The Bear's Den, June 23, 2025
Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I'm starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that's how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!
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THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
DENMASTER KEN'S VIDEO GRAB BAG
BEARRRSSSS
Bears' Colston Loveland felt all kinds of love back home in Idaho over the weekend - Chicago Sun-Times - 'I can't wait,' Loveland said about his rookie season. 'It's going to be fun.'
Bears' Caleb Williams or Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong? Here's who has higher ceiling, per vote - Chicago Sun-Times - In this week's 'Polling Place,' we also asked if you've already given up on the Sky's chance to make the playoffs.
The different look for DJ Moore coming in Ben Johnson's offense - SI - DJ Moore admits he'll probably get fewer targets this year and it's logical with so many receivers, but where he's targeted and how open he is may be different.
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Biggest surprises and likely outcomes to Bears training camp battles - SI - Analysis: The Bears have several position competitions of interest when training camp begins and with new coaches there could always be surprises for starters currently entrenched.
Daunting task ahead of Chicago Bears seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai - SI - Analysis: The Bears are hoping to get production from Kyle Monangai in his first year as an NFL back but there are plenty of reasons to anticipate something different.
POLISH SAUSAGE
With attempted murder warrant still pending, Antonio Brown has apparently left the country - NBC Sports - Antonio Brown has left the building.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says there will be no state money for sports venues - NBC Sports - Two NFL teams call Pennsylvania home.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
CJ Stroud, Caleb Williams laugh about infamous postgame handshake - Windy City Gridiron - Well, at least C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams have a sense of humor.
Do you like the over or under on these Bears season-long player props? - Windy City Gridiron - You can now bet on yardage and touchdown totals for some Chicago Bears players.
2024 Rearview Mirror: Rome Odunze Draft Pick - Windy City Gridiron - In this series, we look back at the biggest moves from a year ago and review how they have panned out up to this point.
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2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring a rotating host line-up of Ryan Droste, Khari Thompson, Jacob Infante, and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven's Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.
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Bill Belichick: North Carolina is a pro program, we have an NFL approach in college
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick says he's coaching his college football team like he coached in the NFL. Asked at the ACC media day if he's trying to introduce NFL-level schemes and concepts to college football, Belichick answered, 'That's exactly what we're trying to do. That's my philosophy.' Belichick said he views the Tar Heels like a pro team that just needs some minor adjustments for younger players. 'It's a pro program,' Belichick said. 'Practice, training, food, schemes, terminology, it's all a pro program. Not to the extent that we did it in the NFL — there will be fewer plays, fewer adjustments — but it will be along those lines.' Belichick said to the extent that he'll coach differently, it's largely about the differences between NCAA rules, such as college football's wider hashmarks and the overtime format that takes place mostly in the red zone. 'There's some things I don't think we'll need at this level and other things that we are,' Belichick said. 'Based on hashmarks and things like that that are difference, the overtime system — the red area could potentially come up a lot more than in the NFL on a percentage basis. Things like that that you just have to take into consideration. But fundamentally, we're going to do as much as we can as a pro system.'
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PHILADELPHIA − We see glimpses every now and then of the cocky, trash-talking, fun-loving cornerback that Quinyon Mitchell can be. But most of the time, Mitchell is reserved, willing to let his actions on the field do his talking for him. It worked well for Mitchell last season as a rookie with the loquacious veteran Darius Slay playing on the opposite side at cornerback. But Slay is gone, and no one else on the roster has played more snaps as an Eagles cornerback than Mitchell, who was a starter and full-time player from Week 1. So should the Eagles expect more of an outgoing, vivacious display from Mitchell this season? Perhaps the parade, when Mitchell was seen celebrating with fans − adult beverages and all − was an indication of Mitchell coming out of his shell. Then again, while fellow 2024 rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean was spread thin around the region during the offseason, basking in the adulation of being a key part of the Super Bowl champs, Mitchell mostly kept a low profile. So, has his life changed since the Super Bowl? "Nah, I just been the same dude," he said. "I feel like I've always been the same dude." But in many ways, Mitchell's life will change, at least on the football field. Mitchell, not Slay, is now the leader of the cornerback room. Mitchell, not Slay, will be required to lock down the opponent's top receiver, perhaps traveling from side-to-side wherever that player lines up. NFL: The 'r' word Eagles, Nick Sirianni won't use about the Super Bowl. They use this instead That's why Mitchell is No. 7 on our list of 12 most intriguing Eagles heading into the start of training camp on July 22. We're counting them down each weekday from No. 12 to No. 1. The series began July 7 and will culminate with the start of camp. Mitchell, of course, knows all of this. He has always been a student of the game, and he learned a lot from Slay, who turned 34 years old last season and served as a mentor for Mitchell. But Mitchell also knows that he has to lead differently. He learned that from Slay as well. "I just think what he showed me was just connecting well with the guys," Mitchell said. "Just learning from each other, so I just pick everybody else's brain in the group. Helping everybody out. Just been gelling together." That has not only resonated with the other young cornerbacks, but also with veteran free agent Adoree Jackson, who spent the last four seasons with the Giants. "Obviously, being in New York, I got to study and see them on film, and see those two guys perform without knowing them," Jackson said about Mitchell and DeJean. "Then actually getting to know them, (they are) students of the game, hard workers, very humble. And just good general people. "I've been excited watching them compete and compete with them, then learn from them as well because they've been here and they're helping me out." Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl win with our new book Mitchell said he's not satisfied with a rookie season in which he passed every test and was one of the finalists for rookie defensive player of the year. After all, Mitchell ranked third among NFL cornerbacks in fewest yards allowed per coverage snap at 0.8 yards (minimum of 600 snaps). He also ranked third among NFL defensive backs in forced incompletions at 15. None of that, however, means anything going into the 2025 season. "Like coach said, we're on the mountain right now, so it's just getting better each and every day, learning new stuff, getting better at my strengths and weaknesses," Mitchell said. So where on the mountain is Mitchell?"At the bottom," he said. Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@ Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles' championship season in 'Flying High,' a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Quinyon Mitchell: Why Philadelphia Eagles cornerback is key to success
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