Chicago Bears NFL News - Bears Football Blog http://www.bearslocker.com At BearsLocker.com, we are totally dedicated to following the Monsters of the Midway, and you should be too. Want to know who's playing well and who isn't? Need some last-minute Chicago Bears injury or fantasy updates? Bookmark BearsLocker.com, and you'll be hooked up big-time. Tue, 01 May 2012 17:25:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 The Chicago Bears picked safety Brandon Hardin in the 3rd round http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/05/01/the-chicago-bears-picked-safety-brandon-hardin-in-the-3rd-round/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/05/01/the-chicago-bears-picked-safety-brandon-hardin-in-the-3rd-round/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 17:25:03 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1405 The Chicago Bears selected free safety Brandon Hardin out of Oregon State with the 79th overall pick (3rd round) of the 2012 NFL Draft.  Hardin has nice size at 6’2″, 222 pounds and he’s fast as he runs a 4.50 40.  Hardin missed all of last season due to a broken shoulder.  Hardin is a heavy hitter against both the run and the pass.  He is a decent cover man too, but he doesn’t make a lot of plays on the ball.  Hardin played in 38 games (15 starts) in his three years at Oregon State in which he had 105 tackles, 7 passes broken up, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.  I like this pick for the Bears as Hardin will bring his hard hitting style to the Bears’ secondary and special teams.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/05/01/the-chicago-bears-picked-safety-brandon-hardin-in-the-3rd-round/feed/ 1 The Chicago Bears picked WR Alshon Jeffery in the 2nd round of the 2012 NFL Draft http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/29/the-chicago-bears-picked-wr-alshon-jeffery-in-the-2nd-round-of-the-2012-nfl-draft/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/29/the-chicago-bears-picked-wr-alshon-jeffery-in-the-2nd-round-of-the-2012-nfl-draft/#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:44:08 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1403 The Bears selected WR Alshon Jeffery out of South Carolina with the 45th overall pick (2nd round) of the 2012 NFL Draft.  Jeffery is a nice target at 6’4″, 230 pounds but he’s not especially fast as he runs a 4.6 40.  Jeffery is willing to play hurt and he is excellent at playing the ball in the air when he uses his size to his advantage.  Jeffery played in 13 games (12 starts) for South Carolina last year and he caught 49 passes for 762 yards (15.6 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  Jeffery played in 40 games (33 starts) in his three years with South Carolina and he caught 183 passes for 3,042 yards (16.6 avg) with 23 TD grabs.  This was a good move for the Bears as Jeffery should team with Brandon Marshall to give them a fresh new look at WR starting in 2012.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/29/the-chicago-bears-picked-wr-alshon-jeffery-in-the-2nd-round-of-the-2012-nfl-draft/feed/ 1 The Chicago Bears take OLB/DE Shea McClellin in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/28/the-chicago-bears-take-olbde-shea-mcclellin-in-the-1st-round-of-the-2012-nfl-draft/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/28/the-chicago-bears-take-olbde-shea-mcclellin-in-the-1st-round-of-the-2012-nfl-draft/#comments Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:14:47 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1401 The Bears have picked OLB/DE Shea McClellin out of Boise State with the #19 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  McClellin is on the smaller side at 6’3″, 248 pounds, so he’s more likely to line up at OLB than DE.  He gets overpowered in the running game, so he’s likely not an every down type of player.  McClellin played in 13 games (all starts) for Boise State last year and he had 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 1 forced fumble.  He played in 49 games (37 starts) in his four years at Boise State and he had 130 tackles, 33 tackles for a loss, 20.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.  This pick was a big reach for the Bears this high in the first round.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/28/the-chicago-bears-take-olbde-shea-mcclellin-in-the-1st-round-of-the-2012-nfl-draft/feed/ 1 The Chicago Bears re-sign Kahlil Bell http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/26/the-chicago-bears-re-sign-kahlil-bell/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/26/the-chicago-bears-re-sign-kahlil-bell/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:47:43 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1399 The Bears have re-signed 25-year old RB Kahlil Bell to a 1-year deal.  Bell played in 13 games for the Bears last year and he carried the ball 79 times for 337 yards (4.3 ypc).  He also caught 19 passes for 133 yards (7.0 avg) with 1 TD grab last year.  Bell has now played in 20 games in his first three years with the Bears and he has carried the ball 119 times for 557 yards (4.7 ypc).  He has also caught 20 passes for 137 yards (6.9 avg) with 1 TD grab for the Bears in his career.  Bell will be the Bears’ #3 RB behind Matt Forte and Michael Bush in 2012.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/26/the-chicago-bears-re-sign-kahlil-bell/feed/ 1 Jim McMahon led the best team I ever have seen, the 1985 Chicago Bears http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/24/jim-mcmahon-led-the-best-team-i-ever-have-seen-the-1985-chicago-bears/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/24/jim-mcmahon-led-the-best-team-i-ever-have-seen-the-1985-chicago-bears/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:53:33 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1397 QB Jim McMahon was a free spirit to say the least with his messaged head bands under his helmet.  But he was always focused on the game and he was especially looked in in 1985, when he made it to his only Pro Bowl.  He played in 13 games (11 starts) for the Bears in 1985 and he completed 178 of 313 passes (56.9%) for 2,392 yards with 15 TD passes and 11 INTs (82.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 47 times for 252 yards (5.4 ypc) with 3 TD runs in 1985.  McMahon was 11-0 during the regular season and then he led the way in the post-season where he was 3-0.  The Bears outscored their three opponents by a combined 91-10 in the post-season.  McMahon started all three of the post-season games for the Bears in 1985 and he completed 39 of 66 passes (59.1%) for 636 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 14 times for 60 yards (4.3 ypc) with 3 TD runs in the post-season.  So, McMahon was a combined 14-0 as the Bears’ starting QB during the regular season and post-season in 1985.

McMahon played in 66 games (61 starts) in his seven years with the Bears and he completed 874 of 1,513 passes (57.8%) for 11,203 yards with 67 TD passes and 56 INTs (80.4 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 235 times for 1,284 yards (5.5 ypc) with 5 TD grabs for the Bears.  McMahon is #3 in Bears’ history in passing yards (11,203) and #3 in TD passes (67) in Bears’ history.  McMahon was an amazing 46-15 (75.4%) during the regular season as the Bears’ starting QB.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/24/jim-mcmahon-led-the-best-team-i-ever-have-seen-the-1985-chicago-bears/feed/ 0 The Chicago Bears sign LB Geno Hayes http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-chicago-bears-sign-lb-geno-hayes/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-chicago-bears-sign-lb-geno-hayes/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:54:07 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1395 The Bears have signed 24-year old LB Geno Hayes.  Hayes played in all 16 games for the Buccaneers last year and he had 64 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  He has now played in 56 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has 257 tackles, 31 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 15 passes defensed and 4 interceptions (one returned for a TD).  This was a really solid signing for the Bears as Hayes will give them quality depth at linebacker in 2012.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-chicago-bears-sign-lb-geno-hayes/feed/ 0 The Chicago Bears are going to likely focus on protection for Jay Cutler in the 2012 NFL Draft http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-are-going-to-likely-focus-on-protection-for-jay-cutler-in-the-2012-nfl-draft/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-are-going-to-likely-focus-on-protection-for-jay-cutler-in-the-2012-nfl-draft/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:06:47 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1393 The Bears have already gotten QB Jay Cutler a lot of help at the skilled positions in free agency and trades.  Now they need to find players to keep him in one piece.  Here is who I have the Bears getting in my mock 2012 NFL Draft found on bloglockers.com:

1. (19) Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

2. (50) Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

3. (79) Tony Bergstrom, OT, Utah

4. (111) Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette

5. (150) Ryan Steed, CB, Furman

6. (184) Sean Richardson, SS, Vanderbilt

7. (220) Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-are-going-to-likely-focus-on-protection-for-jay-cutler-in-the-2012-nfl-draft/feed/ 2 The Chicago Bears sign OG Chilo Rachal http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-sign-og-chilo-rachal/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-sign-og-chilo-rachal/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:38:57 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1390 The Bears have signed 26-year old OG Chilo Rachal to a 1-year deal.  Rachal played in 16 games (3 starts) for the 49ers last year.  He has now played in 55 games (38 starts) in his first four years for the Bears.  I really like this signing for the Bears as they are still desperate for offensive line help.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-sign-og-chilo-rachal/feed/ 0 The Chicago Bears waive WR Max Komar http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-waive-wr-max-komar/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-waive-wr-max-komar/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:14:08 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1388 The Bears have waived 24-year old WR Max Komar.  Komar played in 2 games for the Chicago Bears last year but he didn’t catch any passes.  Komar has now played in 10 games in his first two years in the NFL and he has caught 12 passes for 117 yards (9.8 avg).  He has also returned 5 punts for 31 yards (6.2 avg) so far in his career.  This is absolutely no loss for the Bears.

]]> http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/18/the-chicago-bears-waive-wr-max-komar/feed/ 0 The Chicago Bears have loaded up offensively so far this off-season http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/12/the-chicago-bears-have-loaded-up-offensively-so-far-this-off-season/ http://www.bearslocker.com/2012/04/12/the-chicago-bears-have-loaded-up-offensively-so-far-this-off-season/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:48:18 +0000 admin http://www.bearslocker.com/?p=1386 The Bears focused on offense in both free agency and the trade market, and that should make QB Jay Cutler really happy.  Here is a look at what the Bears have done so far this off-season:

Offensively:  The Bears flipped a couple of 3rd round picks to the Miami Dolphins for WR Brandon Marshall.  Marshall and Jay Cutler had some great years together in Denver, and he will be the Bears’ #1 WR from Day #1 in 2012.  The Bears also signed power runner Michael Bush to team with Matt Forte at RB in 2012.  The Bears also signed QB Jason Campbell (to be the #2 QB) and re-signed QB Josh McCown (#3) to give them quality depth behind Jay Cutler for 2012.  The Bears signed WRs Devin Thomas and Eric Weems, who are also good return men on special teams.  The Bears also re-signed TE Kellen Davis.

Defensively:  The biggest move the Bears made on D was re-signing starting DE Israel Idonije.  The Bears re-signed CB Tim Jennings and they also signed CBs Kelvin Hayden and Jonathan Wilhite to provide depth at corner.  The Bears also have re-signed safety Craig Steltz and they signed LB Blake Constanzo.

GRADE FOR THE OFF-SEASON SO FAR:  A

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