The Bear’s Den, June 24, 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”...

THE GOOD

THE NOT SO GOOD

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

BEARRRSSSS

Tri-State Triumphs: Chris Tabor (C-SC)-Chicago Bears Special Teams Coordinator - KHQA - Chris Tabor, Culver-Stockton Head Football Coach (2001) is now the Bear’s special team coordinator, KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr takes a look back at Tabor’s successful CSC career. Ken’s Note: This is the station I’ve worked for over the last decade, Chris is the hardest working man in television... I do wish some of the action shots had shown me on the sidelines (I was shooting for newspaper back then). Additionally, Culver-Stockton is my Alma Mater, and we’ve had some of the worst collegiate football teams in the history of the sport.

Ryan Nall’s Preseason About to Become More Challenging - SI.com - Bears coach Matt Nagy insists he’s going to “callous” his team to make them ready this preseason, with starters seeing plenty of action.

Projecting Allen Robinson’s 2020 Numbers Can Be One Tough Call - SI.com - Allen Robinson displayed patience with his contract situation earlier this month when speaking with media, saying it wasn’t of immediate concern so he wasn’t much for discussing it.

Napoleon Maxwell Can Teach a Few Bears Vets About Real Determination - SI.com - When the Bears did not bring in a possible free agent running back for the depth chart behind David Montgomery, it said they had confidence in Ryan Nall.

Chalk Talk: What is the key for Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller to excel? - ChicagoBear.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses what receiver Anthony Miller needs to do to consistently perform at a high level, a young Bears player who could have a breakout 2020 season and the likelihood of Khalil Mack’s brother, Ledarius, earning a roster spot.

Chicago Bears S Deon Bush ‘ready to take that next step’ in 2020 - ChicagoBear.com - A reliable backup and key special-teams performer in his first four seasons with the Bears, safety Deon Bush is determined to make an even greater impact in 2020.

The Oral History of Peyton Manning’s Free Agent Adventure Might Be the Most Fun Thing You Read Today - Bleacher Nation - John Fox as a lead recruiter? Yeah, it happened!

Allen Robinson is Heckin’ Good and You’ll Want Him on Your Fantasy Team - Bleacher Nation - Allen Robinson is good at catching footballs.

Despite National Negativity, Bears Outlook Not that Bleak - Da Bears Blog - National pundits be damned, the outlook for the Chicago Bears in 2020 and beyond isn’t nearly as bleak as some have made it out to be.

Nagy Leaning On Veteran Coaches To Recreate Scheme - 670 The Score - By the end of the Bears’ disappointing 2019 season, coach Matt Nagy knew why his offense had faltered. He was ready to act on it.

Bears rookie Lachavious ‘Pig’ Simmons brings versatility — and farm strength - Chicago Sun-Times - Simmons was a mostly unknown prospect out of Tennessee State, but could be valuable to the Bears at any of the five offensive line positions. And given his upbringing, there’s no doubt about his work ethic.

4 Bears With the Most to Prove in Their Contract Season - Chicago Audible Blog - For the Bears who are on the last year of their contracts, 2020 will be an important year. Check out who has the most to gain this season.

Orlando Pride coronavirus outbreak should be harsh wake-up call for NFL - NBC Sports Chicago - Sorry, football players. Your 2020 isn’t going to be much fun.

Artavis Pierce’s Persistence Can Pay Bears Dividends - SI.com - Of Artavis Pierce, the Bears can be sure of this much: He is persistent.

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFL attendance will be determined "state-by-state, county-by-county" - ProFootballTalk - Money trumps competitive balance.

Report: Seahawks, Ravens have discussed Antonio Brown - ProFootballTalk - Antonio Brown is likely to have a long wait before he plays in the NFL again.

Having at least two preseason games will be critical this year - ProFootballTalk - The NFL and NFL Players Association are discussing the possibility of playing only two preseason games this year. Two would be the absolute minimum, for reasons unrelated to getting football teams ready to go.

Coaching Summit offers positives, but major diversity issues remain - As the NFL wrapped up the third annual Quarterback Coaching Summit, which was held to address the lack of diversity among the league's 32 head coaches, I stepped away with a shortage of two things: hope and patience.

Lions owner Martha Ford stepping down, will be succeeded by daughter - NFL.com - The Detroit Lions announced Tuesday that Martha Firestone Ford, who took over after William Clay Ford Sr. died in 2014, stepped down as the principal owner of the team. Sheila Ford Hamp will succeed her mother as the club's principal owner and chairman.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Minnesota: Nobody cares. Not even the ghost of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodump.

New Lions owner would fully support signing Kap - NFL.com - New Lions principal owner Sheila Ford Hamp said she would support signing Colin Kaepernick and her players peacefully protesting.

5 takeaways from Detroit Lions owner Sheila Ford’s introductory press conference - Pride Of Detroit - The biggest takeaways from the Lions’ new owner’s first press conference.

Don’t expect sweeping changes for Detroit Lions under Sheila Ford Hamp - Pride Of Detroit - Don’t get it twisted, this was already Sheila’s team.

Martha Ford steps down as Detroit Lions owner, Sheila Ford Hamp to take over - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions have a new primary owner.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell offers statement on Detroit Lions ownership change - Pride Of Detroit - "Martha Ford has led the Lions with skill and grace for the past six seasons."

ESPN’s Super Bowl-era quarterback ranking is bad and they should feel bad - Acme Packing Company - The Worldwide Leader says the Patriots have had the best quarterback play of the Super Bowl era, but their reasoning is poor.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: ESPN with the least surprising Bears thing ever - Windy City Gridiron - Guess which team has had the worst quarterback situation during the Super Bowl era?

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.

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