April 2012
78 posts
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“What leads you to not draft a specific position — and you have to look at all...”
– Bears GM Phil Emery on why the Bears didn’t draft an offensive lineman or defensive tackle.
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Rd. 7 - #Bears draft CB Greg McCoy
Positives — Decent size for a nickle cornerback at the next level… Plays better in off coverage, which allows him to read and react… When he sees the play develop, he has a better ability to read routes and make plays… Takes good angles to the football when reading the football… Is quick in short areas, and is able to make plays on the ball… Looks better on...
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Rd. 6 - #Bears draft CB Isaiah Frey
Positives — Has good length and size for the position, a taller corner… Has good straight line speed and moves well for his size, can turn and run and despite his height can do it with a relatively low pad level… Can get out of his back pedal and into chase mode quickly… His ability to find the football in the air is a plus, does well in both zone and man coverage…...
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Rd. 4 #Bears select FB/TE Evan Rodriguez
Evan Rodriguez
Temple (HT: 6-1½ - WT: 242)
Rodriguez is an interesting prospect in that teams will have to find abnormal ways to get him the ball in space at the next level. He has the physical traits to play in the NFL. Rodriguez has true tweener size and isn’t an obvious tight end or fullback. He is a serviceable player at the next level in the short passing game.
Strengths
Rodriguez...
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Scouting Report for S Brandon Hardin
Positives — Great size and build, will have no problem with bigger tight ends and receivers in the NFL… Elite speed, ran a 4.38-40 at his pro day… Good at reading the quarterback’s eyes and diagnosing plays… Great in the box safety with impressive tackling skills; an absolutely punishing tackler, just YouTube his name and you will see some incredible hits…...
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Rd. 3 - #Bears draft S Brandon Hardin
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Scouting Report for WR Alshon Jeffery
Some info on Jeffery…
South Carolina wideout Alshon Jeffery is quite the interesting 2012 NFL Draft prospect. He has the potential to be one of the game’s truly dominant targets in the NFL, but he comes with a scary amount of downside. He racked up 88 catches for 1,517 yards and nine scores in 2010 and followed it up with a 49-762-8 line in 2011. Plenty of factors come into play to...
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Rd. 2 - #Bears draft WR Alshon Jeffery, SC
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“To all the doubters, I am going to have to go out there and prove myself,” he...”
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“It just says that player was at that spot at that time and he was the...”
– Bears GM Phil Emery on the surprising selection of DE Shea McClellin.
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McClellan will wear #99 for the Bears in 2012
Hopefully he’ll play with the same tenacity and mean streak that made Hampton such a beast.
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Scouting Report for DE Shea McClellin, new Bear
Positives — Former high school running back, very athletic pass rusher with an explosive first step both with his hand in the dirt and standing up; versatile, has played all over the Boise defense, looks like a potential starter at the next level regardless of scheme… Does a nice job anticipating the snap count; has the speed to threaten the edge, good flexibility to dip his shoulder...
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#Bears select DE Shea McClellin
19th pick overall is DE Shea McClellin from Boise St.
More to come.
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#Bears OT Carimi may not be 100%
The right tackle is still on track to be ready for training camp, but seven months after dislocating his right knee and four months after his last surgery on the knee, he is still not fully recovered, a source close to Carimi told CBSChicago.com.
“I wouldn’t say it’s fully healed, but it’s getting closer,” the source said. “I think he’s feeling pretty good though. He’s working out a lot and on a...
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Final few hours for NFL Draft Contest...
Our 3rd Annual Bears Fans Online NFL Draft Contest has come down to the final few hours for submissions! If you want your chance to win $50 to the official Bears online store, go to THIS LINK, read the rules, and register.
All submissions of the first round of the draft are due by midnight (central time) tonight. If you think you can accurately predict the first round of the NFL Draft, then...
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#Bears RB Bell signs 1-yr tender
The Bears announced Wednesday the signing of the restricted free agent running back. Bell signed his one-year tender offer from the team.
Bell has appeared in 20 games with three starts during his three seasons in Chicago, compiling 557 rushing yards on 119 carries with 20 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown.
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“If we just have four guys who want to hunt the quarterback or ball carrier every...”
– Bears DT Stephen Paea
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Nick Roach, Stephen Paea win the Brian Piccolo...
The Chicago Bears named veteran linebacker Nick Roach the recipient of the annual Brian Piccolo Award on Tuesday at Halas Hall.
Defensive tackle Stephen Paea, a second-round draft pick a year ago, was selected as the rookie winner of the award at the annual celebration, an important affair for the McCaskey family.
The awards are given annually to the players who exemplify the courage,...
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“Our area scouts, Lovie and myself. Our area scouts know those players’...”
– Bears GM Phil Emery on who’s gonna be in the war room on draft day.
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Urlacher & Jenny McCarthy is apparently legit.
A few weeks ago, news began to circulate that Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was involved in some type of romantic relationship with former Playboy Playmate of the Year Jenny McCarthy.
Now, a source told the Chicago Sun-Times McCarthy is “giddy” over her new relationship with Urlacher. The source said McCarthy loves how Urlacher “quietly takes care of her when they’re together.
“That...
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Breaking down the Forte franchise tag situation
A lot of people are asking me about what the deal is with Matt Forte and the Bears franchise tag. Can they trade him, etc. Here’s the situation:
Forte is not allowed to negotiate with any other team. The Bears have exclusivity over him, unless…
…the team withdraws their franchise tag. If the Bears withdraw the tag, Forte immediately becomes an unrestricted free agent and...
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#Bears sign LB Geno Hayes
Hayes was one of several veteran linebackers the Bears brought to Halas Hall for an official visit earlier in the week.
Hayes spent the past four seasons as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he started a total of 42 games. Originally a sixth-round draft choice by the Bucs out of Florida State, Hayes recorded a career-high 98 tackles in 2009.
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“That certainly was the case for us. We didn’t make it to the playoffs, but we...”
– Former Bears exec Tim Ruskell talking a bit about being let go and the situation with Jerry’s firing.
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#Bears sign veteran G Chilo Rachal
The Bears have professed contentment with their offensive line this offseason, but that didn’t stop them from signing a veteran guard on Wednesday. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that the Bears have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free agent guard Chilo Rachal. Rachal was drafted in the second round of the 2008 Draft by the 49ers and he’s spent his entire career with San...
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Various "experts" break down the #Bears 2012...
John “Moon” Mullin of CSN Chicago
Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times
Eric Dickerson & Michael Wright of ESPN.com
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“I love starting the season at home in front of our fans. I don’t think there is...”
– Bears head coach Lovie Smith on his optimism about the schedule.
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#Bears full 2012 regular season schedule here!
Please note that the Bears have the league’s maximum allotment of prime time games on their schedule (5), including a Thursday Night Football game against Green Bay in week 2.
Their bye falls on week 6.
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#Bears draft priorities via CSN
Here’s an excerpt from Moon Mullin’s CSN article regarding the Bears needs going into the draft:
The key: 1 = priority need; likely pick during first four rounds. 2 = moderate need; help wanted but not desperate enough for a need-based reach. 3 = low or no need; could take one but only a value surprise. Quarterback: 3 With Jay Cutler in place, Jason Campbell in addition, Josh...
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WatchEarl Bennett’s BR4SS underwear commercial.
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#Bears reinstate RB Harvey Unga
Via the Trib:
Unga, 6-foot, 237 pounds, rushed nine times for 27 yards in preseason action last year before departing. Forte, newly signed Michael Bush and Kahlil Bell are firmly entrenched ahead of Unga. Some have wondered if he could fit as a fullback but that is unlikely and the Bears found a solid option at that position last year with Tyler Clutts.
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#Bears 2012 opponents
Not a schedule, but at least an idea of who they’ll play and where.
Home:
Lions, Packers, Vikings, Rams, Seahawks, Panthers, Texans, Colts
Away:
Lions, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, 49ers, Cowboys, Jaguars, Titans
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“I see myself as being able to do much more,” Conte said. “I was a...”
– Bears safety Chris Conte.
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Former #Bears WR David Terrell charged with...
Via the Trib:
Former Chicago Bears wide receiver David Terrell was ordered held on $10,000 bond Saturday after he allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend during an argument inside his high-rise apartment on the Near South Side and threatened to throw her off a balcony, according to court documents.
Terrell, 33, is charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. He looked to the floor and shook his head...
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Bears promote Hanks, Slater to head trainer...
General manager Phil Emery promoted Chris Hanks to the position of head athletic trainer and Bobby Slater was elevated to become assistant head athletic trainer/director of rehabilitation. The two of them have spent a combined 25 seasons with the organization, so the coaching staff, players and support staff are familiar with them.
Prior to his time in Chicago, Hanks spent 11 years at the...
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#Urlacher dating Jenny McCarthy?
Via TMZ:
Brian Urlacher and former Playboy Playmate of the Year Jenny McCarthy met up for a dinner date at Mastro’s steak house on Tuesday night. Paparazzi caught up to the pair when they tried to sneak out the back into a waiting SUV.
I doubt Jim Carrey is too happy about this. But who is?
^This guy.
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100 followers!!
Thanks to all of Bears Fans Online’s followers and readers, we’ve reached the century mark. Let’s go for more!
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#Bears Forte not signing franchise sheet, will...
Via NBC Sports:
That sounds like a recipe for a protracted standoff as does a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN on SportsCenter Wednesday. Schefter reports that Forte “is not signing anything until he has a long-term deal” and that he won’t be in Chicago until he signs that deal. Things could change once the deadline for signing franchise tags gets closer, but that isn’t until July 15th which...
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“It’s up to him to feed his family, and it’s his life and his career. He knows...”
– Bears LB Lance Briggs addressing Matt Forte’s contract situation.
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#Bears LB Lance Briggs signs 1-yr extension
Per the Trib:
Briggs, who signed a $36 million, six-year contract as an unrestricted free agent in 2008, has $10.5 million and two years remaining on that deal. The new structure, for practical purposes, guarantees him as much as $8.25 million. While only $1.5 million in new money comes to Briggs in the first two years of the contract he has more guarantees now in the event the durable performer...
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“Matt takes care of himself, knows the offense, is a smart guy, he’s always in...”
– Bears MLB Brian Urlacher discussing running back Matt Forte’s situation.
cocoabutterandshame asked: The Trib reported earlier today that Bell would be signing a waiver so he could begin workouts before the April 20th deadline on his RFA Tender.
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Hester, Bell stuff.
via RunnerGirlG.tumblr.com regarding the Hester situation on kick returns:
“How about just rotating them?”
I’m sure they’ll spread the wealth early in the year but barring injury, they’re going to give Weems every chance to be The Guy on kickoffs. He’s had an illustrious kick return career and should be the #1 contender for the job going into camp.
...
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Hester may no longer be #Bears kick returner
Per the Trib:
The addition of Eric Weems and Devin Thomas, two players with experience as kickoff returners, has the left the Chicago Bears with an interesting question: Should Devin Hester be relieved of all kickoff-return duties in 2012?
“We have that versatility now,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “We added another good player into the (kick-return) mix in Devin...
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#Bears RB Bell expected to participate in workouts
Per the trib:
Kahlil Bell, a restricted free agent whom the Bears tendered at $1.26 million for the next season, is expected to be at Halas Hall on Monday for the start of the voluntary offseason workout program
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#Urlacher to receive Ed Block Courage Award on...
Via ESPN:
Brian Urlacher will be presented with the Ed Block Courage Award on Tuesday during a ceremony at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, Ill., the team announced on Monday.
The Ed Block Courage Award is given out each year to one member of every NFL team and is awarded to the players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. The recipients of the award are...
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#Bears RB Forte not expected for start of workouts
Via Brad Biggs of the Trib:
…barring a breakthrough, Forte will be a high-profile absence as the Bears get going. That’s not necessarily a reason to fret. For starters, the key word for players in the offseason program is “voluntary.” The only mandatory period for them is one full-squad minicamp. The Bears have not announced it, but their minicamp will be held in early June, about two...
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Former #Bears QB Jim McMahon in hot water w/ FDIC
Via the Sun-Times:
Long after his football career ended, McMahon quietly spent six years as a board member for Broadway Bank, owned by the family of Alexi Giannoulias, the former Illinois state treasurer who made an unsuccessful run for President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat two years ago.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. shut down the failed bank in April 2010. And now McMahon is among...
