The Bears Den: January 13, 2015 - Postseason Chicago Bears news & notes

Bears' go-getter GM should go get John Fox - David Haugh: While Pace rebuilds the roster, Fox can figure out a way to keep the Bears competitive. A defensive-minded, run-first coach who handled Tebow-mania and the return of Manning with aplomb, and who has taken teams with two different styles to the Super Bowl, needs a job.

John Fox probably not the answer for Bears - Is-Hub Arkush: If you want an experienced leader, how is Fox a better choice than Mike Shanahan? Additionally the Bears have interviewed or requested interviews with four candidates to date and none have prior head coaching experience.

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New head coach candidate: John Fox out in Denver

John Fox firing made Bears search more interesting - Michael C. Wright: Chicago's search for a new head coach got a little more interesting when it was announced coach John Fox and the Broncos mutually agreed to part ways.

Broncos, Fox look forward after mutual parting of ways - Peter King: The Bears want a coach who can take a veteran team and turn it around fast and compete with Green Bay (especially) and Detroit.

Ex-Broncos coach Fox suddenly in play - Bob LeGere: As hot of a candidate as Todd Bowles has been, he will have to take a back set now that the Broncos have parted ways with John Fox, who took the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons.

Broncos part ways with John Fox - Not-Hub Fishbain: Now there is an experienced head-coaching candidate with some strong connections to the Bears' brain trust.

John Fox to interview for Bears vacancy - Chris Mortensen: John Fox is a veteran coach with a winning record and meets much of the criteria the Bears envision in a possible pairing with a first-year GM Ryan Pace.

Bears plan to approach John Fox - Rich Campbell, Dan Wiederer: Mutual interest between the Bears and Fox would not be surprising, given his history with Ernie Accorsi and his link to Ryan Pace through mutual friend Sean Payton.

John Fox presents 'turnaround' option for Bears - Moon Mullin: If the Bears are serious about going from 5-11 to a Super Bowl contender in short order, their best head-coaching candidate in a thin coaching market may have come available Monday afternoon.

John Fox is perfect for the Bears, but are they a fit for him? - Rick Morrissey: The problem will be in convincing Fox that Chicago is a prime destination for an NFL coach. The Bears certainly believe it is, but they’re also under the impression that being a charter member of the league carries serious cachet.

[Video] - Mark Potash on Fox: It adds one more name to the list for Bears.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Should Bears pursue John Fox?

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Do Bears need to rush to find next head coach?

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Bearsss

Austin next in line among Bears' coaching candidates - Michael C. Wright: Teryl Austin’s body of work in Detroit should carry weight with a team looking to regain the franchise’s identity for annually fielding one of the league’s more stingy defenses.

Could Teryl Austin be the next Mike Tomlin? - Not-Hub Arkush: Tomlin spent just one season as a DC, in 2006 with the Vikings, prior to becoming the Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Steelers.

Jets, Falcons to interview Todd Bowles again - Dan Wiederer: As of early Monday, the Bears haven't contacted Cardinals DC for a 2nd meeting while, per league rules, they can't meet again with Seahawks DC Dan Quinn until next Monday at the earliest.  Patrick Finley: Bears want second interview with Bowles.

Could 'Cutler factor' impact Bears' coach search? - Jon Greenberg herps the derp. Hard.  James Neveau: If Kubiak really likes the Ravens, why should he jump at the first chance to leave?

What the Bears can learn from NFL Divisional-round games - Moon Mullin: Recent Bears' offensive coaches have ignored strengths, weaknesses and their teams’ characters. Early guess is that Cutler will be the QB 2015, but without the ill-conceived strategic plan of two-thirds of the offense running through his right arm.

Key to Bears' coaching search is a QB, but it's not Cutler - Steve Rosenbloom: The new coach ought to be about beating Aaron Rodgers, who will affect the Bears for a lot more years than Jay Cutler will.

Pace left no doubt he was best choice - Larry Mayer: As soon as they interviewed Ryan Pace last Wednesday, George H. McCaskey and Ted Phillips knew they had the team's next GM.

Ryan Pace was a ‘rising star’ in New Orleans - Dan Durkin: Pace’s prowess within the personnel and scouting function was what drew the Bears to securing his services, but his impact transcended all departments in New Orleans.

Roster analysis: Defensive tackles - Not-Hub Arkush: Jeremiah Ratliff, Stephen Paea made big impact for 2014 'D'.

Hoke, Tucker in play for LSU DC job - Moon Mullin: Mel Tucker coached LSU DBs under Nick Saban from 2001-04, while Jon Hoke coached at Florida in 2000-01.  (The Advocate): Tucker, Hoke drawing interest from LSU to replace John Chavis.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Christian Jones and Anthony Adams go for a ride in another edition of 'Big Guys in Compact Cars.'

/underwater facepalm - Chicago Sun-Times: "Jay Cutler, Kristin Cavallari enjoy the offseason" ... National Sun-Times: "Jay Cutler has no time for the NFL playoffs".

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Polish sausage

Know thy enemy: Packers - Tom Pelissero: NFC Championship Game a rematch, but Packers and Seahawks have changed since week 1 meeting.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Jenny Vrentas: Hobbled Aaron Rodgers adds to Packers’ lore in an Ice Bowl rematch that rivaled the original drama.

Panthers win new fan - Jared Dubin: 12-year old writes letter to all 32 NFL teams; only Panthers respond, with a handwritten letter from owner Jerry Richardson and a replica helmet signed by Luke Kuechly.

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