The Bear’s Den, May 8, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This one honors the opener...

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

BEARRRSSSS

Roundtable: Does Schedule Set Up Well For Bears? - 670 The Score - With the Bears’ schedule released for 2020, we asked three of our 670 hosts to chime in with their immediate reaction. Here’s what David Haugh, Danny Parkins and Joe Ostrowski had to say.

Emma: Game-By-Game Predictions For Bears In 2020 - 670 The Score - The Bears’ schedule is set. How will they fare in 2020?

5@5: How Will Ted Ginn Jr. Fit In Bears’ Offense? - 670 The Score - The Mully & Haugh crew debates a five-pack of questions every weekday.

Chicago Bears lauded by NFL writer Lance Zierlein for drafting Utah CB Jaylon Johnson - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears’ selection of Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson with the No. 50 choice in the draft is among NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s three favorite picks in the second round.

Matt Nagy Was Obsessed with Recruiting Ted Ginn Jr. (And Obviously, It Worked!) - Bleacher Nation - Matt Nagy is a smooth talker.

2020 Chicago Bears schedule: A full 16-week look at the Bears' 2020 season - NBC Sports Chicago - We now have a week-by-week look at the team's 2020 campaign.

Bears 2020 schedule: 5 most intriguing matchups on Bears' 2020 schedule - NBC Sports Chicago - Tompa Bay Thursday, Monday night in LA, and more.

Bears 2020 schedule: Game-by-game predictions - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears' 2020 schedule was released Thursday night, and insider JJ Stankevitz sees Chicago going 10-6 this year. Here's how.

2020 NFL schedule release: NFL schedule re-frames the NFC North title race - NBC Sports Chicago - Has anything changed?

2020 Schedule: Bears Start in Detroit, Finish Up with Divisional Battles - SI.com - The last time the Bears faced the Detroit Lions in a season opener, they went to the NFC championship game.

Friendlies Extend Supporting Hand to Mitchell Trubisky - SI.com - It seems Mitchell Trubisky is garnering support from expected and unexpected places following the Bears' rejection of his fifth-year option.

Bears Tickets Go On Sale Just After Schedule is Released - SI.com - The Bears plan to put single-game tickets on sale Thursday night after the NFL announces the 2020 schedule.

Chicago Bears unveil schedule for 2020 season - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears’ 2020 regular-season schedule that was released by the NFL Thursday evening is highlighted by four prime-time games, beginning with a Thursday night contest against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers at Soldier Field.

Chicago Bears' 2020 regular-season schedule trends, numbers, streaks, tidbits - ChicagoBears.com - Take a unique look at the Bears' 2020 regular-season schedule by the numbers, with items about streaks, stretches, trends and other interesting tidbits.

Former Chicago Bears LT Jimbo Covert talks Hall of Fame career, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan - ChicagoBears.com - During an interview on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Facebook page Thursday, 2020 inductee Jimbo Covert discussed his illustrious career with the Bears, playing with Walter Payton and interactions he’s had with Michael Jordan.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Cleveland Browns: Destroying A Quarterback, The DeShone Kizer Debacle - SI.com - Being waived this week by the Las Vegas Raiders, DeShone Kizer's career in the NFL may be coming to an end. And because of how he was handled by the Cleveland Browns and particularly Hue Jackson, he may have been doomed from the start.

Report: Ravens are exploring whether Earl Thomas violated his contract - ProFootballTalk - The incident involving Earl Thomas and his wife, which resulted in no charges for the Ravens safety, may nevertheless create a problem for the player.

Cam Newton open to backup job - ProFootballTalk - Cam Newton remains the most prominent unsigned quarterback in the NFL and one of the questions that has been raised about his playing future is whether the one-time league MVP would take a job as a clear backup.

Pass interference replay is dead - ProFootballTalk - After a largely unsuccessful one-year experiment, replay review of pass interference will not return to the NFL in 2020.

CFL Commissioner: Most likely scenario is no season at all - ProFootballTalk - The Canadian Football League 2020 season is likely to be scrapped.

Washington QB Alex Smith working out in birthday video - NFL.com - Alex Smith isn't done with football. In honor of his 36th birthday, his wife posted an inspiring video on her Instagram account showing the veteran quarterback working out.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Which Detroit Lions opponent are you most excited to see play next season? - Pride Of Detroit - Which opponent is most intriguing to you?

2020 Detroit Lions schedule leak: Detroit to host Chicago Bears in season opener - Pride Of Detroit - Detroit will play a divisional opponent in Week 1 for the first time since 2013.

Early Vikings Season Odds - Daily Norseman - An early look at how betting markets view the Vikings in 2020-21

Aaron Rodgers has an incredible aversion to throwing to the middle of the field - Acme Packing Company - Is Rodgers making his life harder than it needs to be?

GM Ryan Pace claims Bears ‘believe in Mitch’ despite declining option - Chicago Sun-Times - He said he hopes Trubisky ends up like cornerback Kyle Fuller, the cornerback whom the Bears decided not to extend an option but eventually gave a monster contract.

Chicago Bears 2020 schedule: Breaking down every regular-season game - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears will face some of the most compelling teams in the NFL — notably Tom Brady and the Buccaneers — as they try to climb back to the playoffs after an 8-8 disappointment in 2019.

Chicago Bears’ 2020 preseason schedule includes game at Denver Broncos - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears originally planned to hold joint practices with former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s team, though that is in question because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chicago Bears’ 2020 full schedule: Regular season features Buccaneers, Saints - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears will release its 2020 schedule tonight at 6:30 p.m., but dates are already leaking. Check out what we know so far.

Chicago Bears: 2020 NFL schedule dates - Chicago Tribune - The Bears' meeting with the Packers in the regular-season finale is one of several that, while tentative because of the coronavirus, still deserve a circle on the calendar,

Analyzing the Chicago Bears' 2020 Schedule - Chicago Audible Podcast - As soon as the Chicago Bears released their schedule, we went live to share our instant reaction and week-by-week analysis.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante: Bears announce 2020 schedule, team to play four primetime games - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears’ 2020 schedule has been officially announced.

Wiltfong: Allen Robinson was elite in 2019 - Windy City Gridiron - Allen Robinson had a fantastic 2019 season for the Chicago Bears with a team leading 98 receptions, 1,147 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. Those numbers seem even more incredible when you take...

Wiltfong: The Chicago Bears entire “rumored” 2020 Schedule is right here! - Windy City Gridiron - We have the entire Bears regular season and preseason schedule!

Should the Bears have taken a quarterback in the 2020 draft? - Windy City Gridiron - We put a bow on this latest set of Windy City Gridiron round table questions with some QB talk...

Zeglinski's A new friend: The Bears’ Ledarius Mack has the mentality of a professional - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears can’t go wrong reuniting the Mack brothers in Chicago. The senior Mack’s influence has already rubbed off on his sibling.

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.

Editor’s note: The COVID-19 pandemic is a subject that requires sensitivity and care. Many families and people have already been impacted by this crisis as it unfolds. This is a reminder to please express yourself respectfully while also exercising common courtesy in interactions with one another in the comments. All WCG commentary guidelines remain in effect and apply especially. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

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.