Lovie Smith to Return as Bears Head Coach; Ron Turner Fired
Published by Bob Warja on January 5, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
UPDATE: As reported by ESPN, also fired were tight ends coach Rob Boras, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton and offensive asssistants Luke Butkus and Charles London.
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According to a source at ESPN, the Chicago Bears are expected to announce that head coach Lovie Smith will return for another season as Bears head coach, despite a 7-9 record and three consecutive non-playoff seasons.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter cites a “league source” who says this will be announced at the 2 p.m. CT press conference this afternoon.
Changes are coming, however, and as ESPN reports, they have already begun.
The Chicago Tribune reported that the Bears fired offensive coordinator Ron Turner. And a league source told ESPNChicago.com’s Jeff Dickerson that tight ends coach Rob Boras was let go.
Much speculation has centered around replacing Smith, though the perception of the Bears’ owners being unwilling to eat the remaining $11 million dollars on the contract makes this sort of a non-story to me.
I expect Smith to be stripped of his defensive coordinator duties with possibly Rod Marinelli calling the defensive signals next year.
So Jerry Angelo and Lovie have found their scapegoats. Now, if they don’t have success next season, they will have no one to blame but themselves.
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