ESPN Search

Mike Ditka's final season as a player for the Chicago Bears was in 1966. His last season as their coach was 1992. So why did it take 47 years after his departure as a player, and 21 years after his final season as the coach, to retire the number of o...

Jeffri Chadiha included former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher among 10 veteran free agents who have encountered surprising ambivalence on the open market. Perhaps that analysis prompted this exchange in Tuesday's SportsNation chat: Kris (...

We're Black and Blue All Over: If you wanted to make a documentary on how to destroy a career in less than 12 months, former Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young has provided all of the elements. As first reported Tuesday evening by Paula Pasche of ...

Another in a periodic series examining the roles of NFC North newcomers: In the four months since "579," the Green Bay Packers have done some serious schematic soul-searching. Coach Mike McCarthy went so far as to send his defensive coaching staff...

We're Black and Blue All Over: The Chicago Bears have completed a restructuring of their front office following the departure of two key employees. According to the team's website, Kevin Turks has been promoted to director of pro personnel and ...

NFC North teams added dozens of intriguing young players over the weekend. They filled glaring holes and added to already-established strengths. Some areas remain weak, of course, while other selections created new storylines we hadn't anticipated. ...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Phew! We made it. Veni, vidi, vici and all that. Three days of the 2013 draft brought us 35 new draft picks and scores of college free agents. I did my best to sort out the immediate aftermath Saturday evening and...

Well then. Consider the Green Bay Packers' backfield on notice. After going 43 consecutive games without a runner hitting 100 yards, the Packers have grabbed two of the top feature backs in the 2013 draft. Alabama's Eddie Lacy was their second-rou...

I apologize to those who hoped to read earlier about the Green Bay Packers' selection of UCLA defensive lineman Datone Jones. I got stuck away from the computer for an extended time Thursday night as the Minnesota Vikings dipped into some unexpected ...

Most of you weren't happy with my selection for the Green Bay Packers in Tuesday's #bloggermock draft. The truth: Neither was I. Generally speaking, I'm convinced the Packers would like to upgrade their defensive line this offseason. But when the ...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Good morning and welcome to Draft Week '13. We'll post as much draft material as bloggerly possible over the next six days, but I wanted to start with an important revelation about a current Chicago Bears player. ...

Tuesday's SportsNation chat provided us the opportunity to catch everyone up on why the Green Bay Packers have kept defensive lineman Johnny Jolly on their roster following his three-year suspension from the NFL. First, the exchange: otto (happy hou...

A look at the top under-the-radar move made by each NFC North team thus far this offseason: Chicago Bears: Sometimes it's the move you don't make that stands out. The Bears were in a tough spot with guard Lance Louis, who was having the best seaso...

We're Black and Blue All Over: BRISTOL, Conn. -- I'm starting the trek back to NFC North blog headquarters Thursday morning and will be back to full blogging speed by the afternoon. In the meantime, let's pass along some interesting information ma...

Last week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Green Bay Packers were progressing toward a contract agreement that will make quarterback Aaron Rodgers the highest-paid player in NFL history. Based on current context, the deal would average more than $2...

A look at whether each NFC North team has been a winner or a loser in free agency. Chicago Bears: A hot start in free agency netted left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett. The Bears had been trying for five years to find a genu...