Alliance... » Dion Sims is seeking new employment as the

Bears cut the "blocking tight end" loose in a salary cap move"BEAR DOWN Devin Hester Jerseys Stitched , CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!Ken’s Note: Here’s one last picture of the Bears beating Detroit... it’s time to move on, who should I pick next? Oh yeah, it’s GOTTA be Green Bay, right? There comes a point in time when all mocking has to turn towards the cheeeezzzeee...BEARRRSSSSZeglinski: A quiet place - A more hushed Bears’ off-season is a sign of progress – The Rock River Times - For the first time in years, the Bears are in a place where they don’t have to spend a smorgasbord in free agency. With largely most of their Super Bowl roster locked in, they don’t even have the resources in cap space or draft capital to do so if they wanted to strike at the heart of ambition.Medina: Bears Expected to Release TE Dion Sims, Clearing Up Some Space Under the Salary Cap - Bleacher Nation - It looks like Dion Sims is heading elsewhere.Medina: Bears Named One of the Likely Landing Spots for Antonio Brown - Bleacher Nation - Antonio Brown catching passes from Mitch Trubisky is the stuff Super Bowl dreams are made of. Ken’s Note: With all due respect (and I do mean that, I’m not just saying it) the statement “It’s a surprise to be sure, given the team’s cap situation and the perception of limited assets … “ is rather like saying “The Pacific Ocean is a really big puddle, and kinda wet”. Brown isn’t a fit in the locker room, he isn’t a fit in the budget and we don’t have the assets to get him even if he was.Medina: Adrian Amos Says the Bears Want Him Back, But the Broncos Could Be an Option - Bleacher Nation - Adrian Amos wants to keep the good times rolling with the Bears and the feeling is mutual. But coming to a deal seems complicated.Wood: Putting Anthony Miller’s Rookie Season in Proper Context - Da Bears Blog - On the surface, Anthony Miller had a quiet rookie season. He had 54 passes come his way, catching 33 for 423 and 7 touchdowns. This tied him for 127th in the NFL in catches, 111th in yards Youth Prince Amukamara Jerseys , and 16th in receiving touchdowns. On the Bears, he was 5th in catches and yards, but led the team in receiving touchdowns.Adrian Amos Hopes To Re-Sign With Bears - 670 The Score - The Bears have been talking with Amos’ agent, he said.Gabriel: Should Bears Prioritize Adrian Amos Or Bryce Callahan? - 670 The Score - The Bears have limited cap space and two key defensive backs hitting free agency.Report: Bears Expected To Release Dion Sims - 670 The Score - The move will free up around $6 million in cap space.Talarico: Bears Should Let Jordan Howard Prove Himself in Contract Year - The Chicago Audible - Even though Howard wasn’t nearly as productive as the Bears would have liked in 2018, he still showed flashes of what he could be in this offenseBears grades and needs: Is offensive line consistency a good thing? - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears will bring back all five starters on their offensive line, presuming they decide to keep Kyle Long around.Stankevitz: Bears reportedly to cut Sims, save $6 million in cap space - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears will release tight end Dion Sims, as expected, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move will net the Bears significant cap savings as they head into free agency.Under Center Podcast: What should the Bears aim to accomplish at the NFL Combine? - NBC Sports Chicago - JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan look at if the Bears should still focus their draft strategy on taking the best players available, or if needs at running back and/or kicker should supersede that.Bears grades and needs: Improved depth necessary at tight end - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears have to be able to better handle losing their top “U” (Trey Burton) and “Y” (Adam Shaheen) tight ends in 2019, something they weren’t necessarily able to do in 2018.Mayer: Nichols determined to build off rookie year - ChicagoBears.com - After exceeding expectations as an unheralded rookie in 2018, Bears defensive tackle Bilal Nichols is determined to take his game to the next level in his second NFL season.Chalk Talk: Who has Pace picked in middle rounds? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses the players GM Ryan Pace has selected in Rounds 3-5 of the draft, the last time the Bears didn’t pick until the third round and the last time the Bears hosted the Packers in a night game in Chicago.2019 Offseason Outlook: It Certainly Feels Like Change is Coming to the Bears’ Backfield - Bleacher Nation - It seems like signs are pointing to the Bears adding a third dynamic rusher to bring the running backs room together.Medina: Le’Veon Bell Will Be an Unrestricted Free Agent … Hello, Bears? - The Steelers are going to have a new look in 2019. Ken’s Note: Again with all due respect, this would be a really Prince Amukamara Jerseys Stitched , really bad idea, spending every dime of cap space we have left and then some on a me-first guy that even doesn’t run behind our blocking scheme. We run a ZBZ/Inside & Outside scheme, while Pittsburgh runs an entirely different Hybrid Stretch-Zone/Power scheme. That’s a really big deal.Brandt: Callahan one of ten defensive backs worth pursuing via free agency/NFL draft - NFL.com - Need help in the secondary? After scanning the available veterans and prospects, Gil Brandt ranks the top 10 defensive backs worth pursuing in free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft.Finley: Bears expected to release tight end Dion Sims: report - Chicago Sun-Times - Dion Sims, a blocking tight end who never found his footing as a pass catcher, was due to make $6 million in 2019.Biggs: Bears reportedly will cut ties with tight end Dion Sims to create salary-cap space - Chicago Tribune - The Bears are expected to terminate the contract of tight end Dion Sims, freeing up $6 million in salary-cap space. Sims suffered two concussions last season and spent half the year on injured reserve.Biggs’ Bears Q&A: Will Robbie Gould return? Will Eddie Goldman be traded? How can Ryan Pace create more salary-cap space? - Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly. Folks can’t stop wondering about the possibility of Robbie Gould returning. What are some ways GM Ryan Pace could create more salary-cap space? Plus, questions on the draft and free agency.POLISH SAUSAGEWhy NFL referees no longer salute - Pride Of Detroit - 64 years ago, the gesture we know as “unnecessary roughness” was adopted. Ken’s Note: Read this one, interesting stuff here!Scouts buzzing about NFL draft prospect who’s blind in right eye - NFL.com - Who is Kahzin Daniels? Mike Garafolo brings us the remarkable story of the pass-rushing prospect who’s generating buzz in NFL circles despite being blind in his right eye.KNOW THY ENEMY5 free agent safeties the Detroit Lions should have an eye on - Pride Of Detroit - Detroit needs a replacement for Glover Quin.Detroit Lions should take a chance on Antonio Brown - Detroit Free Press - The Detroit Lions likely won’t trade for Antonio Brown, but why not? Shawn Windsor thinks GM Bob Quinn should take a shot. Ken’s Note: The Lions signing Brown would lead to the next in a long line of HOF NFL greats retiring early from Detroit in disgust.2019 NFL Franchise Tags: Tracking news and updates on which players are tagged - Acme Packing Company - Keep an eye on all the tag-related news from around the NFL here.IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRONZeglinski: Chicago Bears to release “two-way” tight end Dion Sims - Windy City Gridiron - It probably won’t be a very happy birthday for Sims.Wiltfong: Who is your second favorite team? - Windy City Gridiron - We thought we’d take these next few WCG roundtables in a different direction and go for some likes and dislikes.Sunderbruch: Phil Emery’s Draft Legacy - Windy City Gridiron - Phil Emery left behind a lot of frustration in Chicago. However, with a bit of perspective, it’s possible to see that the former GM for the Bears had at least a few victories.WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert ZeglinskiTHE RULESWindy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind Youth Walter Payton Jerseys , racial insults, etc.The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes. Unless otherwise stated, the Den is not an open thread, and profanity (including profanity only stated in pictures) is prohibited.Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter;Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook. The Bears defense was probably going to be good anyway.Their preseason trade for Khalil Mack turned the pressure up a notch, and their performance has followed.Mack was dominant Sunday night in their 25-20 win over the Vikings, collecting a sack, batting down a pass and forcing and recovering a fumble.That moved him to 8.0 sacks on the season, well above his pace the past two years with the Raiders (11.0 in 2016 and 10.5 in 2017). Mack had nine forced fumbles in 64 games with the Raiders. In 10 games with the Bears, he already has five.His game was the most visible part of a defense that throttled a Vikings offense which has shown signs of competence this year.The Vikings gained just 268 yards, however, and turned the ball over three times (and those yardage numbers were padded heavily late in the game). It was the kind of defense Chicago fans have seen in the past, and are beginning to grow accustomed to again. The fact the Bears finished this one (unlike the opener against the Packers) is only going to raise the expectations again.And at nearly every turn, this defense is meeting them.Here are five more things we learned during :1. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is now the NFL’s leading rusher among quarterbacks Walter Payton Jerseys Stitched , of course.Trubisky surpassed Panthers quarterback Cam Newton‘s yardage total in the second quarter. He finished the game with 43 rushing yards and now has 51 carries for 363 yards and three touchdowns (including his late kneel-downs, which they’ll take). Newton has 72 carries for 354 yards and four touchdowns this season.Of course, Newton has a history of success with his feet so you expect it, but Trubisky’s talent in the open field is apparent, as he has a sense of when to scramble and enough moves to make tacklers miss.The only thing Trubisky seems to struggle with is sliding, as he doesn’t appear to have baseball background whatsoever. It’s more of a graceful collapse, as if he’s on fire and trying to put himself out.Which, if you think about it, he kind of is.2. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins had played reasonably well in prime time games before Sunday night.But man, do his teams keep losing a lot of them.Prior to this one, Cousins had played in 15 night games, and had 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions and a 99.5 passer rating.His teams were 4-11 in those games.Sunday, he was 30-of-46 for 262 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions for a 76.5 rating. And, they lost.Win-loss records might not be a fair way to measure any individual player’s success in a complicated, interconnected game. That would be a reasonable explanation Youth Chase Daniel Jerseys , except for the $84 million reasons the Vikings have for Cousins to lead them to games played under the brightest of lights.3. Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller is clearly a student of history.At least the history of taunting Vikings cornerbacks.When he scored his touchdown in the second quarter, he dropped to the ground, and started paddling an imaginary boat. It was a throwback to Panthers wideout Steve Smith’s celebration against the Vikings in 2005.That one was a clear reference to Fred Smoot’s involvement in the Vikings “Love Boat” scandal, in which multiple players were alleged to have been involved with things Miller shouldn’t have known about at the time 鈥?since he was three days short of his ninth birthday the night of the original incident.4. While the outside pressure the Bears are creating is easy to see, it’s also clear they’re getting plenty from inside as well.The job Akiem Hicks is doing in the middle of the line is impressive, a constant source of pressure via the shortest distance between two points.The unblocked sack in the second half (when he nearly swallowed Cousins, and might have been called for landing on him with all his weight if it was earlier in the season when they were still calling those) was impressive for its impact. But Hicks offers the kind of consistent play that provides a solid foundation for the rest of an excellent defense.5. If there’s anyone who deserved a good night for the Bears, it was kicker Cody Parkey.He hit a 33-yard field goal to open the scoring, and to allow himself and the Solider Field crowd a sigh of relief.He hit the uprights four times last week, and had helicopters hovering overhead as he practiced in the stadium this week. It was the kind of attention that makes a kicker’s life a weekly crucible.He also hit an extra point early, and was able to regain some of the confidence that had to be shaken a week ago. That came in handy, when his 48-yard field goal iced the game late.The fact coach Matt Nagy put him in position to win it was a statement of belief, which will serve the Bears well as a team, knowing their special teams can be trusted.