Another office at Halas Hall should be vacant soon as pro scout Dennard Wilson is expected to join the Rams as a defensive assistant coach, NFL sources said. Wilson’s anticipated departure would leave the Bears thin in pro scouts leading up to free agency, as assistant director of pro personnel Kevin Turks and pro scout James Kirkland are the only men at Halas Hall who have been committed to studying NFL personnel. Wilson was well-respected at Halas Hall for his work ethic, intelligence and keen eye. He made it known,... [Read More]
Bears chairman George McCaskey says Brian Urlacher was simply being honest when he told HBO he would hide concussion symptoms from team doctors. He also was quick to point out his star linebacker didn't say that was the right thing to do. McCaskey says players don't want to let down teammates and coaches, that they have a "warrior mentality." He spoke Wednesday at a safety forum for high school coaches and players at the team's headquarters. Urlacher caused a stir when he told HBO during a Real Sports taping... [Read More]
Ahley Harris, the wife of Tommie Harris died Sunday and her funeral service will be held in New Orleans on Friday. The Chicago Bears have been supportive of Harris during this difficult time. “Tommie has been overwhelmed by the support of his former teammates, the Bears organization and the city of Chicago,” family friend Bill Horn told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Please continue to pray for him as he and his children grieve the loss of his wife.” Johnny Knox, Anthony Adams and Israel Idonije flew to Norman... [Read More]
Chicago Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas was arrested earlier this morning in Morgantown, West Virginia and has been charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, MetroNews Sports reports. According to the report, Thomas was pulled over at 3:55am ET for driving the wrong way down a one-way street and exceeding the speed limit by more than 25mph. When removing his vehicle registration from the glove compartment, a two plastic bags of what appeared to be marijuana was also produced. A 2011 sixth-round pick out of West... [Read More]
Tim Bream, who has been a trainer with the Chicago Bears for 19 years, is leaving the team to join his alma mater Penn State, according to the Bears. Bream, a native of Gettysburg, Pa., and an alumnus of Penn State, is scheduled to start Wednesday. “I know him through NFL circles and through some people here at Penn State,” Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien, former the offensive coordinator of the Patriots, told pennstate.247sports.com. “He comes highly recommended and we're really excited about having him on... [Read More]
The Chicago Bears announced the hiring of offensive line coach Tim Holt. Holt takes the place of Mike Tice, who was promoted to offensive coordinator following the dismissal of Mike Martz. A former offensive lineman at Southern Connecticut State, Holt had coaching stints at his alma mater, Cornell, Lehigh, American International and Stonehill before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009. Holt was promoted to assistant offensive line coach in 2011.
Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago reports that Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox is in for a long recovery period from surgery to stabilize his vertebra. Citing multiple sources, Wright states that recovery could extend beyond six months and Knox will be in a back brace until mid-March. He will then embark on an extensive rehab program, leaving his status for training camp in doubt. Although the Bears are confident that Knox will play again, they have to proceed as though he may not be a significant factor early in. ... [Read More]
The Bears, despite their somewhat contentious relationship with Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte during the past season, have made clear they don’t plan on letting him test free agency. That’s what team president/CEO Ted Phillips said recently, claiming new general manager Phil Emery would work with Forte on a possible agreement to a long-term deal or would franchise-tag him to keep him in Chicago. Forte has been on record saying that he didn’t want to be tagged, noting in November that “If they think by just slapping... [Read More]
The Chicago Bears announced that Jeremy Bates has been hired for the team's quarterbacks coach position. Bates worked with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler from 2006-08, first as an offensive assistant and then as the team's quarterbacks coach. Bates spent the 2009 season as the assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach at USC and was a candidate for the Bears' offensive coordinator before he was named the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator in 2010. Fired by the Seahawks, Bates spent 2011 out of football.
A month after a Twitter exchange with the Bears’ starting quarterback, Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall reiterated his affection for Jay Cutler. Marshall is under contract through the 2014 season, but he was asked by the Sun-Times if reuniting with his former Denver Broncos teammate would appeal to him. “Maybe down the road, we may have some extra picks, and we may be able to trade for him,” Marshall said. “But we have a quarterback in place in Matt Moore. He did an amazing job [in the] second half of the... [Read More]
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte told the "Waddle & Silvy" program on ESPN 1000 in Chicago that he's okay with receiving the franchise tag if that leads to a long-term contract. "It depends on the motive of (the franchise tag)," Forte said on Thursday. "If they are doing the franchise tag just to get more time in order to negotiate a long-term deal then I would be okay with it. But if it's just to hold me another year and just 'Let's throw some money at him right now to keep him... [Read More]
A federal judge has set an April 2 trial date for NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd, who is charged with trying to create a drug-distribution network. U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis, in an order Wednesday, set a pretrial conference for March 21 before an April trial in Dallas federal court, the trial could be delayed as Hurd, alleged co-conspirator Toby Lujan and federal prosecutors file motions beforehand. Hurd, 26, is accused of trying to buy large quantities of marijuana and cocaine, including an alleged buy of one... [Read More]
A revamped Illinois Sports Facilities Authority board tabled a measure Wednesday that would approve a $2.6 million payment to the Chicago Park District for improvements to Soldier Field after members decided to review the relationship between the two agencies, including the subsidies the agency is required to give to the district. The funding is required as part of a deal for stadium renovations completed in 2003. The other annual subsidy is for maintenance, projected at $4.4 million this year. Both increase by 3... [Read More]
Chicago Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips discussed the team’s plans for RB Matt Forte on Tuesday by mentioning that they will not allow him to even reach free agency, via ESPN Chicago. “We’d like to (work out a long-term deal with Forte),” said Phillips while appearing on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “But as Phil pointed out we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him. We don’t have any intention of letting Matt hit the open market. We’ll sit down with him privately, Phil... [Read More]
According to a league source, the Bears requested permission to speak to Chiefs quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn about the same position, but, the Chiefs denied that request. Because the Chiefs season was over, they could not block Emery -- the team's college scouting director -- from interviewing for the Bears' general manager vacancy. Zorn joined the Chiefs last offseason. Although head coach Todd Haley was fired, the Chiefs apparently like Zorn enough that they don't want him to leave.
