We’re nearing the end of another week Bears fans, and that means we’re getting closer to the opening of training camp. Welcome to Bear Dawn, the latest Chicago Bears news and notes from around the web for Thursday July 16th.
The Chicago Bears cracked the Forbes list for the most valuable sports franchises at #20 with a worth of $1.7 billion, good for 20th on the list. That puts them behind the Dallas Cowboys (#2, $3.2B), New England Patriots (#6, $2.6B), Washington Redskins (#9, $2.4B), New York Giants (#12, $2.1B), Houston Texans (#16, $1.85B), New York Jets (#18, $1.8) and Philadelphia Eagles (#19, $1.75B).
Antrel Rolle checks in at #8 on Chicago Football’s Bear Necessities list for the most important players of 2015.
Get to know more about the much hyped defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on Chicago Bears Coaches Corner:
"“If the guys aren’t doing the right thing the right way, either we’re not coaching them right or they’re not learning right and it’s probably a combination of both and we’ve got to be able to get that done,” he said."
Kevin Fishbane previews the Chicago Bears wide receiver group for Chicago Football.
Guess what? The Score’s Dan Durkin’s preview series also looked at the Bears wideouts. This could be a strength of the team:
"Considering where this group was after the Marshall trade and where it is now, general manager Ryan Pace deserves a lot of credit. He rid the team of a divisive force and also a redundant piece in Marshall. Last season, the weapons in the Bears’ passing arsenal all won with leverage and length. None of them could put stress over the top of a defense or win laterally on option routes from the slot, which invited defenses to play closer to the line and suffocate the intermediate passing zones.Bringing in Royal and White has diversified the skill set within the group. They now have a legitimate slot receiver in Royal and a rare size-to-speed split end prospect in White."
Speaking of wide receivers, a couple of big names got big deals. Like $70 million over 5 years big. We have Alshon Jeffery‘s agent on line 2 Mr. Pace.
Can the Bears make the playoffs in 2015? Brad Biggs weighs in with some good news, or at least some not so bad news about the history of making the postseason after an awful season.
Brett Favre is going to be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame this week. As part of Favre week – it’s like Shark Week but with a bigger ego and red Crocs – the Packers highlight one of Favre’s greatest games, a 5 TD performance to beat the Bears on a bum ankle. Sorry for ruining your breakfast!