Lance Briggs‘ new contract with the Bears includes over $8.25 million in new guarantees, and richly rewards the linebacker for his work with the team. A year after requesting a trade, and at a time when linebackers have been struggling mightily to get significant contracts on the open market, Briggs secured a strong deal from the Bears thanks to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Matt Forte and Jay Cutler are hinting that they might return sooner than expected. That could mean some stashed weapons on the benches of fantasy owners.

Jay Cutler certainly did his part in contributing to the Bears’ impressive Week 1 victory over the Falcons, but there was so much more.

With “The Hangover II” opening on Memorial Day weekend, “NFL Total Access” made the natural segue into which NFL playoff teams will suffer a football hangover in 2011. 

In fairness to Jay Cutler, he needs in Chicago what he had in Denver, a true No. 1 receiver.

With the No. 29 overall pick in the first round, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Hayes believes an offensive lineman is a huge priority for the Bears with their first pick.

With the myriad of off the field issues coming to a head today, we thought we would take a break and harken back to a simpler time with the help of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Today’s topic comes from their weekly historical series regarding the first player to break 1,000 yards rushing in a single season.

I went out on my own on the “Playbook” picks this week and took the Bears over the Packers, for several reasons.

The Bears knew going in to Week 17 they couldn’t improve their No. 2 seed in the NFC. Still, they played like they had to win the game. It’s a testament to the players and head coach Lovie Smith.

The Bears are the team that no one wants to believe in. Well, when I say no one, that means everyone outside of Chicago, outside of Halas Hall, outside of the true believers.