Chicago Bears

May 29, 2013; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson (39) takes a hand off from quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during organized team activities at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports 2012 #81 Steven Jackson- RB St. Louis Rams- Jackson was the definition of workhorse for the Rams through the years.  His scores decreased every year though he played hard every down.  Now he takes his talents to Atlanta and a great opportunity to become a fantasy TD machine again with  a great offense.  I like Jackson as a #2 back in deep leagues in 2013 Retro #81 2002 Joey Harrington QB Detroit Lions- This made me laugh too.  Harrington was horrible in every possible way in his days in Motown. He had 12 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions in 2002.  Harrington never lived up to his #1 draft pick by the Lions in fantasy or for the Lions organization. Look Ahead #81 ESPN-Eddie Lacy- The Packers took Lacy and are expecting some more production from the running back position.  Since Aaron Rodgers has taken over it seems like every year there  is a different new running back behind him.  Cedric Benson was supposed to be the answer last year but he was derailed by injuries.  Lacy will have a shot in one of the best offenses in the NFL. CBS Sports-T.Y. Hilton-  After a breakout rookie season, how does Hilton respond in his 2nd season.  What do you think will Luck and Hilton continue to improve together or was Hilton a flash in the pan?

Bears GM Phil Emery announced today the team has hired Mitchell Tanney as director of analytics.

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery mentioned after last season that he had explored data made available by STATS LLC in evaluating the team. Now, he’s made a member of the STATS team part of his front office.

A collection of passing plays from Chicago Bears veteran minicamp involving tight end Martellus Bennett.

Wide receiver Jerrell Jackson, signed by Chicago before the start of veteran minicamp, believes he can be an asset to the Bears on both offense and special teams.

The voting for Mt. Lunchpail is over! Former hard hitting Chicago Bears safety Doug Plank is the final face to be chiseled into the side of the mountain. Plank joins wide receiver Tom Waddle, fullback Matt Suhey, and long snapper Patrick Mannelly. For some more info on those last three, click here, here, and here, and for more info on Plank, read on. Doug Plank is best known in Chicago as the "46" in Buddy Ryan's famed 46 Defense. Even though Plank left the Bears after the 1982 season, and wasn't involved with the legendary 1985 Super Bowl team, Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan started sowing the seeds of his scheme with Plank on the field. Ryan named the defense after Plank's jersey number, because Plank was the key cog in the early years of his scheme. Ryan would line Plank up near the line of scrimmage and teams didn't know if he was up to blitz, or if he would drop back. The 46 Defense Doug Plank came to the Bears in the same draft class as Walter Payton, but while Walter was the Bears top pick, Plank came aboard in the 12th round. He had to fight his way onto the Bears roster, and he kept up his temperamental attitude his entire career, then again he thought most most football players were temperamental, "That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." Here's a quick hitting highlight reel of some of Plank's greatest hits. Plank played the game aggressive and angry, and that endeared him to Bears fans. "Before games I would think nasty thoughts about the players I'd be going against," Plank said. "I was not a happy person before games." He had 14 fumble recoveries and 15 interceptions in his 101 game Bears career. These days Plank is the head coach of the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. Here's an NFL Films video with more about Doug Plank. More From Windy City Gridiron: WCG Exclusive Interview with Bears Legend, #46 Doug Plank Doug Plank Says No Bounty System During His Career What would you consider a successful 2013 season for the Chicago Bears? Pro Football Talk gets the Chicago Bears' Mt. Rushmore wrong And coming soon we'll have a WCG exclusive OSS Mt. Lunchpail from our own David Taylor!

Dan Pompei, a Chicago Bears/NFL columnist for the Chicago Tribune, has been selected as the 2013 winner of the prestigious Dick McCann Memorial Award for distinguished reporting and will be honored during enshrinement week ceremonies in August at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL.com: Divisional challengers - Elliot Harrison runs through the NFL to find potential challengers to last season's eight division champions, and lists the Bears for the NFC North. Inside the NFL - Andrew Brandt: Jay-Z the agent already a threat; London is calling; more mail. Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Click for Chicago Bears Tickets for next season. Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts. ---------- Bearsss NFCN Blog - Kevin Seifert with up-to-date salary-cap reports for each NFC North team; the Bears have least space with slightly over $1.6M for emergencies. T.J. Shouse: Bears maximize cap space better than most Bears doing good things - Larry Mayer: Matt Forte, Tim Jennings and former receiver Johnny Knox recently traveled half a world away to visit U.S. troops (Den: and, apparently, Bears fan Psy). Player profile - Maggie Hendricks with everything you need to know about new TE Martellus Bennett. Hendricks links to WCG articles every now and then; Den > Bites. Mike Tice on coping with life away from NFL - As well as the Tribune, former Bears coach spoke with Bob Sansevere about how he's keeping busy and his desire to return to coaching. The NFL all-third string team - Mike Tanier includes a certain sexy former Bears QB who likes to go deep..... ---------- Polish sausage [Video] X & Os - Vince Lombardi teaches how to run the power sweep. Josh Katzowitz demonstrates that he's Hendricksesque at padding out an article. Know thy enemy: Lions - Two current marquee players on the Lions made the final cut of NFL.com's most overrated and underrated players in franchise history. Lester: Most overrated / underrated Bears ever Know thy enemy: Vikings - Kevin Seifert: Erin Henderson adamant that he'll be manning the mike position this season, but coach Leslie Frazier stopped short of committing to him at the position; Bishop release unrelated to cap. Judd Zulgad: Vikings' moves mean far more than their message. The 16 worst coaches In modern NFL history - No Bears head coaches make the list, but beloved former Bears DC Buddy Ryan did. [Video] - A sneak peak[sic, sigh] of Madden 25 from the E3 Expo in Los Angeles. More mullets in this music video than there were in the whole of Crocodile Dundee.

May 14, 2013; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) during organized team activities at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports The Bears wrapped up the first offseason under new head coach Marc Trestman and GM Phil Emery’s second offseason.   The team is starting to pull away from former GM Jerry Angelo’s gravitational pull and forge a new identity.  What have we learned since Lovie Smith and his 10-6 record were sent packing and Marc Trestman became the hottest Canadian import to hit Chicago since Canadian bacon.  We’re starting to learn about Phil Emery’s vision for the Chicago Bears.   Let’s see what we’ve learned about the Bears this offseason. (more…)

Jul 26, 2012; Bourbonnais, IL, USA; Chicago Bears football helmet sits on the ground during the opening day of training camp on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University. Mandatory Credit: Bradley Leeb-USA TODAY Sports Good morning Chicago Bears fans! Here are some morning links to start your day. Chicago Bears stars Matt Forte and Tim Jennings went to Germany to support the troops (Bears) Who is the most overrated Chicago Bear of all-time (Windy City Gridiron) Ten Best Broadcasters in the USA (Da Bears Blog) Devin Hester return job is in jeopardy? (SI.com) Lunch With a Legend (ESPN Chicago) James Anderson has a teacher feature (Sun-Times) Four Downs With Ditka (Sun-Times) Around the NFL news Lots of Police at Aaron Hernandez house (NFL) Rob Gronkowski has successful back surgery (NFL) Youth movement make the Giants contenders again (The Sporting News) Georgia approves Atlanta Falcons Stadium plan (SI) Can the Jets offense get off the runway (Yahoo) Have a great day and look for our #81 days until football returns posts later today!