Lovie to get paid

by Adam T on Jan 5, 2007 9:35 AM CST in News

UPDATE: I have just read that a deal may already be in place and the Bears and Coach Smith are just waiting for the proper time to announce it.

On of the stories that got buried in tall the starting QB talk in Chicago, but still got significant press time is that of Coach Lovie Smith being the lowest paid coach in the NFL. There are currently 3 coordinators making more than Smith. That is about to change. The Bears and Smith's reps have opened up 'aggressive' negotiations and a deal could be reached before season's end.

"Both sides are motivated, so you have to feel optimistic," said one source involved in the talks. "For this deal not to get done, something really stupid would have to happen."

The Bears clearly were the aggressors in the talks, kicking off the discussions after weeks of speculation about when they would. But Smith's camp was open to hearing what the Bears had to say.

Clearly, Smith deserves it and although the Bears have taken some heat for it, you cannot blame them after the Dick Jauron situation.

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yeah

but after the way the team finished the year I would have seen how they came in to that first playoff game. two unprepared playoff teams in a row would cause me concern. that being said, I wouldn't want anyone else so it wouldn't really matter anyway.

by mike b on Jan 5, 2007 9:54 AM CST reply actions

Sure the quick exits

might affect the level of the contract, but unless you are going to dump him the success he has had equals a good size contract.

by Adam T on Jan 5, 2007 9:55 AM CST up reply actions

24-9

the last two seasons, pay the man his money. I think the first season Urlacher was hurt most of the year and we had the cavalcade of comedy QB's and Terry Shea (that was the OC's name right?). If I recall, we actually had an okay record the games Urlacher played.

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by thecubreporter on Jan 5, 2007 11:52 AM CST reply actions

Yes... Shea

> Terry Shea (that was the OC's name right?)

Lovie's ability to dump his friend Shea after that season was the best proof of all that the Jauron era was past.

by Danimal on Jan 5, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

2004: The Urlacher Effect

When he played: 5-4

When he sat: 9-7

I'm too lazy to do a link so copy and paste that if you wanna see the game log from that year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5038/gamelog?year=2004

first the Rush...now the Bears.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Jan 5, 2007 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

We were

14-11 in 2004? When they expand the schedule?

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by thecubreporter on Jan 5, 2007 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

i thought

it just seemed like a long year because of the qb situation

by mike b on Jan 5, 2007 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

anyway

it was 0-7 w/o Urlacher, I assume he missed by a keystroke.

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by thecubreporter on Jan 5, 2007 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

yup

I'm doing this at work and have to make it look like I'm working every once in awhile.

5-4 with
0-7 without

so we were awful without him and barely above .500 with him that year, though serious issues at QB could be blamed for a lot of the problems that year.

first the Rush...now the Bears.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Jan 5, 2007 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

Not so fast...

"so we were awful without him and barely above .500 with him that year"

5 - 4 = .555 winning percentage which is good for 8.8 wins. 8 - 8 got two teams to the playoffs that year, so if we go 9 -7 we were in.

Lovie + Urlacher = winning football

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Jan 5, 2007 3:53 PM CST reply actions

i meant to reply to you Mike...

forgot to hit reply to this...yada, yada, yada...

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Jan 5, 2007 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

I suppose it's possible

I looked at the records of the teams that we beat that year and discovered this.
10-6: Packers
2-14: 49ers
6-10: Giants
5-11: Titans
8-8: Vikings

A look at the losses shows that 4 of those losses were by 7 points or less.

DET
@MIN
WASH
@DET

Obviously at this point it's all speculation, but who knows, maybe they would have made the playoffs that year with a healthy Urlacher. 9-7 may not be impressive, but it's good enough to get you in.

first the Rush...now the Bears.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Jan 6, 2007 1:50 PM CST up reply actions