Bears Blitz

Published by Bob Warja on January 4, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Former Bears GM Jerry Angelo’s crying towel isn’t even dry yet and already we have learned some things about the Bears’ search for his replacement.

Namely, that the new boss will have to be someone who “understands Lovie’s philosophy,” as Bears president Ted Phillipa put it at Tuesday’s press conference.

Recognizing that, it’s a legitimate question to ask: Does this undermine any potential GM candidate? Having his hands tied by forcing him to accept Smith as head coach is one thing, but to say that the new GM has to acquiesce to the coach’s way of doing things is quite another thing.

That would seem to rule out Bill Polian and his son Chris, a package deal also recently fired by their team, the Indianapolis Colts.

Polian runs things his way and demands total and complete control, something the Bears will not grant to the future GM candidate. So, despite Polian’s long ties to the McCaskeys, don’t expect that Hall of Famer to get the position.

On the one hand, Phillip’s reasoning seems logical. After all, there was tension between Angelo and Smith, and the Bears brass would like to avoid such a thing going forward. 

Still, if the Bears were truly interested in bringing in fresh blood to analyze what needs fixing and how to do it, shouldn’t they at least allow the next GM to decide for himself if Smith and his philosophy is right for the future direction of the team?

I would think so. Meanwhile, it would seem apparent that while Chicago would normally be an attractive job for anyone, it has less appeal knowing that the head coach is really the one in charge.

This is not only wrong, but it is typical of the way the Bears run things and why changes at the very top are necessary if the Bears want to truly change their culture.

Alas, the McCaskeys aren’t going to sell the team, and they seem to trust Phillips with the purse strings. So, the beat goes on.

With all that said, it would appear to be interim GM Tim Ruskell’s job to lose. His main challenge, however, is that he was a close friend of Angelo and may share some of the same ideas that apparently were in contrast with the philosophy of the head coach.

Yet it would seem that all he (or anyone who wants the job) has to do is profess his undying admiration for coming off the bus, running the ball and playing Tampa-2 defense. 

Look, I understand you can’t change the base defense without also changing the head coach, because that is what Smith and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli know and understand.

Still, Phillips and the McCaskeys could have done one of two things. They could have sent Smith and his coaches packing along with Angelo and started fresh.

Or, they could have said that Lovie will finish out his contract, but the new GM will evaluate whether he is the right fit for the organization going forward. That way, the candidate is not committed to Lovie’s philosophy.

Hell, if the Bears feel this way, why not just give Smith the GM title? I think that would be an awful idea, but it does seem that whoever gets the job will just be a yes-man to Smith anyway.

Meanwhile, one thing is clear—Smith was the winner of the press conference. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that a new extension for Lovie is in the works.

I must admit that information quells the happiness I initially had over the decision to fire Angelo.

You’ll have to excuse me, but I feel that a GM should get to choose his own coach or manager in whatever sport we’re talking about.

Otherwise, how can you hold the man accountable? When things go wrong, as they often do in Bears land, he can blame his coach. But if it’s a hand-picked coach, there would be no room for argument.

Well, this wraps up the story of the three little Bears, George McCaskey, Phillips and Smith, until they add a fourth Bear to the equation.

I just hope for his own sake that the next GM realizes he works for Lovie Smith.

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