No franchise tag yet as Bears cointinue talking with Jeffery

INDIANAPOLIS - The Bears denied a Friday report by ESPN's Adam Schefter that they have already decided to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

A Bears spokesman said the team is continuing to negotiate with Jeffery on a long-term deal. They have until Tuesday to use the tag, which would lock up the Pro Bowl wide receiver for 2016 and pay him a guaranteed $14.1 million.

If the tag is used, the Bears and Jeffery still have until July 15 to reach agreement on a multiyear deal.

Even with Jeffery on the field, 2015 first-round wide receiver Kevin White is expected to become a major player after missing all of his rookie season following August surgery to stabilize stress fractures in his left shin.

"He's training on his own," general manager Ryan Pace said. "He's progressing well. He'll be full speed for the off-season program. Really excited about him, and I know he's got a lot of confidence and a big smile on his face, and he's ready to show everybody what he can do."

QB consideration:

The Bears are expected to give serious consideration to drafting a quarterback this year, and if Michigan State's Connor Cook drops below the second round he could interest them.

Evaluators are all over the board on Cook, a three-year starter who threw for 71 TDs and 22 interceptions in his college career and has almost all the physical tools. But Cook never completed more than 59 percent of his passes in a season, was never voted a team captain despite starting 39 games, and may lack the leadership required at the position.

Cook's left tackle the past three seasons, team captain Jack Conklin, is expected to be a first-round pick. He also has his QB's back.

"It's a little bit of overkill at this point," Conklin said of the captain debate. "Connor was a leader on our team, no doubt. Talk to anybody at the Michigan State program, and you'll get the same answer."

Conklin believes Cook will impress coaches and scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine starting Saturday when quarterbacks will work out.

"This is going to be a stage for him to prove to people he's a leader," Coklin said. "He can be that guy that leads a team in games, he can make those throws in tight windows, be a fourth-quarter guy who comes in and leads a team down the stretch."

Conklin finished fourth among offensive linemen with a 5-flat 40-yard dash.

Looks are deceiving:

The Bears, at No. 11 in the draft, are a popular landing spot for Alabama's 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson.

With the size, strength, agility and power to play almost any D-line position in a 4-3 or a 3-4, Robinson will appeal to all teams.

A true junior, he doesn't turn 21 until next month, but with his shaved head and thick beard he appears older and possesses a menacing quality, which he doesn't mind.

"I started going bald as a freshman," Robinson said, "so I thought it was time to shave my head. I don't smile a lot, so it's like (people say), 'That dude looks old; he looks like he's about 40.' It's cool looking that old."

Filling gaps:

After coach John Fox allowed wide receivers coach Mike Groh to take a promotion with the Rams as their wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, Curtis Johnson was hired to replace Groh.

Johnson was the head coach at Tulane, where he compiled a 15-34 record over four years. Before that, he spent 28 years as a wide receivers coach at the NFL, college and high school levels.

"He's an outstanding grass coach," Fox said. "He's a guy I'm very familiar with because of time competing against New Orleans (where Johnson coached from 2006-11), when I was at Carolina in the NFC South. I think he's one of the better receiver coaches out there.

"Mike Groh had an opportunity to grow in his career, Curtis was available, and I think we did very well in getting him."