CrackerDog

Yet he didn't stop that team from being the dirtiest cheap-shot group in the league.

Well, all I know is giving control to someone who sucks at his job is a bad thing. So, as long as he doesn't suck, we'll be OK. Let's just hope they picked the right guy this time. I'm tired of watching this team swirl the drain.

I'll be watching the dynamic involving Phillips. If he's there and silent or says very little, it's a sign he's been demoted behind the scenes. George should be the one doing the talking and then hand things off directly to Pace to make some comments and take questions. If "The Accountant" is more involved than that it signals he's still in the org chart above Pace and I'll read that as a huge negative. These two ought to be at an even place on the org chart with Phillips running nothing related to talent, coaching etc. I hope a reporter asks this simple question: "Who does Pace report to?" If the answer isn't George, we're screwed.

I was just thinking that the Bears organization may have thought everything Ballard said had merit and they're going to do those things but that they felt Pace was a better fit to bringing in the talent for that new structure. Nobody will be able to confirm this but it's just a thought. As usual, I find myself wanting to be positive about the changes. But only time will tell if they got it right this time. If they did, they've got a guy who'll be around a LONG time.

I'm happy that... 1.) He comes from outside Halas Hall and isn't beholden to anyone there. 2.) He was hired BEFORE the HC was. He should absolutely be vested in picking the HC. I'm concerned... 1.) He's really young. GM is a lot about connections. Not sure he's been around at a high enough level to have those yet although he's been at the top of the Saint personnel for 2 seasons, I think. 2.) The Saints regressed this year. So... Time to get to work. Hire a HC and staff. Decide on Cutler/Marshall etc. Prepare for the draft and FA. Lot's to do!

Agree

Given the Bears recent "luck" with selecting free agents, I'm not surprised at all that they went with a Pro Personnel guy.

I'd like to know where he was on Accorsi's list. Someone else posted a claim that Gaine, I believe, was Accorsi's #1.

No way to tell. I think the rumor someone posted in the other thread obviously proved out. He killed the interview and won them over.

So would my dog.

My girlfriend got a ticket in Orland a month or two back for not wearing her seatbelt when she had it on! Cops are under pressure, it seems, to generate revenue for their towns. As to the Jennings thing, he was arrested for suspicion of DUI because he refused to blow. Every state treats this differently.

Ha! If Phillips was responsible for bringing on Cliff Stein, that alone is a reason to keep Phillips employed. Cliff is the best in the league.

It may be true that they'll see a "savings" if they cut BM but these numbers aren't out of line for a #1 WR in league, IMO. So... I'm already on record as wanting to keep him but you should be able to get a team that wants him at that salary who would be willing to give up a pick or two, if you HAD to get rid of him. Like say, he said something disrespectful to Virginia or some such thing.

If they plan on moving him, leaking all this bullshit about him is the exact opposite of what they should've done.

The rumor is that he's their #1 going into the process. Talking heads on the radio have given him the job already but they're wrong as often as they're right. We'll see.

Dudes, I see a hell of a lot of "cut this guy" and "trade Forte" stuff here. And that's fine. There's always room for various opinions and cleaning house is always an option. Moving older players along is something this organization needs to learn to do so I get it. But let's not get our panties in too big a ruffle here. Most of us believed, going into this season, the Bears were on the right track and with a few key acquisitions to shore up the defense, they'd be a playoff team. What a difference a season makes, to be sure, but this team still has an awful lot of talent on offense. There are clearly some key needs to fill everywhere on this team but we're going to find out, I suspect, just how terrible this coaching staff was. I've got to believe better schemes, particularly from whoever replaces Tucker, will improve things significantly. So, sure, there's a lot to be worried about. We still have a McCaskey involved in picking the new leadership of this team. And we've got enough history with that family to be concerned. But you've got to admit it does seem as if it's being handled more professionally this time around. For example, they aren't letting an accountant make all the football decisions! So, let's give this a little time to play out before we cut Marshall and Cutler, trade Forte, tear down the columns at Soldier Field, etc. Peace.

Not a giant fan of Tommy but this is an interesting quote.

Bernstein is an idiot. He was the one that said the Bears were going to announce a major shift at the press conference about Ted's new role. Never happened. And then when it didn't happen it was all "Behind the scenes it's happening" so we can't confirm in any way. Whatever, I'll hang in there and see what happens. There could be more to BM's antics than is know publicly. If what's been released is it, however, they better not move him. Not everyone on a football team is going to be an angel 100% of the time. And when he's pissed about losing I'm right there with him.

I could warm up to this idea if someone were interested in giving us a 2nd rounder for him. But then, probably, only if the new HC and GM thought this was the best move given the offense they planned on running.

Dude's been a friggen boy scout for most of his stay with the Bears. I suspect the next HC will want his skills on the team and will be able to manage around BM's personality. The title of this thread is downright misleading.

I'll be surprised and disappointed if they move Marshall. He's one of the few assets we have on this team. And losing your shit over how poorly this team played this year is a POSITIVE in my book. If there's more behind the scenes I'm unaware of, OK. But if this is about his one tirade, that's bullshit.

Maybe, but if so, why did he hire his son as OC? If all these outstanding candidates are in his rolodex, how'd he end up with Shanny Jr? The dude is a douche egomaniac. I'm a no vote on Shanny.

I don't have any problem with older dudes. Just want a guy who can boast more than one playoff win in his last 14 seasons! FOURTEEN YEARS!!! If we got rid of Lovie Smith because he couldn't take us to the next level, why replace him with a guy with a worse track record in that area?

Not that it matters much but there's confirmation of this now. Trestman is visiting Tampa and talking to Lovie.

Cool. I like that logic. I'm not on board with Shanny as I don't think he's really accomplished anything since 1998. I do like the idea of having a guy here who instantly gives us credibility but I just think Shanny is too big a douche.