Bears Fantasy News

Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 10:54am

Giants tight end coach Mike Pope is eager to see what TE Brandon Myers will do in training camp.

He believes the former Raiders tight end could be an option in the vertical game. Myers, who had 79 receptions for 806 yards and four touchdowns last season, was signed to replace Martellus Bennett.

Friday, June 14, 2013, 10:48pm

The Chicago Bears spent the entire offseason program working with quarterback Jay Cutler on ways to get rid of the football in a more timely manner.

In an effort to speed up Cutler's release time, Bears coach Marc Trestman kept a verbal running clock on the practice field every time Cutler or the other two quarterbacks on the roster dropped back during 7-on-7 or 11-on-11.

Trestman wanted to drill into Cutler's head the importance of making quick decisions, as opposed to sitting in the pocket patting the football while waiting for a play to develop down the field. Cutler has always been considered a quarterback who prefers reaction over anticipation.

Thursday, June 13, 2013, 10:20am

The Chicago Bears concluded Day 2 of their three-day mandatory minicamp without starting receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall as well as rookie seventh-round pick Marquess Wilson.

The team held out Jeffery as a precautionary measure after the second-year receiver suffered a minor hamstring injury last week during organized team activities. Wilson also missed because of what coach Marc Trestman called a “light” hamstring tweak. Marshall participated in the first day of minicamp, but the Bears want to be careful with how they handle his recovery from offseason arthroscopic hip surgery.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 11:09am

After being cleared by the Bears medical staff, Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall practiced Tuesday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery in January.

Marshall didn't feel any soreness in his hip after participating in the Bears' eighth of 10 OTA workouts. The team resumed the sessions Monday after having last week off.

"Taking that week off gave me a chance to heal a little bit more, and there's nothing there," Marshall said. "I'm 100 percent now. I'm ready to go."

The Bears will continue to ease Marshall back into action during OTA practices Wednesday and Thursday followed by next week's mandatory full-squad minicamp.

Matt Forte to see increased role in passing game
Thursday, May 16, 2013, 10:54am

RB Matt Forte says new HC Marc Trestman told him he’s watched a lot of film of Forte running a lot of different kinds of routes and that the Bears plan to incorporate a lot of them into their offense. That’s left Forte with “challenging” work to do to prepare himself for a return to a more versatile offensive role.

“It’s easy to learn what you do, but to actually have to learn the concepts of what the receivers are doing and why I have to run this route to get that guy open … it makes it more difficult, but also more intriguing as a player,” Forte said, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. “I have to learn more than what the ‘H’ does. I’ve got to learn what the ‘F’ does, (and) where he lines up because I may have a situation where I line up as a receiver. I have to learn the receivers’ routes as well.”

An increased role for Forte as a receiver out of the backfield fits with what we’ve heard about shorter drops and quicker throws from the Bears offense this season. It also sounds better than what the team was trying in 2012, although the talk out of Bears camp this year sounded a lot better than the offense looked in 2011. The proof will come in a few months, likely with a healthy serving of Forte as receiver in the mix.

Thursday, April 25, 2013, 2:11pm

Bears WR Brandon Marshall ran routes this week. He says he is around 80-90% recovered from hip surgery.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 10:15am

When he received an invitation to train with Brandon Marshall in South Florida, Bears second-year receiver Alshon Jeffery automatically accepted.

“I just wanted to learn from someone different and do things different,” Jeffery said. “Plus, he’s a Pro Bowl player. I want to see what it takes.”

When he arrived at Fit Speed, Jeffery weighed in at 225 pounds with a body fat percentage of 11 or 12 percent. When he checked out a few weeks ago, Jeffery weighed 219 pounds with eight percent body fat.

“Alshon made tremendous strides,” said Matt Gates, Fit Speed’s co-owner and director. “He’s a really good kid, a really hard worker. He doesn’t say much, but I like that.”

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 10:06am

The diligent side of tight end Martellus Bennett — quarterback Jay Cutler’s new big weapon — has emerged during the Bears’ voluntary minicamp, erasing any concerns about how his eccentric, outgoing personality would blend into the Bears locker room.

‘‘He’s a student,” Bears tight end coach Andy Bischoff said Thursday after the third day of minicamp. ‘‘He’s writing everything down. He’s asking questions. He wants to be coached. Really, in every possible way, he’s been a joy.’’

Jordan Cameron slated to start for Browns
Sunday, April 14, 2013, 10:13pm

Browns HC Rob Chudzinski and OC Norv Turner know tight ends, with Chud having played the position at the University of Miami and the two of them coaching Pro Bowlers Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow. They've identified Jordan Cameron as their starter for 2013, with Kellen Davis and Gary Barnidge playing reserve roles. Expect Cameron to take a big step this year and have plenty of production in this tight-end friendly offense.

Browns sign big slot receiver David Nelson
Monday, April 8, 2013, 10:48pm

Former Bills WR David Nelson reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.

TE Jordan Cameron likely to start for the Browns
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 11:41am

The Browns signed tight ends Kellen Davis and Gary Barnidge this offseason. They consider Jordan Cameron the favorite to start at tight end with Davis and Barnidge providing depth.

Friday, March 22, 2013, 6:55pm

TE Kellen Davis signs a one-year deal with the Browns, per league source.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 1:32pm

Bears HC Marc Trestman isn't sure if Devin Hester will even practice with receivers, let alone play there. Purely a returner now.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 1:31pm

New Bears HC Marc Trestman expects WR Alshon Jeffery to be a starter.

Giants sign TE Brandon Myers
Sunday, March 17, 2013, 10:56am

The Giants have a new starting tight end: Brandon Myers, who is coming off a career year with the Raiders.

Myers agreed to sign with the Giants after a visit today, a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed.

Myers replaces Martellus Bennett, who left for the Bears on the first day of free agency. The 27-year-old had 79 catches for 806 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Raiders. The Giants liked Myers (6-foot-3, 256 pounds) so much, they didn't let him end his visit without agreeing to a deal.

The Giants sounded like they might move forward at tight end with former fourth-round pick Adrien Robinson or a draft pick, but Myers is an intriguing addition to work with quarterback Eli Manning and veteran tight ends coach Mike Pope.