Chicago Bears News and Rumors

Bears could have as much as $28 million to spend

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

As the team-by-team cap amounts for 2012 come into focus, one team that will have plenty to spend if it so chooses is the Bears. Key phrase:  “If it so chooses.” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bears have up to $28 million in cap s…

ESPN.com

Thanks to everyone for participating in Tuesday's SportsNation chat, which included a surprising number of people wondering what the Chicago Bears could get in exchange for linebacker Lance Briggs. Last summer, of course, Briggs requested a trade when t…

NFC North playing-time tidbits

Feb 21 (yesterday)

ESPN.com

We've used 2011 playing-time statistics to identify a number of trends and important points, from the perfect attendance of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs to the reliability of Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew to the curious limitations …

Gregg Rosenthal, profootballtalk.com

The best free agent running backs aren’t going anywhere. The rest of the free agent running backs aren’t too inspiring. Perhaps this is the year where NFL teams realize you don’t need to overpay runners in free agency. Ray Rice, Matt Forte, and Mars…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

Plenty of Patriots fans were keenly interested in the comments of Rams receiver Brandon Lloyd regarding his interest in another reunion with Josh McDaniels, now the offensive coordinator in New England. But Lloyd, who also has played for the 49ers, Reds…

Michael David Smith, profootballtalk.com

Two weeks after the Bears named Jeremy Bates their quarterbacks coach, Jay Cutler is still beaming about it. Bates was Cutler’s quarterbacks coach in Denver in 2007 and 2008, and Cutler said on ESPN 1000 in Chicago today that he’s “Very happy, very …

Gregg Rosenthal, profootballtalk.com

The free agent running back market looks good on paper, but all the best options aren’t going to change teams. Ray Rice and Matt Forte will get the franchise tag if they can’t work out long-term deals. The same appears to be true for Marshawn Lynch in…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

49ers tight end Vernon Davis has become one of the team’s most important players.  If President Obama has his way, Davis will be playing for another team. The Chicago Bears. At a recent fund-raising event in California, Davis spoke to supporters about …

suntimes.com

Kristin Cavallari tells US Weekly Bears QB Jay Cutler will be a great father for the baby they’re expecting because he’s good with kids and good with her dog. They don’t yet know the gender — but she knows he’s not going to raised in LA under th…

suntimes.com

In eight NFL seasons, Tommie Harris endeared himself to plenty of players and coaches, and many of them traveled to New Orleans in his time of need. On Friday, Harris buried his wife, Ashley, who died on Sunday after being hospitalized because of a stro…

Gregg Rosenthal, profootballtalk.com

New Bears G.M. Phil Emery spoke at his introductory press conference about building the Bears through the draft. But there are competing interests in Chicago. It feels like another “win or else” season for Lovie Smith. Defenders like Brian Urlacher, …

suntimes.com

The Bears, taking a proactive role in trying to ‘‘change the culture’’ of concussion awareness and treatment at all levels of football, hosted a forum for high-school players and coaches on that hot-button issue Wednesday at Halas Hall. If only Br…

Associated Press, ESPN.com

Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey says Brian Urlacher was simply being honest when he told HBO he would hide concussion symptoms from team doctors.

ESPN.com

Another in a daily series on NFC North players who are candidates to receive their team's franchise tag. The window for tagging players opens Monday and closes March 5. From the moment the Chicago Bears ended contract negotiations last summer with tailb…

ESPNChicago.com, ESPN.com

If the sides don't put together a contract extension soon, the next development in the Matt Forte contract saga could take place next Monday when the league allows teams to apply the franchise tag to players.

Gregg Rosenthal, profootballtalk.com

The Bears organization and the ex-teammates of Tommie Harris are doing everything they can to support Harris following the devastating loss of his wife over the weekend. “Tommie has been overwhelmed by the support of his former teammates, the Bears orga…

CNNSI.com

If the offseason favors the Bears and Vikings, the NFC North could become the NFL's best division. Chris Burke identifies the keys for every black-and-blue team going into free agency.

suntimes.com

Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas faces a misdemeanor charge after police in West Virginia said they caught him driving the wrong way down a one-way street and found marijuana in his car, according to the Associated Press. “We are aware of the arrest of J.T.…

suntimes.com

DALLAS — A federal judge has delayed the drug conspiracy trial for former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd until August. U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis granted the delay until Aug. 6 at the request of Hurd’s co-defendant, Toby Lujan. Trial had been set for…

Mike Florio, profootballtalk.com

Since plenty of you still don’t check out PFT on non-work time, every once in a while there’s a weekend story that bears repeating on Monday. On Sunday, we had several items regarding a new twist in the labor deal that allows teams to automatically ca…

ESPN.com

There are some necessary ingredients for a team even to consider signing receiver Randy Moss in 2012. It needs a strong and established coaching staff. A rifle-armed quarterback, with experience in handling high-maintenance receivers, is a must. And it …

ESPN.com

With the offseason in full swing, let's take a look at one major question facing each NFC North team as it begins preparations for the 2012 season: CHICAGO BEARS In last year's version of Leading Questions, we wondered when the Bears would address the d…