The Bear’s Den, January 25, 2021

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Chicago Bears’ defensive to-do list for new DC Sean Desai – The Athletic - Sean Desai will have his work cut out for him with the 2021 Bears defense — here’s what he needs to do.

As Aaron Rodgers questions future, Bears should watch situation closely - RSN - Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending press conference got all the attention, but the Packers’ quarterback has been hinting at an exit all season.

Super Bowl LV: Many Chiefs, Bucs connected to Chicago Bears - RSN - Believe it or not, the Bears have been connected to many key people headed to Tampa for Super Bowl LV. Coulda, woulda, shoulda trigger warning for any Bears fans who spiral into negative thinking when considering how the team may have fared in parallel universes. For everyone else, scroll on to see how several players, coaches and front office staff in Super Bowl LV were linked to Halas Hall at some point.

Sean Desai Should Bring a New OLB Coach to Chicago - On Tap Sports Net - Ted Monachino is not expected to return to Chicago in 2021. Sean Desai should bring in a new OLB coach to Chicago.

9 players to watch in 2021: Chicago Bears OL Sam Mustipher’s best is yet to come - ChicagoBears.com - The best is seemingly yet to come for Bears center Sam Mustipher, who stepped into the starting lineup midway through the 2020 season and helped solidify the offensive line.

Sean Desai Named Defensive Coordinator: Brandon Robinson Breaks it Down - Da Bears Blog - Sean Desai is the only defensive coordinator in the sport with this in his Wikipedia page:

Parkins & Spiegel: What should Bears offer for Stafford? - 670 The Score - Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and the organization have mutually agreed to part ways, which means he’ll soon be shopped on the trade market. With that in mind, he’d be a great answer for the Bears, 670 afternoon host Danny Parkins said.

Chicago Bears Free Agency Decisions: Germain Ifedi or Bobby Massie? - Sports Illustrated - Essentially the Bears must decide in free agency whether to stick with Bobby Massie and his higher cap cost or to sign Germain Ifedi to a longer-term deal with the uncertainty of how he’ll continue handling right tackle.

Chicago Bears: 5 things to watch for this offseason - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace have a lot of work to do this offseason if they’re going to return to the playoffs after a second straight 8-8 season. As they zero in on what changes need to be made to the roster, here’s a snapshot look at what’s ahead.

’85 Bears doc? We’re gonna need some more sausages - Chicago Sun-Times - Super Bowl 55 is coming, and that’s a long way from Super Bowl 20. Has it really been 35 years? Because it feels more like 100.

Bears miss out on Duce Staley as Eagles assistant joins Lions coaching staff - Chicago Sun-Times - Staley, the well-respected assistant whom the Bears were expected to pursue once the Eagles let him out of his contract, is heading to a different NFC North team.

RIP

Former Chicago Bears running back Cyril Pinder passes away at age 74 - ChicagoBears.com - Former Bears running back Cyril Pinder passed away Saturday at the age of 74.

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFL reviewed a non-reviewable ruling on Josh Allen incompletion - ProFootballTalk - The NFL often takes criticism for its byzantine rules. When the NFL’s own head of officiating can’t keep track of the rules, it’s hard not to feel that criticism is justified.

Bruce Arians: I'm not really excited to play Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Patrick Mahomes - ProFootballTalk - “I mean, you go back and you look at the game and what matchups you had,” Arians said. “I’m not really excited playing Tyreek Hill and [Travis] Kelce and [Patrick] Mahomes. That’s a formidable challenge, but our guys will be up for it.”

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Could Aaron Rodgers leave the Green Bay Packers? - Chicago Tribune - Aaron Rodgers said he was gutted by the Packers' NFC championship game loss Sunday while acknowledging the uncertainty of his future in Green Bay.

Wisconsin sports are a lesson in pain, the kind that comes from unfulfilled hope - Acme Packing Company - This is an exercise in writing through it.

Aaron Rodgers speaks of ‘uncertain’ future but trade seems logistically impossible - Pride Of Detroit - Aaron Rodgers trade rumors are about to blow up, but don’t buy into them.

Detroit Lions hiring Duce Staley as RB coach/assistant head coach - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions’ offensive staff is starting to come together.

Matthew Stafford trade: Kelly Stafford addresses future in Detroit - Pride Of Detroit - Kelly appeared to give a pre-goodbye on Instagram Monday morning.

Aaron Rodgers’ postgame comments a message to Packers brass that organizational mentality must change - NFL.com - Rodgers, a highly intelligent and hyper-aware 37-year-old, chose his words carefully. And when he spoke, I believe he delivered a message to his bosses, one I'd roughly translate thusly: Your way of doing business has to change, or maybe I should be on my way.

In one fateful moment, Matt LaFleur underestimated two GOATs - ProFootballTalk - LaFleur surely will wonder whether he made the right decision. Rodgers surely will wonder whether he should have asserted himself more, even if it meant calling one of the team’s timeouts.

Duce Staley joining Lions coaching staff - ProFootballTalk - Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Staley will be the assistant head coach and running backs coach with the Lions. He held the same titles with the Eagles the last three seasons.

“Gutted” Aaron Rodgers expresses uncertainty about his future - ProFootballTalk - “A lot of guys futures that are, you know, uncertain, myself included,” Rodgers said. “That’s what’s sad about it most. . . . Just the uncertainties is tough and the finality of it all.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante: Ranking all 145 players at the 2021 Senior Bowl - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears drafted two players who played at the Senior Bowl last year, so could they do it again this year? We rank every single player traveling down to Mobile this year.

THE RULES

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