The Bears Den: December 31, 2014 - Postseason Chicago Bears news & notes

Ted Phillips' presence a hindrance in fixing Bears football operation - David Haugh: The NFL Network reported that respected Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta wouldn't be interested in the Bears job if Phillips still was involved in football decisions. What other quality candidates agree?

Bears problems start at the top -- still - Steve Rosenbloom: The Bears believe their way works, even if it hasn’t worked well enough to win a Super Bowl in almost three decades. McCaskey and Phillips might pick the right candidate brought by Accorsi. But Accorsi or someone like him should be making the meal, not just bringing out the entrees.

Lunch With Larry - Q: What will you do on Tuesday's[sic] from 12-1 in the offseason?  LM: Probably just sit in my office with eye black under my eyes and think about all the good times we've together.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Follow').  Blame ThorCo.  Sweetness in hi-res.

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Black Monday

Bears bring aboard old hand Ernie Accorsi to assist in coach/GM searches - Rich Campbell: The Bears trust longtime NFL executive Ernie Accorsi to blend the club's tradition with current needs in his consultant role.

Bears consider Accorsi a perfect fit - Larry Mayer: Ernie Accorsi has spent more than 30 seasons in front office positions, including 14 with the Giants, and is now a member of the league’s career development advisory panel.

Bears wise to utilize advisory panel in search - Michael C. Wright: While the Bears hired Accorsi specifically to help them identify potential candidates, they can also call upon other members of the panel to assist.

Ernie Accorsi will help Bears find right leader - Greg Gabriel also offers up a few of his own candidates for the vacant GM position.  Dan Durkin: Candidates it would make good sense to talk to.

Bears' search for new GM is on - Bob LeGere: Among the candidates to succeed Phil Emery are several with local ties and three others who have already had interviews set up by the Ernie Accorsi.  Rich Campbell: Pollard Alliance chairman recommends three.

Bears have GM candidates lined up, but clock already ticking - Patrick Finley: The Bears are facing a clock ticking louder — and faster — than it did during Trestman’s failed two-minute drills.  Accorsi: Trestman 'a great leader'.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Bears searching for new general manager.

Chicago Bears GM tracker - Hub-or-not-Hub.com's Bears GM tracker. [Apparently, it's a thing.]

Top coach must be Bears top priority over GM - Mike Mulligan: The Bears need to prioritize the more important job first. In the NFL, the coach is more important than any other management position.

Candidates start to emerge in Bears' coaching search - Adam L. Jahns: According to league sources, the Bears requested permission Tuesday to speak to Broncos OC Adam Gase and Cardinals DC Todd Bowles.   Dan Wiederer: Duo two of the hottest candidates.

10 thoughts - Mark Potash looks at some potential GM and HC hires, and reflects on what went wrong for Emery and Trestman.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Who should be the next Bears head coach?

[Video] - Dan Durkin, Is-Hub Arkush: Will Bears be able to get GM, head coach hire right?

Bears should hire Bill Polian -- now - Michael Wilbon: If the Bears are serious about winning, then persuade the best, smartest, most successful football man in the past 30 years to come and run the Bears.

Black Monday revisited, sorting through odd reactions - Moon Mullin: George McCaskey clearly was listening when Hall of Fame executive Jim Finks expressed his time-honored bromide that "owners own, coaches coach and players play".

[Video] - Not-Hubs Fishbain, Arnold and Arkush recap the Bears firings on Black Monday at Halas Hall.

[Video] - Adam Hoge discusses the firings of Phil Emery and Marc Trestman.

[Video] ESPN - Eric Allen discusses the firing of NFL coaches immediately after the season and examines if organizations are letting their coaches go too soon.

Stats & Info - ESPN Stats & Info with a look back at Marc Trestman's reign as Bears head coach. Fail.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Bears lost Rod Marinelli over Trestman hire.

Ranking NFL's vacant coaching jobs - Jim Corbett: What shape did coaches like Marc Trestman and Mike Smith leave their former teams in?  Gregg Rosenthal: Which coaching vacancy is the best?

Best and worst coaching fits - Jason B. Hirschhorn on why Rex Ryan would be the Bears' best choice, and Mike Shanahan the worst.

Top coaching candiates for NFL openings - Lindsay H. Jones: There are plenty of interesting candidates for the five openings including Mike Singletary, who is among the candidates being endorsed by the Fritz Pollard Alliance.

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Cutler

Bears not locked into Jay Cutler for 2015 - Moon Mullin: Incoming GM and coach will have power to make roster decisions regardless of salary considerations, including at WR where Brandon Marshall's succession of distractions may be more than a new regime cares to indulge the way the Trestman administration did.

3 ways the Jay Cutler saga can play out - Ross Jones: Whomever the next general manager and head coach, they will need to figure out what to do with Jay Cutler.

[Video] - Peter King expounds on the central role that Jay Cutler's body language played in the Bears' collapse in 2014. Srsly.  [If people ask me why there's a palmprint on my face, Imma point them to this. - Den]

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Can Bears win with Cutler after coaching changes?

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Bearsss

Crazy bad season warrants a look back - Jon Greenberg and Jeff Dickerson review the season that was.

Roster analysis - James Neveau: When a GM is hired to take the reins, what positions will be most important for him to tackle first?

Roster analysis - Hub-or-not-Hub.com's 2015 Chicago Bears free agents tracker.  (CBS): Bears sign some players to reserve/future contracts.

Farewell, 2014; the best and worst of the NFL - The Bears get some love from Jarrett Bell in the "Worst media leak" category.

Check WCGer Sackman's selection of Bears-themed tops here, or some t-shirt designs here.

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Polish sausage

The 2014 MMQB Awards - A panel of 26 select their MVPs, O/DRotY, coach / assistant / executive of the year. No Bears.

Know thy enemy: Lions 20, Packers 30 - Michael Rothstein's Rapid Reaction: Lions had miscues on offense, struggles on special teams ... Lions need to be better to win in playoffs.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: Lions catch massive break with Ndamukong Suh's appeal win ... Ross Tucker: Suspension was warranted ... Frank Schwab: Suh's fines and suspensions ... Mike Foss: Is Suh a dirty player or just really stupid?

Know thy enemy: Packers 30, Lions 20 - Rob Demovsky's Rapid Reaction: Packers are No. 2 seed in the NFC for the postseason ... Aaron Rodgers' return saved Packers ... Run game looks primed for playoffs.

Know thy enemy: Vikings 13, Bears 9 - Ben Goessling's Rapid Reaction: Vikings have plenty of reason for optimism about 2015, with Teddy Bridgewater looking like their franchise QB ... Christian Ponder exits stage left ... Cordarrelle Patterson at a crossroads.

NFL Playoff teams local-food power rankings - Mike Freedman has Green Bay mid-table and the Lions low.  Ha!

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Bring out the old, bring in the new.