FanPost

The Bears Demand Sacrificial Lambs. Don't Believe Me? Just Ask Jerry and Mike.

The Bears made two huge moves today in firing Jerry Angelo and (how would one word this) "not retaining" Mike Martz. They also established one of the more awkward and unusual chains of command in the NFL. See they want the President of Operations, Ted Phillips, to hire the new GM. But here's the kicker. It has to be someone who will keep Lovie on staff for at least one more year. Pause to consider that the Bears also have new ownership representation in George McCaskey. Now I don't know about you but I smell something fishy going on at Halas Hall. I mean, the new GM will be hired by the current President, with the approval of the CEO but it all hinges on the current HC being retained by his new "boss"? Who's running this show anyway. I'd say George. I'd say deals were cut. I'd say this is all speculation, but bear with me anyway and see if you can see any logic in my thesis here.

I think George was/is unsatisfied with the way this season played out. I think he's probably irritated by the poor draft picks, the botched trades and questionable moves made by Jerry and the general lack of consistency shown by this team. Who does he go to? Ted Phillips, naturally. I can see it now, a disgruntled owner goes to his team president and grumbles about the current state of the team. The team president points to the GM and says he's not doing his job. So then George goes to the GM and questions him and the GM says, "Hey buddy, look at the coaching staff." So the head McCaskey says to the HC, "What's going on here?" and the HC says, "Just look at the crappy job by the GM." We now have the classic "Catch 22" . With an angered CEO demanding answers. And here's what he has; A president who blames the GM, a GM who blames the coaches, and a coach who blames the GM. He also has contract considerations so he says to the team president someone needs to go and it might be you. The team president says, "Let's get rid of the GM." The first sacrificial lamb goes to the altar. But the CEO says, "We still need to hold the coaching staff culpable." The president approaches the HC and says "Heads need to roll and maybe one should be yours." The HC, with some money yet owed to him on his current contract declares he'll fire his OC but only if the president can guarantee him at least one more year as the HC. Deals are cut. The second sacrificial lamb is smoking on the altar and the CEO's been placated for one more season

Bottom line is this reeks of Chicago politics. Deals were made and people were sold out to save their superiors. I like what George McCaskey has set in motion here but I think he aimed low. I think he needed to begin by firing Ted Phillips and making it clear that everyone's job was on the line. New team presidents may, or may not want a new GM. But it will be entirely up to them. If they take on a new GM it will be entirely up to them if they wish to retain the current coaching staff. And if the new GM chooses to keep the HC it will be with the understanding that the coaching staff may need a shake up. Start from the top and work your way down. That's a real chain of command. But it starts like the Bears went in sideways and came out looking crooked. But that's just my take. What's yours?

This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.