The coaching staff would appear set with the addition of Tim Holt, late of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to coach the offensive line. Bears head coach Lovie Smith had this to say:

"He’s the perfect fit," Smith told ChicagoBears.com. "He’s an impressive guy; a young coach coming up through the ranks. I think he’s going to bring something to the room. He’s exactly what we were looking for at that position."

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The Bears have hired Jeremy Bates as their new quarterbacks coach. The last time Bates and Jay Cutler worked together Cutty was voted into the Pro Bowl. There was no mention of the title 'passing game coordinator' from the Bears official statement on the hire. That's not to say he isn't going to take on that task, but so far all we know is that he'll coach the QBs.

He definitely has the chops to coordinate the passing game, if that is the Bears intention. In 2010 he was the offensive coordinator of the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks. In 2009 he worked closely with the USC offense, and he spent time in Denver working with Mike Shanahan from 2006-2008. He also spent time as an offensive assistant in Tampa Bay (2002-04) and in New York with the Jets (2005).

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Click here to view the Comcast Chicago feed of the Phil Emery press conference which starts at 2pm Central. And please enjoy this open thread to let it all hang out. Remember Open Threads are rated WCG-MA so the occasional naughty word may be typed.

To quote a friend:

Poor guy. Thinks he might be the next GM one week, and unemployed the next.

Per multiple reports, including this one by Sean Jensen, Tim Ruskell is no longer the Bears Director of Player Personnel.

Reportedly well-liked by the Bears brass, Ruskell's firing MUTUALLY AGREED UPON DEPARTURE is the first big move by newly-christened General Manager Phil Emery.

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George McCaskey, Ted Phillips, and Lovie Smith have found their man.

Per Dan Pompei's story here, the Chicago Bears have named Phil Emery their new general manager.

The future of the Bears is being placed in the hands of Phil Emery, who has been chosen to be the team's new general manager.

Emery will take over for Jerry Angelo, who was let go from the Bears after the collapse of the 2011 season.

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The news just keeps pouring out.

Sean Jensen reports that Tice is not going to go to his interview with the Raiders, and will remain with the Bears.

Mike Tice will not interview for the Oakland Raiders heading coaching vacancy, the team announced Monday evening.

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With the New York Giants, and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul advancing to the Super Bowl, the NFL announced that Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers will take his roster spot at the Pro Bowl. It's his 7th selection in 10 seasons. His inclusion brings the total Bears selected to play in Hawaii to six. Not bad for a non-playoff team.