wrong time as shaky plan at TE gets shakier - Chicago Sun-Times - There’s no clear replacement on their roster, and it’s a weak year for tight ends in the draft. So why cut Burton now? Ken's Note: He couldn't pass a physical, has been injured most of his Bears career, and wasn't making progress. That's why.

NFL Draft 2020: Bears would pick QB if ‘he was the highest guy on our board’ - Chicago Sun-Times - For the fourth time this offseason, Bears general manager Ryan Pace passed on an opportunity Tuesday to announce the team’s plans for Mitch Trubisky’s option before its due date.

NFL Draft podcast: What to make of Bears GM Ryan Pace? - Chicago Sun-Times - With the NFL Draft coming up, there’s plenty of Bears stuff to talk about.

NFL Draft: Decision for Bears GM Ryan Pace: Which holes to fill? - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears can live with Deon Bush at safety, Kevin Toliver at corner, Germain Ifedi/Rashaad Coward at guard. But a second-round pick can provide upgrades at those positions — and wide receiver and tight end as well.

Kicker drama is back as Bears plan competition between Eddy Pineiro, Ramiz Ahmed - Chicago Sun-Times - Kicker is up for grabs again with the Bears, and Pineiro will have to fight for his job.

Final Chicago Bears Mock Drafts (Predicting the Picks) - Chicago Audible Podcast - In this episode, the guys share their final attempt at predicting each of the Chicago Bears' picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Bears won't commit to Mitch Trubisky and "would consider" drafting a QB - NBC Sports Chicago - My, how things have changed since early January. Ken's Note: No, they haven't There is nothing... NOTHING... less believable than the words of an NFL GM about players before free agency and the draft. NOTHING. "Ryan Pace started his mandatory GM BS session by opening his mouth and saying..."

Trey Burton’s release from Bears necessary in drastic tight end makeover - NBC Sports Chicago - Plan A was a bad idea, but sticking with it would have been worse.

NFL Mock Draft 2020: Bears and Packers both go after QBs with early picks - NBC Sports Chicago - JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis, and Adam Hoge try and guess how the first round-and-a-half plays out.

NFL Draft 2020: Cole Kmet says playing for Bears would be ‘a dream come true’ - NBC Sports Chicago - It would mean a whole lot to this hometown kid to be drafted by the Bears this week.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Rob Gronkowski: I have that feeling, and it feels right - ProFootballTalk - Rob Gronkowski is leaving FOX to return to the NFL. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Pro Bowl tight end would share his initial thoughts on his comeback with the network that paid him for six months.

Rob Gronkowski agrees to play for the Buccaneers - ProFootballTalk - Yes, it’s happening.

De Smith: "Tough questions" exist over when it will be safe to play NFL games - ProFootballTalk - The NFL has said that it’s planning to play a full season in full stadiums, but it’s becoming more and more clear that both will be very hard to achieve.

2020 NFL Draft: Don't pass on Isaiah Simmons or Derrick Brown! - NFL.com - Is Jordan worth the Love? Will teams regret passing on Isaiah Simmons? Could a center be this class' cleanest prospect? Before the 2020 NFL Draft officially gets underway Thursday night, Adam Schein provides nine strong takes.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Green Bay: Nobody cares

Detroit: Nobody cares

Vikings don’t completely close door on Everson Griffen’s return - ProFootballTalk - The Vikings have lost six starters in the offseason, including four on defense. Nose tackle Linval Joseph (released), defensive end Everson Griffen (free agency) and cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes (released) and Trae Waynes (free agency) no longer are Vikings.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zimmerman's Chicago Bears Podcast: Examining Ryan Pace’s NFL Draft Options - Windy City Gridiron - EJ Snyder examines the Bears draft options on the latest episode of Bill Zimmerman’s Bears Banter!

Infante's 2020 NFL mock draft: Predicting the first two rounds with trades - Windy City Gridiron - The NFL draft is nearly impossible to predict, so let’s try and do exactly that, forecasting the first two rounds of the 2020 draft.

Wiltfong: Adam Shaheen is on the trade block - Windy City Gridiron - We check in on the latest about a current Bears tight end, and also the latest on an ex-Bears tight end, and also the latest of a possible future tight end!

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears 2020 NFL Draft: Who’s your guy? - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s your chance to get it on record, who’s the one guy you really hope the Chicago Bears draft?

THE RULES

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