Anthony Oakley

Now that we've gone over the Bears' draft, it's time to look ahead to the summer and training Camp—where veterans will try to hold onto their jobs and rookies (and younger players in general) will struggle to take them over.There are no guarantees—after all, NFL stands for "Not For Long." Few players are untouchable.It's early and much may shift between now and July camps.Let's take a look at which positions might be up for grabs and who will...  

The Chicago Bears win the NFC North led by their twin tower wide receivers Brandon Marshall and rookie Alshon Jeffery.There is a better chance you hear that if Jeffery is the Bears' No. 2 wide receiver instead of Devin Hester or Johnny Knox.The Bears have not had a legitimate receiving core for years. The last time they had a receiver with 1,000 yards was Marty Booker in 2002.Here are three reasons why Jeffery will win the No. 2 receiver spot...  

Chicago Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake on Sunday defended Devin Hester's role in the offense after the team drafted South Carolina wideout Alshon Jeffery in the second round of the NFL draft, according to ESPN Chicago. "I promise you ...  

Chicago Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake on Sunday defended Devin Hester's role in the offense after the team drafted South Carolina wideout Alshon Jeffery in the second round of the NFL draft, according to ESPN Chicago. "I promise you Devin's not ...  

The Bears followed up Thursday's acquisition of Shea McClellin with trading up for a receiver in Alshon Jeffery and drafting a player who didn't play during the season but has everything the team looks for in a prototypical free safety. So far, I haven't really had many misgivings about how the draft has gone. When I hear Emery explain his picks, he seems to have legitimate football reasoning behind why he makes his selections...  

Devin Hester will be the Chicago Bears' top kickoff returner this year, special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Saturday, refuting reports that the electric wide receiver would be dropped from such duty. "Hester is our punt returner and he is ...  

In what will be the biggest night of the NFL offseason, the Draft is merely hours away from kicking off. There has been endless speculation for every team, and which players might go where, with enough mock drafts all over the internet to make your head spin. But tonight, it will all come together, and the 2012 season will be one step closer to being here. So far for the Chicago Bears offseason, new General manager Phil Emery...  

It seems that many Bears fans still haven't yet decided what to think about the team's 1st round selection yesterday, but I can guarantee that the reaction would have been totally different had Jerry Angelo picked DE Shea McClellin of Boise State. Sure, that may seem like a pointless statement, but the fact that the fan base seems to be trying to jump on board the Emery Train speaks of the shift in paradigm that has been...  

"We want to play fast," Tice told reporters at the team's rookie ... who worked with Marshall and quarterback Jay Cutler. And Bates says he "really likes Hester in the new system." “When we go to OTA days, we’ll go through [installing the offense ...  

Some news from Halas Hall today regarding the team's offseason schedule of activities. Local pro day: April 13 Voluntary workouts: Begin April 16 Rookie mini-camp: May 11-13 OTAs: Begin May 21 Veteran mini-camp: June 12-14 Other key NFL dates: Late April: 2012 NFL schedule is announced. April 26-28: NFL draft, New York - Round 1: 8 p.m. ET | Rounds 2-3: 7 p.m. ET | Rounds 4-7: noon ET July 22: Deadline for unsigned UFA to sign...  

Pace Chicago Bears wrapped advertising bus. Chicago Illinois. April 2007., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.I took this photograph back in April of 2007.An eastbound suburban Pace transit bus wearing Chicago Bears NFL shrink wrapped decals, is photographed on West Touhy Avenue, just a few blocks east of the intersection of North Western Avenue on the far north side of the city of Chicago IL.  

Chicago Bears special teams coach Dave Toub spoke with the media after Saturday's rookie minicamp and reassured fans the addition of WR Eric Weems would not change the return job for WR Devin Hester: "It’s pretty simple to me. I just laugh ...  

The Chicago Bears have signed wide receiver Devin Thomas to a one-year contract. Thomas, 25, has caught 43 career passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns. A former second-round draft pick, Thomas has previous stints with the Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. He played collegiately at Michigan State.  

The addition of Eric Weems and Devin Thomas, two players with experience as kickoff returners, has the left the Chicago Bears with an interesting question: Should Devin Hester be relieved of all kickoff-return duties in 2012?  

No one can doubt the impact Devin Hester can make when the ball is in his hands. He is arguably the best return man in NFL history, and if he keeps it up he might be a Hall of Famer someday. However, it is looking like this could be his last year in a ...  

The Chicago Bears selected defensive end Shea McClellin out of Boise State with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft so that he could compete with incumbent defensive end Israel Idonije. With Julius Peppers holding down the opposite defensive end position, this will be a competition worth watching.McClellin had an extremely productive collegiate career for the Broncos at linebacker, racking up 130 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four interceptions...  

Although Chicago Bears fans are drooling at the thought of watching Jay Cutler throw to former Denver Broncos teammate Brandon Marshall, the team's newly acquired Pro Bowl receiver says he's expecting even bigger things from incumbent Devin Hester.  

With the No.19 overall pick, the Chicago Bears opted to draft Shea McClellin out of Boise State. This is an obvious botched pick for several reasons. McClellin is not an ideal player for the 4-3 scheme that Chicago is known for, and he is much more suited for a 3-4 scheme. McClellin is a great athlete, but for the 4-3 scheme you typically need an end with great size. At 6'3" and 260 pounds, this player simply just does not have the size ideal...  

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, Mike Tice, has announced that the Bears will employ a series of plays referred to as the "Devin Package" in 2012. Seemingly, the presence of these plays indicates that Devin Hester will no longer be an every-down receiver. It's about time.  

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, Mike Tice, has announced that the Bears will employ a series of plays referred to as the "Devin Package" in 2012. Seemingly, the presence of these plays indicates that Devin Hester will no longer be an every-down receiver. It's about time.  

The Brandon Marshall acquisition means Devin Hester can finally slide into a natural, complimentary, speed threat role ... moving toward complete elimination of the play. Will Weems and Thomas fill the Danieal Manning/Johnny Knox kick return role admirably?  

I planned out a Chicago Bears-related topic for this week's Blogger Blitz before the team announced a contract extension for linebacker Lance Briggs. That will make for a Bears-centric day on the blog, but as we've always said, these things even ...  

The Chicago Bears quietly added free agents Eric Weems and Devin Thomas to the roster this offseason, both of whom have kick return experience, and now Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune thinks it's time to ask whether Devin Hester will be ...  

The addition of Eric Weems and Devin Thomas, two players with experience as kickoff returners, has the left the Chicago Bears with an interesting question: Should Devin Hester be relieved of all kickoff-return duties in 2012? "We have that ...  

Could we see Terrell Owens in a Chicago Bears uniform for the 2012 season? Jim Miller of CSNChicago says the Bears should “kick the tires” on signing Owens. Owens did not play in the NFL during the 2011 season, he last played for the ...  

According to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune ... "We added another good player into the (kick-return) mix in Devin Thomas." Well, yes, of course you can take Hester off kick returns now that you have Devin Thomas and Eric Weems on the team.  

Over the last few seasons, Johnny Knox has been the Chicago Bears' most consistent wide receiver. However, like his counterpart Devin Hester, Knox has been asked to shoulder the load of being a top receiver the last few years. Knox is a good --sometimes ...  

Over the last few seasons, Johnny Knox has been the Chicago Bears' most consistent wide receiver. However, like his counterpart Devin Hester, Knox has been asked to shoulder the load of being a top receiver the last few years. Knox is a good —sometimes ...  

It looks like the Chicago Bears have added another wide receiver to the mix. What his addition means to the team is now the question. LM: #Bears have agreed to terms with WR Devin Thomas on one-year deal. — ChicagoBears.com (@ChicagoBearscom) March 29 ...  

In their final mock draft before the 2012 NFL Draft gets underway Thursday night, Pro Football Talk predicts that the Chicago Bears will select defensive end Whitney Mercilus from the University of Illinois. Related: Chicago Bears/ NFL Draft ...  

The Bears could be a hard team to stop on returns this upcoming year. Don't forget recently signed WR Devin Thomas carries a 24.1 ypr career average on his resume. This season could potentially be one of the best for coach Dave Toub's special teams unit.  

Devin Thomas, the unsung hero who pounced on an overtime fumble in the NFC championship game and helped send the Giants onto the Super Bowl, agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday night with the Chicago Bears. A former second-round pick of the ...  

The NFL will unveil the 2012 regular-season schedule for the Chicago Bears and the rest of the league beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the NFL Network. The Bears have opened at Soldier Field in each of the previous two seasons after starting on ...  

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal with wide receiver Devin Thomas, the club announced on Wednesday. Thomas, originally a second-round draft choice of the Washington Redskins in 2008 out of Michigan State, spent last ...  

You never know what you're going to get from the players you sign, but there is enough negativity surrounding Kellen Winslow since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they would be looking to trade him that I don't think I want to see him in a Chicago Bears uniform. Supposedly, back in March, the Bears expressed some degree of interest in the 28-year old tight end. We don't really now how much interest, but there was at least some talk about it.  

There is a lot more to this story than Ali Villanueva being 6'10", but man, can you imagine if you had a coherent tight end with that height? The key word in that statement is "coherent." Morris Stroud enjoyed the same height with the Kansas City Chiefs for five seasons (54 receptions, 977 yards, seven touchdowns), but his numbers are nothing close to legendary. Villanueva would have almost a foot on most cornerbacks, and would enjoy over half...  

Maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention the last few seasons, but I was entirely unaware that, under Mike Martz, Jay Cutler was not allowed to call audibles at the line of scrimmage. Let me tell you, knowing that explains a lot from the last few seasons in terms of offensive play calling. It also brings Mike Martz down a notch in my "Good Coaches" book. Why you would not allow your quarterback that leisure is beyond my comprehension...  

There is a lot of hype surrounding Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, and what they can do for the Chicago Bears offense. While it is true that the two work well together, some may be overlooking the bigger problem with the offense; it is shamefully incomplete. Now it looks like the Bears are still focusing on the defense, all but ignoring the need to protect Cutler on the field.  

I love the Chicago Bears as much as anyone. I'm also extremely excited about all their offseason acquisitions. On paper, there is a possibility for us Bears fans to see a type of team that we've never seen before-- an offensive powerhouse. I know the offensive line is a question mark, and yes, they might collapse the entire house of cards. On the flip side of that coin, if the offensive line even plays passably well, the Bears could be...  

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs spoke out recently on the subjects of the bounty scandal that is plaguing the New Orleans Saints and the death of Junior Seau. His conflicting feelings on the two topics underscore a bigger problem that NFL players face; how do you balance safety with playing the game as it is meant to be played?  

Over the years, to say the Chicago Bears have been a lackluster offensive franchise would be like saying Mt. Everest is "pretty big." The reality is that the Bears have a history of being atrocious on offense --usually sparked by a dreadful quarterback. Here is a look at the quarterbacks since 1999 prior to Jay Cutler: Shane Matthews, Cade McNown, Jim Miller, Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler, Rex Grossman, Craig Krenzel, Chad Hutchinson, and...  

The Miami Dolphins have had an up and down offseason and one of the moves that they made which is still subject to debate is the trading of Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears. By doing so they leave themselves with little to no big name recognition in the wide receiver core, but being a huge fan of the Dolphins I think 2012 will prove that the Miami Dolphins have big talent at the receiver position and that some of them will break out and...  

The Chicago Bears have made a lot of impressive moves during the off-season. They fired Jerry Angelo and replaced him with Phil Emery. Most of the comments I received on my articles about the Bears pertained to the dismissal of Angelo. Now that his departure is a reality, I'm sure a lot of fans are ecstatic for that reason alone. The Bears also acquired three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins. Not only does this...  

In a time when the league seems more concerned with reporting high school-age drama than actual sporting news, it should come as no surprise that about half of the headlines found today have concerned the Chicago Bears, Matt Forte, or both. Occasionally, Brian Urlacher's willingness to test free agency came up too.  

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler made an appearance at Perspectives Charter High School on the south side of Chicago this week. Cutler was there to show his support to students who were receiving diabetes screenings. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four years ago. Cutler has his own foundation to benefit children who have the disease, but he isn't the only Bears player to take time out for charitable work. Here is a look at Cutler's...  

Rest assured, I do not believe I, or anyone, can give an adequate answer to the question the title of this article asks. What the question is meant to bring to light is the fact that our beloved Chicago teams have had a pretty rough year on the injury front. We aren't talking about bench warmers going down either. ...  

New Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been cleared of any wrongdoing in a recent altercation outside of a New York night club. Now that he has no worries about facing any charges, he can focus completely on football. Was the hype surrounding the incident overblown?  

Over the last few years, countless people --fans, players, commentators, analysts-- have expressed displeasure over the Chicago Bears' offensive line. Most of those "countless people" are like me --fans that watch the sport, love the sport, learn about the sport, and, by design, only think we understand the intricate workings of the sport. I will readily admit to not being the most insightful individual you will come across when it comes to...  

It’s come to this in Chicago — hearing someone employed by the Bears state the obvious about the team’s offensive line feels like a small victory for those who are desperate for a shred of evidence that there is someone involved with the club who's as concerned about its front five as the situation calls for.  

New York City police are expected to finish their investigation this week of a March incident allegedly involving Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, and no charges are expected to be filed against Marshall, ESPN reported Monday.  

I saw them bring in Matt Cassel, but it doesn't seem as though much else is ... Keep an eye on the guys they grab on day two and three though—that's where we'll see Emery's pedigree shine through.  

A gorgeous spring day was the setting for the Bears’ offseason team activities Wednesday — the second of three helmeted, no-pads practice sessions this week — and praise-singing season was in full bloom at Halas Hall.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) New Chicago offensive coordinator Mike Tice wants to see the Bears play faster and with more explosiveness. He will have to wait a bit to see all of the options at his disposal.  

New York City police will not bring charges against Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall in connection with an altercation in March, attorney Harvey Steinberg told the NFL Network on Thursday.  

One of the early positive elements of the Chicago Bears' workouts, perhaps even an epiphany of sorts to some coaches, has been the performance of tailback Michael Bush as a receiver.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have signed their top pick, defensive end Shea McClellin, to a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year. Terms were not disclosed.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to contracts with seven rookie free agents, including quarterback Matt Blanchard of Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater.  

NEW YORK (AP) The lawyer for Brandon Marshall says no charges will be brought against the Chicago Bears wide receiver for an altercation outside a nightclub in March.  

The Bears signed first-round pick Shea McClellin to a four-year deal with a fifth-year option on Friday, the fifth draft pick signed by Chicago since the April draft.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears wanted to get a good look at second-round draft pick Alshon Jeffery playing wide receiver at this weekend's rookie mini-camp.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears agreed to four-year contracts with fourth-round draft pick Evan Rodriguez and seventh-rounder Greg McCoy on Tuesday.  

Update: Forte's agent Adisa Bakari thinks it's "absurd" that the Bears' front office is questioning Forte's durability, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to a four-year deal with safety Brandon Hardin and now have all their draft picks under contract.  

The Chicago Bears have signed former free agent wide receiver and special teams player Devin Thomas to a one-year deal.  

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said in a radio interview Friday he is considering testing the free-agent market after this season.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have waived offensive tackle Levi Horn, tight end Andre Smith and guard Reggie Stephens.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to a four-year contract with sixth-round draft pick Isaiah Frey.  

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with defensive tackle Nate Collins.  

After watching the rookie practice, I have some ideas.