Whitney Mercilus

McClellin ranks near middle of class

With the 15th pick of the NFL draft in April, the Seahawks chose defensive end Bruce Irvin. Four picks later, the Bears chose defensive end Shea McClellin. If the Bears had picked 15th and the Seahawks 19th, it's possible Irvin would be a Bear and...

Tags: Detroit Lions, Football, Matt Forte, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs

McClellin looks like he was made to play for Bears

Shea McClellin wasn't born wearing shoulder pads, but he plays like it. That's why the Bears general manager Phil Emery made him his first draft pick ahead of Whitney Mercilus, Nick Perry, Chandler Jones, Courtney Upshaw or any other defensive end who...

Tags: Football, New England Patriots, American Football Conference, Clay Matthews, Kansas City Chiefs

Whitney Mercilus' NFL draft diary

Illinois' Whitney Mercilus is one of the highest-rated defensive end prospects in this year's NFL draft. The first-team All-American and first-team Big Ten performer will chronicle his experience leading up to the April draft for the Tribune. I have...

Tags: Football, Trent Richardson, Sports, Courtney Upshaw, Dwayne Allen

Bears should have ample choices to fit pressing need

The Bears will be at the mercy of the 18 teams picking ahead of them in the first round Thursday when the NFL draft begins, the quality of players available and their own evaluations. But if everything flows the way it might in general manager Phil...

Tags: Fletcher Cox, Football, Cincinnati Bengals, Stephen Hill, Stephon Gilmore

Reader Q&A: Dan Pompei's Bears mailbag

Why all the focus on getting another defensive end? I thought one of the biggest keys to Lovie Smith's defense was a stud three-technique tackle -- someone like Tommie Harris before his decline. Are the Bears satisfied with what they have in that regard?...

Tags: Donald Stephenson , Julius Peppers, Football, Stephen Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

Readers Q&A: Dan Pompei's Bears mailbag

If Brandon Marshall is cleared of charges in New York, can Roger Goodell still suspend him? Ray Gliwa I think you can stop worrying about Marshall not being available for the season opener because of a suspension. I have been told it is unlikely Marshall...

Tags: Football, Cincinnati Bengals, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, Roger Goodell

It seems Emery knows what he's doing

My advice for Phil Emery days before running his first NFL draft as Bears general manager is to address the receiver issue before anything else. The receiver on Emery's telephone, that is. Make sure it works and everybody in the draft room knows who's...

Tags: Julius Peppers, Jason Campbell, Football, Mark Barron, Matt Forte

Bears top pick — nice story, maybe

On a 20-acre farm off Chicken Dinner Road in Marsing, Idaho, Shea McClellin developed the work ethic that made him into a first-round NFL draft pick. McClellin helped the grandparents who raised him care for animals that roamed their land: goats,...

Tags: Julius Peppers, Football, Michigan Wolverines, Jerry Angelo, National Football League

Super Bowl XLVI: NFL Network at the Senior Bowl, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl

Ten players to watch in the Big Ten

NFL draft preview: AFC and NFC South

The draft will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday in New York. Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines team needs by division. Today, the South divisions: AFC South Typical of the team that drafts second, the Jacksonville Jaguars have all sorts of...

Tags: Football, American Football Conference, Josh Freeman, Eugene Monroe, Atlanta Falcons

AFC Draft Preview: Team-By-Team Breakdown

  The draft will be held today (Round 1), Friday (Rounds 2-3) and Saturday (Rounds 4-7) in New York. Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines AFC team needs by division: EAST The Buffalo Bills are once again in search of a quarterback, and...

Tags: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Football, Oakland Raiders, American Football Conference, Elvis Dumervil