The Bears Den: January 5, 2012

It was obvious that there was a disconnect between Lovie and Jerry and Martz, Jerry pushed for LeFevour and Hanie as backup developmental QBs, Martz didn’t like them and didn’t want Olsen and Clark for TEs so he pushed for Todd Collins, Tice kept arguing for a running game and Angelo kept trying to accommodate everybody with his drafts that largely went nowhere. It was only Cutler, Pep, Urlacher and Forte that kept the team together last season in 2010- the coaches were totally dysfunctional and it all finally blew up in their face this season.

Lovie had a big hand in bringing Martz in because they are buddies (just like he got rid of Ron Rivera and brought in his crony Bob Babich to be DC as well as getting Archulleta and Pace a few years back) and Im surprised he is still around, he is responsible for a lot of the mess that the team is in.

With a new GM coming in and only one year left on his contract, Lovie will be gone unless he takes us to the Super Bowl. Not to mention Urlacher,Briggs,Tillman,Idonije,Adams are all 30 plus, so I see a huge rebuilding phase starting after the 2012 season. Better start drafting well this year

poor talent base and instability of the management team.

They are desperate enough to use Lovies ties with Martz to coerce him into taking a job no one else wanted and then they refuse to give him what he needs to make his offense work.

Now they are in even worse shape since any decent OC will view Lovie as a lame duck coach and not want to sign on for a one and done deal.

Leaving Mike Tice, a offensive line coach heir apparent. Because there really is no other choice.

Appearently the only one to keep his wits about him was Lovie.

funny you should bring up Riveria, a no body LB coach that Lovie took under his wing and taught to be a DC only to have the same guy start flying all over the country applying for new jobs Riveria obviously wanted to be somewhere else and got his wish.

I can understand wanting to make another run at a championship with this core group of players and wanting to give Lovie another chance but it just seems doomed, and probably better to clean house now and let a new team see what they can do.

Dickerson

- Martz had no support at Halas Hall outside of Lovie and Roy Williams

- Martz and Tice would get into disagreements / arguments on how to best protect Cutler and offensive scheme in general

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Hub Arkush

- Thinks Phillips is the main problem when it comes to the Bears problems

- Phillips is just not a football guy

- Suspects or wouldnt be surprised that Phillips and Lovie got together and Phillips said get rid of martz and I will get rid of Angelo trading off problems
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Michael Wilbon

- Was told in the Summer by 2 of his Bears insiders (former players that were still close with the team / ownership) that George McCaskey did not like Angelo and Martz

- They told him George McCaskey wanted Angelo out in 09 (was one of a few McCaskeys that felt this way)

- They told him back at the end of Aug that if the Bears miss the playoffs this season both Angelo and Martz would be let go

Baltimore director of player personnel Eric DeCosta and Green Bay director of football operations Reggie McKenzie also are strong candidates in the Bears’ search. DeCosta is believed to be the top contender for the job, according to multiple sources, but he also will interview in St. Louis, according to reports.

Hiring by committee, firing by scapegoating.

Is there even ONE true leader at Halas Hall? I haven’t heard anyone step up and take responsibility for the fiasco this organization currently finds itself in.

I was all for firing Angelo, and keeping Lovie seems like it may be OK (I think he does get the most out of a group of average players), however, handcuffing future leaders in your organization by declaring absolutes (Lovie stays), is a major mistake.

Phillips should commit hari kari, and resign. He does not inspire confidence that this transition will go well, no matter who we add. The firing of Angelo looks like another half measure by the organization – just enough red meat to keep us wolves at bay.

Already have potentially 3 great candidates lined up on their short-list; Reggie McKenzie, Eric DeCosta, and Ted Sundquist. Any of those gentlemen would be a great hire by the Bears!

Here’s my glass half-full look: We have a franchise quarterback and a franchise running back. We have some nice pieces on the line (Garza, Carimi, Williams, when he’s healthy, and Louis). We have 3 All Pro defenders and a few others that are either still at the top of their games or are future stars.

We aren’t the raging dumpster fire that many would like to believe. We have some issues, obviously, but we aren’t the absolute worst situation in the NFL and it’s not even close. We don’t have a lockerroom full of whiners (NYJ, I’m looking at you) or a coach calling out our players (OAK, there you are) or a team with virtually no offense (Hey, KC, how are ya?). It’s easy for us as fans to see our shortcomings and have our heads explode, but the reality is that we aren’t the worst situation out there and we have the potential to return to the post season next year with the right moves.

I may have found what appears to be the plan of action when the Bears finally set out for FA, and WR will be the most sought out position by the Bears:

The Bears’ first target in free agency is a wide receiver and Angelo was prepared for a major first-strike on or above the scale of his grab of Muhsin Muhammad in 2005. Assume that and cornerback will remain targets 1-2, with pass rusher and linebacker in the offseason equation.

What is interesting is that it appears they may be keeping the plan Jerry Angelo had made up prior to his firing.

AdamSchefter Adam Schefter
Bears requested permission today to interview Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta for Chicago’s general manager job.

Either would work for me.