The Bear’s Den, February 16, 2021

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Carson Wentz trade: Eagles QB may want to join Colts, not Bears, delaying deal - RSN - The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane believes if the Colts had offered the best trade for Wentz, the deal would be done.

New Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator Promises a Tune-Up - Sports Illustrated - Sean Desai didn't see many big changes coming to the way the Chicago Bears play defense beyond being more productive than they've been for the last two seasons on that side of the ball.

Chicago Bears Will Need to Cough Up First-Rounder for QB - Sports Illustrated - The Bears have to give up a first-round pick for a quarterback who isn't worth one, and the blame has to go to those in positions of real power.

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai expects 2021 defense to be tough, disciplined - ChicagoBears.com - New Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai vowed Monday that the defense under his watch will be physical and establish an identity that fans will embrace and relate to.

New Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai excited to work with veteran unit - ChicagoBears.com - New Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai is excited to work with a talented veteran defense that has nine of 11 starters under contract, saying: “I think we’ve got a lot of tools in place here.”

Sean Desai aims to ‘optimize’ Bears’ individual talents - 670 The Score - New Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai hopes to make a few tweaks to his unit in an effort to maximize the individual talent, believing it can once again be the NFL’s top defense.

RIP

Buccaneers are "shocked and saddened" by sudden passing of Vincent Jackson - ProFootballTalk - Former NFL receiver Vincent Jackson died Monday at 38. Jackson spent the final five seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Former NFL wideout Vincent Jackson found dead at 38 - ProFootballTalk - Former Chargers and Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead in a Brandon, Florida hotel room on Monday.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Darius Leonard surprised by Rivers’ retirement, wants next QB to ‘put the team first’ - Darius Leonard didn’t see Philip Rivers’ retirement coming.

Bears’ defense needs much more than ‘tune up’ as coordinator Sean Desai takes over - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ defense was good, but it needs to be great for them to accomplish anything in 2021. And that’s a bigger jump than Desai portrays.

Bears turned to Vic Fangio coaching tree when hiring Sean Desai - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears, though, might have plucked a coordinator off the Fangio coaching tree two years late. Since the Bears hired Chuck Pagano for an underwhelming two-year stint, the NFL has embraced Fangio’s defense as a potential solution to the next wave of eye-popping quarterbacks.

Bears defensive coordinator believes NT Eddie Goldman will return in 2021 - Chicago Sun-Times - Putting Goldman, a Pro Bowl alternate the last season he played, back on the defensive line would be a big boost for the Bears.

Sean Desai: New Chicago Bears coordinator learned under Vic Fangio - Chicago Tribune - As the new Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, Sean Desai understands a big part of his efforts must be channeled into getting the defense’s sacks and takeaways totals back up. Having learned under Vic Fangio, Desai believes he has the answers.

Under Sean Desai, Bears’ D appears to be back in good hands – The Athletic - Taking what he learned from former mentor Vic Fangio, the new Bears defensive coordinator says his unit needs a “tune-up,” not an overhaul.

Bart Scott: Carson Wentz makes Bears ‘Super Bowl contender’ - RSN - “I know Wentz [didn’t have] the best season last year, but com’n, Mitchell Trubisky? This is a great upgrade.” Scott said on ESPN’s Get Up.

Bears DC Sean Desai expects Eddie Goldman to return in 2021 - RSN - One of the biggest moves the Bears could make on defense is simply bringing a player on their roster back into the fold.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: “Chicago is the front runner” in a Carson Wentz trade - Windy City Gridiron - Earlier today on The Herd, the MMQB’s Albert Breer was dishing on the Eagles-Colts-Bears Wentz trade triangle.

Wiltfong’s Chicago Bears 2021 Roster Turnover: Khalil Mack needs help at outside linebacker - Windy City Gridiron - In this 13 part series we’ll take an in depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye towards the 2021 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Pace make.

Infante’s 2021 NFL Draft: Prospects with ties to Bears coaching staff - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have several coaches with ties to notable 2021 NFL Draft prospects, and that could make those players particularly intriguing to them.

Wiltfong: Bears yet to confirm that Goldman will opt back in for 2021 - Windy City Gridiron - After he opted out a year ago due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bears are hopeful they’ll get Eddie Goldman back in 2021.

THE RULES

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