Remember When Lovie Was Loved
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 24, 2009 10:00 AM CST
in Poll
59 comments
Take a trip with me... To a time way back when Lovie Smith was loved. To a time when Bears fans could not believe Smith wasn't given a contract extension. To a time when rumors circulating about Lovie going to the Dallas Cowboys gave many fans cause for discontent. I remember it like it was yesterday... caller after caller calling Chicago sports radio wondering what the Bears would do if Lovie Smith actually left. "Pay the man!", they screamed. "He deserves an extension!", they argued. It was the tail end of the 2006 season when Bears fans started griping about how cheap the Bears were. Three years...
Just three short years ago Lovie Smith was the lowest paid head coach in the NFL due to make a paltry $1.45 million in his last year of his four year deal. Then about a month after the Bears loss to the Colts in the Super Bowl, Smith and Jerry Angelo both signed extensions. Lovie received an extension through 2011 and Angelo got him an extension all the way through 2013. I don't recall any grumbling from the fan base in regards to Angelo... I wonder why he got the bump too? Oh well, great job by Bears president Ted Phillips in getting it done.
I remember three years ago there was a little negotiating and posturing through the media as Smith's agent claimed all contract talks were stalled and after 2007 Lovie would walk. Many fans were aghast that the penny pinching McCaskey clan would let the best coach since Mike Ditka simply walk away. Most sports columnists in Chicago were all for Lovie and Angelo getting extensions, the national media were all for it, even the Bears blogs were on board with redoing Lovie's deal. Just three years ago...
Three years is like an eternity in NFL coaching circles.
0 recs |
59 comments
Email
Print
Comments
3 years ago was the perfect opportunity to let Lovie go to Dallas.
And promote Ron Rivera to head coach.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
by SackMan on Dec 24, 2009 10:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I was for the extension but,
When the rumors started going around that the Cowboys would give some draft picks up for Lovie it intrigued me
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 24, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i recall
…there was a lot of talk about doing just this, but also a lot of folks were critical of it because of Chico;s lack of HC experience and that is what a lot of fans were looking for at the time.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 24, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I can honestly say that I was against it
because his game decisions were always questionable, he’s always had that deer in the headlights look when things didn’t go his way, and the way we lost the Super Bowl was so ridiculous that I always felt that they should have called his bluff. I said then that Angelo and the McCaskey’s should have let him prove the one season wasn’t a fluke before they paid him and tied up the team’s future for too many years. Obviously, it was a fluke.
by BearFan611 on Dec 24, 2009 10:18 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
agreed with you at the time
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 24, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Indifferent?
I was part of the group that took a “wait and see” approach. Obviously, after the SB appearance it was inevitable he would get a lucrative extension, but I never imagined being the highest paid coach in the entire league.
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
by propheteer on Dec 24, 2009 10:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Honestly
I knew after the playoff loss to Carolina that Lovie Smith was not a very good HC!!! He was lucky enough to have Hester and a top ranked Defense, a defense that thrived on pressure and turnovers!! Now, NO Hester, NO pressure, NO turnovers!!! It worked because he had the right players in their prime to fit his system. Players have gotten older or have left and the defense is in bad shape.
by McRipper on Dec 24, 2009 10:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
neutral
I wasn’t for the extension three years ago, because I didn’t feel he had proven himself long term, and because even then there were signs of his weakness at player talent development. I was ok with it when it happened because this is the way the league has evolved to do business with head coaches. I do recall that a vast majority of fans were really pushing for it. Very similar to what I heard about Devin Hester. Fans were saying that the Bears needed to figure out a way to get the ball in his hands more, or make him a WR, etc. Couldn’t leave well enough alone in that regard, and now you have a lot of those same fans saying what a mistake that was to give Hester more than he was capable of handling, thus screwing him up overall. Fans are fickle, and they conveniently forget what they stood for from one day to the next. The prerogative of a fan, I suppose.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 24, 2009 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I was in favor of it
Teams that go to the Super Bowl (which is where we were… a few plays away from a Super Bowl Championship) don’t generally want to keep their coaches underpaid and on the ropes…
It didn’t work. OK, so it didn’t. You do your best, fix the problem and press on.
by sabbath999 on Dec 24, 2009 11:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I was all for it
Years of mediocrity (or worse) and after being thumped by the Packer’s on a regular basis, my mind was weak.
Lovie came in with this confident demeanor and said, we will have two goals, beat the Packers and win the SuperBowl!
Little was I aware (with my weak mind) that he was using an old Jedi mind trick.
The team saw success (Division Titles, a Superbowl appearance and steady ass kickings handed to the Packers, had me secured front and center on the Lovie band wagon) and I’m not ashamed, it’s cool…
Other than a Superbowl victory, I got everything I wanted out of Lovie… And if he comes back next year with success, I’ll be happy for him, me and the Bears… I just don’t see that scenario playing out in 2010.
by rdent4hof on Dec 24, 2009 11:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Welcome back.
We were wondering what happened to you a few weeks ago.
by BearFan611 on Dec 24, 2009 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember when
Lovie got away with being a sub-par gameday coach? Wow, that was a long time ago!
"But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose. I'm what's wrong. This is fate" - Dexter season 4....I mean Lovie season 6.
by propheteer on Dec 24, 2009 12:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely for it.
People used to praise Lovie for his “player’s coach” demeanor. Yet now, criticize him for not having the “fire and passion” of Ditka. Sports fans are a funny lot.
-------
"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
by smudgers on Dec 24, 2009 12:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
It's not his lack of fire that's killing me...
It’s the horrible talent development over the last few years, and the apparent inability to properly evaluate talent.
I still don’t mind his demeanor, but the problem is he’s not a player’’s coach. He’s a veteran’s coach, and that’s seriously not what this team is now, and even less of what it’ll be next year.
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com
by Sklz711 on Dec 24, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I would have to agree with you.
Fire doesn’t really matter if you know what your doing. Cause than the players will have faith in what your doing. When players have faith the fire comes naturally.
by Daseabeez on Dec 24, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Can't some of that be attributed to a lack of talent through the draft?
the apparent inability to properly evaluate talent
THAT lands on Angelo’s shoulders. Squarely.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
by Just Dave on Dec 24, 2009 9:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He's a part of it...
However, Lovie has a great deal to do with our drafting, and offseason pick ups. He has even more to do with deciding to play people in positions they obviously aren’t suited for.
Lovie has something to do with who Angelo grabs and pays, whereas Angelo has much less to do with who Lovie plays and in what position.
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com
by Sklz711 on Dec 25, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Brad Childress just got a big extension
Anybody here think the Vikings have been winning lately cause he’s a ‘Great HC?’
Not me.
They’ve been winning cause of the talent they have.
Childress is a good coach when he has enough players (like Lovie was back in the day). There are a lot of ‘good coaches’ like that (average at best).
And the Bears had a ton of talent in 2006.
- Urlacher, Briggs, Tillman, Harris, etc on defense.
- Devin Hester’s record breaking season.
- Only two NFL RB’s have gained 1,000+ yards for the last five consecutive season. The Bears Thomas Jones and the Rams Steven Jackson
- Like it or not, Rex Grossman’s major stats in 2006 were almost identical to Eli Manning’s when he won the SB in 2007.
Great coaches are great because they are great at developing talent, motivating the entire team (players and coaches) and getting everyone pulling in the same direction, drawing up great game plans and so on and so forth.
Lovie’s a good HC. He never has and never will be a ‘Great HC.’
Having a great HC or a great QB gives your team an edge in this league. Having both (like they have in New England) means that usually most teams are chasing you.
by axthelm on Dec 24, 2009 3:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
yeah but
difference is that Childress isn’t afraid to confront prima donna players whereas Lovie is unwilling to
by frenchbears113 on Dec 24, 2009 11:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No disagreement there
Childress showed me something there.
of course, Favre was seen as a direct threat to Brad’s control of the team so he almost had to do something.
But still, you are 100% correct.
by axthelm on Dec 25, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
oh really?
French, I recall Childress getting punked on the sidelines by TO during a game when Childress and TO were both with the Eagles.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 25, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
haha touche
but what coordinator or coach for that matter hasnt been punked by TO. And just because Childress didn’t respond in public doesn’t mean he didn’t in the locker room
by frenchbears113 on Dec 25, 2009 2:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
possibly, French
But all we know is what we have seen, and he was a wuss for TO and seems to be one for Favre now. Favre and TO are two of the same ilk.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 27, 2009 1:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He probably learned not to let it happen again, from that
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
by Spongie on Dec 27, 2009 8:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I was in favor of the extension; I forgot how difficult it would be to buy him out
I was still on the Lovie express later than most (though to my credit I was on the fire Jerry Angelo express even during the Super Bowl run), and I definitely remember being worried he’d go to Dallas.
Also, is there any doubt Childress’ extension ends up the exact same way, except without a super bowl (or NFC title game) appearance to his credit?
Is Jerry Angelo fired yet?
Is Vinny Del Negro fired yet?
by ES46NE10 on Dec 24, 2009 4:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I too was in favor of the extentsion, but was pretty shocked how much he regressed after the contract
The poor development of talent ( Daniel Manning, Kevin Payne, Mark Anderson and many others) stands out to me the most. Follow by the scheme in the secondary through that might be because of the drop off in pass rush after 06.
He’s a good guy, but he’s not cutting it as a head coach for me.
by NiqueBears on Dec 24, 2009 5:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
It wasn't that he was good, he simply wasn
by No It All on Dec 24, 2009 5:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
uh...
It wasn’t that he was doing a particularly good job, it was that he simply wasn’t doing more harm than good. Right now is coaching is an obstacle to this team’s success. Other than the team’s success in 05-06 I didn’t/nor do i now see any specific reason or thing Lovie did that was phenomenal enough or worthy of an extension. I don’t think our success was do to his coaching, but Hester and a solid D under Ron Rivera.
Frankly I really don’t remember the extension discussion let alone my feelings about it, so I voted Yes cause i guess it didn’t piss me off too much or else i would have remembered.
by No It All on Dec 24, 2009 5:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
When I say he was a ‘good coach’ I am almost saying what you are (that he simply wasn’t doing more harm than good).
Same with Childress IMO.
There have been some really bad HC’s in the NFL. And some really great ones. Most, however, fall into that middle catagory (good, average, mediocre, whatever).
That’s where I put Lovie and again, I agree with your point above.
by axthelm on Dec 24, 2009 6:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
had the bears let him go, they would have been the laughingstock of the league
they had no choice
by Hatchetm on Dec 24, 2009 7:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
instead we kept him and became the laughing stock of the league anyway
other organizations actually fire coaches who fail to win it all… Way to reward the guy for 2nd place!! Clearly management was wrong, fell in love with something that was in fact was an illusion.
by No It All on Dec 25, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Do people really hate Lovie that much in Chicago?
Especially considering how many interceptions Cutler has been throwing, and the fact that the O-Line is not getting it done, and the lack of a running game? Lousy coaches don’t get teams to the Super Bowl, especially not with somebody as questionable as Rex Grossman at quarterback.
by rightnasty on Dec 24, 2009 7:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
What you don't realize is this...
Lovie had absolutely NOTHING to do w/ the defense’s success during the Super Bowl year. In fact, Lovie “lucked up” by having Devin Hester fall in his lap that year and pretty much rode that horse to the big game. Lovie is a horrible coach, the worst I’ve seen in my 22 years of life, coaching my beloved Chicago Bears. AAAHHHH!!!!
"The phone's for you, I think it's the Devil."
by Acreman20 on Dec 24, 2009 8:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Again (for the thousandth time)
say what you will about Rex, but also say this:
A) He was the offensive player of the month in September of 06. They don’t give that out to stiffs. Grossman had a lot to do with the Bears jumping out to a 5-0 start (10 TD passes, 3 INT’s at that point). Teams that start 5-0 are almost certain to make the playoffs.
B) Go to profootballreference.com. Check out the difference between Grossman in 2006 (when he led the Bears to the SB) and Eli Manning in 2007 (when he won the SB).
In key stats like completion %, TD’s, INT’s and passer rating they are IDENTICAL except for a difference in in completion %. Eli had EIGHT more completions than Rex. Eight! That’s it. The entire season, percentage wise, he had eight more (Eli also had 5 more fumbles than Rex).
Rex had 20 interceptions in 2006. Half came in three games (Arizona, Minnesota and New England).
This idea that Rex was lousy in 2006 is complete nonsense. He had a handful of lousy games, but he’s hardly alone in the annals of NFL history there at the QB position.
He played great early on and very well at various other times in the season (including the playoffs when he more than held his own against Drew Brees and Matt Hasselbeck).
Just sayin’.
by axthelm on Dec 24, 2009 8:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately
He didn’t play great or very well in the only game that mattered that year.
"The phone's for you, I think it's the Devil."
by Acreman20 on Dec 24, 2009 8:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That's oversimplistic
Manning struggled early on. Grossman struggled later on.
Grossman had the same number of TD’s (1) as did Peyton. One more INT.
Grossman had a higher competion % than Manning (71% to 65%).
The Bear defense gave up 191 yards rushing, twice their average during the season.
Hester opened up the game with a TD. To end the 1st quarter, Grossman directed a 4 play, 57 yard drive that ended up as a TD to Muhammad.
That should have been a 14 to 0 lead for the Bears. No team has ever come back from a 14 point defecit (actually I think it’s even 12) to win the Super Bowl.
Unfortunately we had Daniel Manning’s boneheaded play sandwiched in between which accounted for Indy’s first TD.
Given Hester’s gift TD, if the defense had played like they did for most of the season, it’s probably a different result.
Not certainly, most probably.
No reasonable person would expect Grossman to outplay Manning.
He didn’t, but Peyton Manning picked Lovie’s defense apart in that game.
And that’s why they won.
by axthelm on Dec 24, 2009 9:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The Colts
Ran the ball down our throats. I was against P Manning getting the SB MVP since he didn’t really do much.Their running game destroyed us. And “Bad Grossman” popping up. I think that he would have been a nice QB but we do have Turner. Im sick of blaming the QB all the time I just look at the big picture and right now this organisation right now is a joke coaches, GM, owners, some players. There is plenty of blame to go around rather than taking the easy route and blame whatever QB we have.
And yes I was in favor of Lovie getting that extension. Sigh.
by T.Moore on Dec 24, 2009 9:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I have no problem giving it to Manning
He called a great game.
It was either hand the ball off or throw a 5 yard pass.
He toyed with the Bear defense.
Since Manning essentially calls his own game I can justify him getting the MVP.
by axthelm on Dec 24, 2009 9:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
BTW, I know this belongs in another post, or maybe on another blog but...
Merry Christmas to the Charlie Brown’s everywhere! Happy holiday’s my fellow Bear fans….
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
by Just Dave on Dec 24, 2009 9:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Charlie Brown would be a better coach than Lovie.
He at least kicked that football. Once.
by T.Moore on Dec 24, 2009 11:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BAD COACHING OR BAD DRAFTING
I suspect it’s both. That’s why both Lovie & JA have got to go. Let’s get Cowher by giving him the combined HC/GM position & let him bring in a top level talent evaluator/draft guru, a decent OC & let him install the 3-4. The 3-4 & it’s flexibility is the way to go. Have you seen what Green Bay has done with it in one year.
by nosmo343 on Dec 25, 2009 9:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Right
It’s a combination of the two.
A ‘bad’ coach can win a lot of games with enough good players (witness the Chargers. Jerry Rice once said that Norv Turner was the worst head coach he had ever seen at any level of football).
On the other hand, a ‘great’ coach can help offset bad or underachieving players.
by axthelm on Dec 25, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Norv Turner
Is way better than his brother he is a good offensive mind. I rather have him Ron Turner. Norv is probably the golden child.
by T.Moore on Dec 25, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm just talking as a HC
Nove is a great offensive mind. That, however, has nothing to do with being a great HC.
by axthelm on Dec 25, 2009 12:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I do think that Marty Schottenhimer is a better coach than him.
The bears should go after him, like NOW!
by T.Moore on Dec 25, 2009 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Marty was very good at building a team. He was a tough disciplinarian.
Bill Cowher cut his teeth under Marty and Cleveland & KC.
Marty’s only downfall was his playoff record which was pretty much becauuse of John Elway and the also the fact that Marty tended to get extra conservative in the playoffs.
by axthelm on Dec 25, 2009 7:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
lol at the thought...
…of Norv as the golden child.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 27, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Are you kidding me about Childress "showing me something?"
That’s got to be a joke, right? Childress spent the entire summer doing everything save for wiping Favre’s backside to get him to come to MN, and then he gets shown up on the sideline by his prima donna QB? He’s completely lost control of the team now, half the team is split against the other. Yeah, he’s really a gutsy coach, eh? Jeebus, no way does that happen against Parcells, Cowher or even Holmgren. You’re either the head coach or a complete eunuch – Childress is obviously the latter.
by Waylon on Dec 25, 2009 11:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Ummm Waylon
you apparently didn’t fully read/understand my full position on Childress.
I started the Brad Childress conversation with my post "Brad Childress just gott a big extension. Please re-read my posts before you attack me.
Let me reacap: I (in no way) compared him to the coaches you mentioned. Quite the opposite. I said that he is ‘good’ only because he has great players on the team.
That said, anyone who doesn’t think that Favre is a big upgrade over guys like Tavaris Jackson and whoever else is clueless. And yes, Bradley wanted Favre badly over the summer. Who could blame him?
Unfortunately, when you take on a Brett Favre you take on a guy who wants to do it his way. Nothing wrong with that. Knoweldgable Bear fans know that that’s exactly what it was like with Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon.
Perhaps you then missed the point which is this: For a guy LIKE Brad Childress (a guy NOT known for being a tough leader) he showed me something in the way he stood up to Favre.
Hopefully you understand my point now. If not, then i can’t help you anymore.
by axthelm on Dec 25, 2009 12:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Again, and I know this is off-topic,
Merry Christmas to everyone! If you do not celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays to you!
Bound for New York City: January 6-9! Can't wait!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Dec 25, 2009 12:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
(Subject heading should read "I know this is off-topic")
Bound for New York City: January 6-9! Can't wait!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Dec 25, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Shoulda let him go.
At the time, I was a front page writer for the now defunct (due to ownership caving, not a lack of necessity) firejerryangelo.com. After the Super loss and the way the team was managed through the second half of that season, I wasn’t sure about Smith, and I was actively calling for Ron Turner’s head, as I had been all season. Rivera and Toub were the only coaches I was sure about, and Rivera was ejected for some good ol’ fashioned Chicago politics. Smith wanted his guy to run the D. We’ve seen where that’s got us, right?
Babich was a disaster, as was Lovie’s leadership and refusal to adjust. Excuses were made for Smith after the “Babich Experiment”, and Ol’ Bobby was offered up for sacrifice. Not that he shouldn’t have been, but this season has shown us that the scheme, and the head coach’s rigid idea of what is or isn’t good for this defense, are the central problem.
Three years ago was three years ago. Smith was showing signs then, but they didn’t warrant action after a Super Bowl appearance. After missing the following three post-seasons…….the warrant has been issued!
by T-Train on Dec 27, 2009 3:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I've never been a fan of giving someone an extension based off...
one good year. I want to see success over a long period of time. I’m wondering how that contract extension Illinois gave to Ron Zook is turning out.
by aznsensation on Dec 28, 2009 12:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on Windy City Gridiron
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
