The Bear’s Den, September 9, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

It’s 60’s Pop Week here in the Den, and here’s a horrible song about “the leader of the Pack”

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

BEARRRSSSS

Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn deals reveal Ryan Pace’s approach to building Bears - RSN - One of the great, long-running debates in the NFL centers around the value of pass rushing versus the value of pass coverage. Though the general consensus was (and might still be) that elite pass rushers are a more valuable asset, Pro Football Focus made waves in 2019 when they released a study suggesting that actually, on a broad level, strong coverage is more important in the modern game.

Bears Place Eddy Pineiro on Injured Reserve - On Tap Sports Net - It looks like the Chicago Bears will be without their starting kicker for the beginning of the season, as they have placed Eddy Pineiro on the injured reserve list due to a groin injury.

Confident Jaylon Johnson Ready to Start Against Lions - Jaylon Johnson knows Matthew Stafford is going to look to attack the right side of the Bears defense in Sunday’s game at Ford Field. “That’s what I would do if I was a quarterback,” Johnson said.

Roster Moves: Bears sign Edwards, put Piñeiro on IR - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears on Tuesday signed veteran defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. and placed kicker Eddy Piñeiro on injured reserve with a groin injury. Piñeiro can return to the active roster after three games.

Chalk Talk: How many times have the Chicago Bears opened the season against the Detroit Lions? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses how many times the Bears have opened a season against the Lions, if Mitchell Trubisky’s past success versus Detroit was a factor in him winning the quarterback competition and how much patience coach Matt Nagy will have

Chicago Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky impressed with team’s mindset, focus in preparation for 2020 season opener - ChicagoBears.com - Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is impressed with the Bears’ mindset and focus on the task at hand as they prepare for Sunday’s season opener against the Lions in Detroit.

Bears put kicker Eddy Pineiro on injured reserve; Cairo Santos to kick vs. Lions - Chicago Sun-Times - Pineiro missed the preseason with a groin injury and now must sit the first three games as the Bears utilize a new IR rule.

Bears’ top 2 receivers will be key for Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears leaned on their receivers last year because they had to — a spate of injuries left them the worst tight end room in the game. This year, though, Trubisky should look for them because he wants to.

Eddy Pineiro: Chicago Bears kicker on injured reserve - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears placed kicker Eddy Pineiro on injured reserve with a groin injury.

Chicago Bears podcast on Mitch Trubisky vs. Nick Foles - Chicago Tribune - Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs preview the Chicago Bears' Week 1 game against the Lions in Detroit, with a special focus on the decision to go with Mitch Trubisky over Nick Foles at quarterback.

Chicago Bears rookie Jaylon Johnson ready for 1st test - Chicago Tribune - Barring something unexpected, Jaylon Johnson will become the first Bears rookie to start the opener at cornerback since Walt Harris in 1996. “I’m more than ready in my head,” Johnson said. “I’ve been preparing my whole life for this.”

Chicago Bears: Rankings vs. all NFL teams since 2000 - Chicago Tribune - The Tribune crunched the numbers across more than two dozen categories from the last 20 years to gather a profile on the Chicago Bears. On the whole, the Bears have been ordinary, to put it kindly.

Chicago Bears Week 1: Meet the Detroit Lions (with Locked On Lions' Matt Dery & Pride of Detroit's Chris Perfett) - Chicago Audible Podcast - Listen as the guys gain firsthand insight on the Chicago Bears' Week 1 opponent - the Detroit Lions.

How Bears are preparing for the weirdest Week 1 game ever - RSN - There's a strange, underlying dichotomy to the Bears' first week of the regular season. On one hand, the opening game of 2020 brings a welcomed sense of normalcy; for the first time in a while, the schedule, focus, and discussions all flow with the familiar rhythm of an NFL week.

Bears place kicker Eddy Piñeiro on IR, will go with Cairo Santos in Week 1 - RSN - It looks like the Bears' Week 1 kicker will be Cairo Santos after all.

For Bears' Allen Robinson, contract extension still 'never my focus' - RSN - Allen Robinson on Tuesday continued to brush aside questions about a potential contract extension with the Bears, saying his focus is solely on beating the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s season opener.

It’s all about Bears coach Matt Nagy now - Chicago Sun-Times - With a revamped coaching staff, an upgraded TE corps and a more “focused, calloused” Trubisky, it’s Nagy’s responsibility to give the Bears a productive offense while the defense is in it’s prime.

Bears rookie CB Jaylon Johnson ‘more than ready’ for Matt Stafford to go at him - Chicago Sun-Times - Every quarterback the Bears face will be eager to take advantage of Johnson until he proves himself. That’s no problem, he says.

Bears protect 4 on practice squad - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ list contains their Sunday kicker, third-string quarterback, a running back and the only new member of the practice squad.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Broncos News: PFF says Drew Lock the worst starting quarterback in NFL - Mile High Report - Haters gonna hate. Sam Monson from Pro Football Focus apparently has no love for Drew Lock in 2020. Ken's Note: A non-rookie worse than Trubisky in PFF's eyes? No, they didn't even call the Bears starter right.

Rams have until tomorrow at 4 ET to get under the salary cap - ProFootballTalk - The Rams have a problem. It easily can be solved, but it’s still a problem.

Cardinals sign receiver DeAndre Hopkins to a new five-year deal - ProFootballTalk - Some, including the person who broke the story, are calling it a two-year, $54.5 million extension with a whopping $27.25 million new-money average.

WINDY CITY GRIDIRON MADDEN INVITATION

Do you want to do more officially sanctioned WCG Madden stuff? Or just enjoy the game?WCG now has an official Madden Discord server! Feel free to offer suggestions, updates, or anything to help the internet’s best Bears community have the best Madden community as well! Invite link is here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Everybody loves Mitch - Windy City Gridiron - If you’ve been listening to Chicago sports radio, perusing internet message boards, or scrolling through social media, then you’ve no doubt come across Chicago Bears’ fans that are actively rooting...

Wiltfong: These are the 4 practice squad players the Bears will protect this week - Windy City Gridiron
- According to NFL Trade Rumors, these are the four players the Chicago Bears will protect from being signed away this week.

Wiltfong: Bears place Eddy Piñeiro on injured reserve, sign Mario Edwards Jr. - Windy City Gridiron - Earlier today the Chicago Bears announced that they were placing kicker Eddy Piñeiro on injured reserve, and in a corresponding roster move they announced the signing of defensive end Mario Edwards...

Wiltfong: Five takeaways from the Bears first unofficial depth chart - Windy City Gridiron - Even though the Chicago Bears released a depth chart yesterday in advance of their week one opener against the Detroit Lions, they prefaced it by calling it "unofficial," so we all know what that...

THE RULES

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