The Bear’s Den, May 6, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This one’s that seems to fit today’s groove...

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

BEARRRSSSS

2020 Defense Can Be Better Than 2018 - Da Bears Blog - Considering how good the defense was in 2018, believing the 2020 vintage will be better might seem like crazy talk. But the Bears have more talent (and more depth) on the unit than they did two seasons ago.

Tashaun Gipson, Bears See Opportunity Together - 670 The Score - When veteran safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. was released unexpectedly by the Texans last month, the 29-year-old was suddenly free to explore his options on the open market. Above all else, he wanted to find a winner.

5@5: Did Bears Get Better This Offseason? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.

NFL To Release Bears, League Schedule Thursday Night - 670 The Score - The NFL will release its 2020 regular-season schedule for the Chicago Bears and the rest of the league Thursday at 7 p.m. CT in a primetime special. The league’s schedule will be unveiled in a three-hour show on NFL Network.

Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine helped convince close friend Tashaun Gipson to sign with the team - ChicagoBears.com - A strong endorsement from nickel back Buster Skrine greatly influenced close friend and former Browns teammate Tashaun Gipson to sign with the Bears.

4 things we learned from new Chicago Bears safety Tashaun Gipson’s introductory video teleconference - ChicagoBears.com - In an introductory video teleconference with the media Tuesday, new Bears safety Tashaun Gipson discussed his surprise release from the Texans, pairing with Eddie Jackson in the secondary and more.

Chicago Bears 2020 draft pick Darnell Mooney described as hard worker, fast learner by Tulane coach - ChicagoBears.com - According to Darnell Mooney’s head coach at Tulane, Willie Fritz, the Bears’ fifth-round draft pick is a talented receiver who possesses versatility and an excellent work ethic.

ESPN's Tony Reali sorry for Mitch Trubisky joke - Chicago Tribune - ESPN’s “Around the Horn” host Tony Reali coined a phrase for a lack of accuracy near the end of Monday’s show, but felt guilty soon after and apologized to Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

With the 2020 Bears roster in place, the Bear Download podcast breaks down each position group - Chicago Tribune - Now that the Bears' 2020 draft class has joined the fold, it's time for Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs to evaluate where the team stands at each position group — with some help from readers.

Bears CB Kindle Vildor's Press Coverage Abilities and Study Habits are His Greatest Strengths - Chicago Audible Blog - Kindle Vildor’s defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern, Scot Sloan, explains what makes the Bears CB special.

Tashaun Gipson is right: He and Eddie Jackson can be ‘deadly’ pair - NBC Sports Chicago - Tashaun Gipson’s only concern about playing with Eddie Jackson is that he won’t get to keep his No. 39.

2020 NFL Power Rankings: Post-NFL Draft Edition - NBC Sports Chicago - After NFL Free Agency and the NFL Draft, where do the teams stand? Ken's Note: See Lester's story for more power rankings!

Tashaun Gipson will change his number because Eddie Jackson 'made 39 cool' - NBC Sports Chicago - He's not wrong!

Matt Nagy's been calling Bears receiver Ted Ginn Jr. every day of offseason - NBC Sports Chicago - The new WR is clearly already comfortable with the Bears.

Seth Rollins and Zach Miller pick who will win Bears' Trubisky-Foles competition - NBC Sports Chicago - There's never a wrong time to have a Bears QB debate.

Former Bear Aaron Lynch Now with Jaguars - SI.com - If the Bears wanted Aaron Lynch back, they didn't want him as much as the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tight end contracts could be next to see significant rise - WGN Radio 720 - Several tight ends in the NFL are centerpieces of the offense. Now, it’s time they get paid like it. Guys such as George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz and Rob Gronkowski — before he sat out a year — are more productive than many wide receivers but make far less money.

Bears give Tashaun Gipson ‘opportunity I couldn’t pass by’ - Chicago Sun-Times - When the Texans cut the safety last week, then, the Bears could skip the get-to-know-you phase of their courtship.

Meet new Chicago Bears safety Tashaun Gipson - Chicago Tribune - The Bears talked to safety Tashaun Gipson during the 2019 offseason, but they went separate ways. When the Texans released Gipson last week, this time the fit was right.

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFL outlines ticket refund policy, despite plans for normal season - ProFootballTalk - The NFL plans to have a full season in open stadiums. But the NFL nevertheless has a plan for developments that would prevent a full season in open stadiums from occurring.

NFL’s top 10 offenses: Chiefs, Ravens pulling away from pack - NFL.com - Chris Wesseling assesses the landscape of NFL offenses now that the draft has concluded and the majority of free-agent signings are in the books. Which units are the most potent? Here are the top 10 attacks heading into the 2020 season. Ken’s Note: No Bears? OUTRAGEOUS!!!

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Minnesota: Nobody cares

Jarrad Davis still part of Detroit Lions’ ‘big-picture plans’ despite no 5th-year option - Pride Of Detroit - Matt Patricia still has big plans for Jarrad Davis.

2020 Detroit Lions schedule: 5 things we’d like to see - Pride Of Detroit - A look at our preferences for the Lions’ 2020 schedule

Calculating the Packers’ salary cap impacts and deadlines in Aaron Rodgers’ contract - Acme Packing Company - Starting in 2021, the Packers in a sense have a $22 to 25 million option on Rodgers for each of the last three years of his deal.

Most vulnerable division champs: Packers, Texans in trouble? - NFL.com - Did the Packers' offseason moves put Aaron Rodgers and Co. in a bad spot? Are Bill O'Brien's Texans in trouble? Gil Brandt ranks the most vulnerable division winners heading into the 2020 season.

How the Detroit Lions are maintaining workout programs in virtual age - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions have infrastructure in place to make sure their players are staying in playing condition.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong's NFL Post Draft Power Rankings: Where are the Bears? - Windy City Gridiron - We check on a few NFL Power Rankers to see where they list the Bears...

Which undrafted free agents are locks to make the Bears? - Windy City Gridiron - Our latest offseason WCG round table is all about the Chicago Bears undrafted free agent class of 2020, so if you missed who they signed here they are...

Zeglinski's A new friend: Cole Kmet comes off the bus first - Windy City Gridiron - In Cole Kmet, the Bears believe they have their tight end of the future. He might be the tight end of their here and now, too.

THE RULES

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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.; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.

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.