The Bear’s Den, June 22, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

Welcome to 90’s Pop & Rock Week here in the Den, as we feature some of the greatest acts of the 1990’s... and some of the most annoying 90’s acts as well. This week, expect a two-for, first the “good” and then the “not so good”... (Relax: No Nickleback now, or ever).

The Good

The Not So Good

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

BEARRRSSSS

Chicago Bears: 5 things learned from assistant coaches - Chicago Tribune - Rookie Jaylon Johnson will have to earn a starting role in the Chicago Bears defense. Linebacker Roquan Smith seems poised for "a breakout year." Five things we learned from Chicago Bears assistant coaches.

Bears need to support player protests, and why — and how — they will - NBC Sports Chicago - It sounds like the Bears will support players who decide to demonstrate before, during or after games.

The Curious Case Of Kyle Fuller – On Tap Sports Net - Diving into the method and the madness behind the Bears All-Pro corner.

Current Approach with Adam Shaheen Looks Best for Bears - SI.com - Ryan Pace receives plenty of criticism for his first-round draft mistakes, as well he should. He’s been very successful in Round 2 except for one.

Ahmad Wagner’s Potential A Matter for Bears to Explore - SI.com - In terms of raw talent, the Bears have to like what they have in undrafted free agent receiver Ahmad Wagner.

How Journeyman Barkevious Mingo Can Elevate the Bears - SI.com - A solution to lost experience and depth at linebacker for the Bears can be one player who epitomizes the term journeyman.

Tiz the Law just what sports needed - Chicago Sun-Times - Bless Tiz the Law’s big, strong heart for keeping his yap shut after winning the Belmont Stakes. It was about time something happened in sports that wasn’t laden with empty rhetoric, tedious ignorance or outright lies.

Coronavirus forcing Bears to build versatility into their game plans - Chicago Sun-Times - From a purely practical standpoint, positive tests will be a game-planning catastrophe. That’s why offensive coordinator Bill Lazor is preparing now.

Time to prove it: This season will show whether Matt Nagy is the right coach for the Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - As good as Nagy’s debut season was, his team fell flat in 2019. With jobs on the line throughout the organization, it’s on him to steer the Bears through turbulent times on and off the field. Is he up to it?

POLISH SAUSAGE

In a pandemic, college football faces a much different challenge than pro football - ProFootballTalk - The NFL remains highly optimistic that it will be able to play its games in 2020. And while college football, on the surface, also is utilizing a similar full-steam-ahead approach, recent developments have taken some of the helium out of the balloon.

Kansas State suspends workouts after 14 players test positive - ProFootballTalk - Kansas State’s football team has shut down its workouts after 14 players tested positive for COVID-19.

NFL remains highly optimistic that season will happen, less optimistic fans will be in stands - ProFootballTalk - In early May, we reported that there is an “extremely small” chance there will be no NFL football in 2020. Recent events, culminating this afternoon in a recommendation from the NFL Players Association that players stop practicing together, have sent us back to our sources for an updated assessment.

Dak Prescott expected to sign franchise tender Monday NFL.com - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to sign his exclusive franchise tag tender on Monday.

NFLPA recommends that players stop private group workouts - NFL.com - NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer released a statement Saturday recommending players to stop

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Green Bay: Nobody cares. Be Heart-healthy, eat less cheese!

Detroit: Nobody cares. Except for people in Flint, where they worry more about the fact that the Lions haven’t shored up the defense enough than the fact that their municipal water is more toxic than drinking out of the cooling system of a nuclear reactor.

Minnesota: Nobody cares. The big news in Minnesota is that Mall of America is open again, so you can now go to the once-popular Rainforest Cafe, sit under all of the dusty fake plants wired to the ceiling and eat their ridiculous Volcano desert with the rest of the mall rats clapping in amazement at your “brave attempt” at downing 12,247 calories in one sitting...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Chicago Bears held two virtual 'rookie rallies' with "I Grow Chicago" staff, Englewood community, Advocate Children's Hospital - ChicagoBears.com - The entire Bears rookie class participated in two Zoom video sessions this week with the

Zimmerman: Analyzing both the Chicago Bears’ current and future cap resources (with Brad Spielberger!) - Windy City Gridiron - In this episode of Bear With Me, Robert S. brings on renowned cap analyst Brad Spielberger to talk through the effects, both now and in the future, of the win-now moves the Chicago Bears made this offseason (like Robert Quinn, Danny Trevathan, etc).

What is the first football “game” you remember playing? - Windy City Gridiron - We wrap up our video game round table series by going back before video games were even a thing!

What is your favorite video game (any genre) of all time? - Windy City Gridiron - We’re taking a little break from the Bears with this one...

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.

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; Jack R Salo Like us on Facebook.