Alaskan Grizzly

Although I keep promising to move on, I can't simply ignore this. On the contrary, it matters very much what a player thinks. He played for the guy AND made it to the Pro Bowl during his tenure. So I think very much his, and any other players opinion, matters. Probably more than yours when it comes to knowing the guy. Change is coming, you're right. Will Tillman "do his job and move on"? Probably. But in the meantime, I'll appreciate whatever accolades are coming to Lovie. Lord knows there are plenty of negative ones out there.

I saw your this and that it was addressed to me, so I felt compelled to reply. Didn't want to come off as rude. But what you have put above is pretty much the consensus. In fact, I am seeing that as more the case. Although I would have preferred he stay his last year and just see what could have been done. But that is not what happened and I have accepted it and look forward to see what's next. I will probably follow Smith to whatever team he ends up coaching next and call it my "back up team" (Arizona has been in that role for years as they have old ties to Chicago and its an area I have interest in living in...someday). And since we obviously disagree in that regard, I won't begrudge you that. I think you know we differ on this or you wouldn't have bothered in posting this. Nothing wrong with it at this point. Thank you for the explanation and here's to 2013, and what it may hold.

Of the TE position alone my thoughts on Scheffler and Bennett are "no". Bennett is too inconsistent (especially when he was with Dallas) and Scheffler is too old. Don't suppose Olsen could be brought back? He would be the perfect fit for what you describe.

I thought about leaving this alone as apparently you don't know the meaning of "moving on". But I would like to insert a quote I saw from Charles Tillman: "Lovie Smith is a man of God, integrity and loyalty, and that's how he coached. I had the honor to work with him for nine years. Sad day!". My sentiments were similar. I took exception when I saw what other "fans" were saying in their hopes of the team losing just so they could see Lovie get fired. Whether or not Lovie were involved, when a "fan" hopes their team will lose to me is (the exact word I chose) pathetic. Since then a few here have said, with good reasoning, that they felt Lovie simply had not been able to get the team over the hump and really didnt have an issue with him outside of that. I can respect that. Maybe we'll see our team now reach that plateau, maybe not. Only time will tell.

So you try and insult me because my opinion differs than you? As i pointed out to MadLith before I dont purposefully go out of my was to stir controversy. I just dont prescribe to the safety of an echo chamber like you choose to embolden yourself with. I don't have a "holier than thou" approach to this. I didn't like the firing of Lovie (yes unlike the "vast majority") but I'm moving on. Hopefully eventually you will too.

Ok, way outside the box thinking here but what about a guy like Troy Aikman? Sure he doesn't have coaching experience but neither did Jason Garret (in all reality) before he was made the man in Dallas. (That and he was backup to Troy for heck dake). And if Emery is leaning towards keeping most of the current staff in place, why not? Would also alleviate the idea of Emery losing control to a coach like Holmgren or Cowher. With regards to QBs becoming coaches it's worked for Jim Harbaugh and Kubiak. And another thing to condsider is the unique chemistry Cutler and he could foster. Outside of that "irrationality" I'd be a fan of someone like Brian Billick.

I think one thing that will make a difference is the "family's" hands off approach to letting Emery mold what he needs in the coaching staff. That appears evident in the statement that McCaskey made in 'money is no object'.

Pix!!! My Talkbears sponsor and mentor. Good to hear from you again. And Bowling...welcome back! Happy New Years fellas.

Jason, if all you're doing is trying to get me riled up...forget it. I'm over it. I'm not happy about it but not much I can do other than look forward to see how things go next year. Apparently you have missed every iota of posts I have put out about my disssatisfaction. If you need someone to coax your ego, seek elsewhere. Happy New Year

Read my reply to Mongo. It's fact and no way to slice it otherwise.

Alas Dungy DID win a Super Bowl and was a perennial contender to the AFC championship in Indy (not to mention irritant to NE). And more than likely would have won a SB if he'd have stayed in TB. His " body of work" is much more proven than Grudens was or will be. And I do like Kiffen, had some time in Nebraska, but he didn't invent the Cover 2. It actually found its roots more from the Steelers in the '70s. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_2

This type of critique is fair. I'll hope the next choice can make it to "point C" but will be the first to say "I told you so". Happy New Year Connor.

Because of what Dungy left him.

Gruden benefited from a team Tony Dungy built. Plain and simple.

You've made that abundantly clear for many years. So now you're telling me how to express myself? Not to "read posts" but instead stand in the lemming line and revel in the change that was made today? What happened to not telling others how to be fans? Your opinion is a safe one, as it is in the apparent majority. And to suggest for me to not "call everyone out" is kinda sad of you. I thought you said you knew me better. I understand and appreciate adversity, not thrive in it. I'm a Democrat in a state that brought you Sarah Palin for pete's sake. I don't like what I see and I'm gonna tell it like it is. At the same time it would be pointless for me to waste the last day of 2012 trying to counter you and all the other Lovie haters. As do I. As do I. I feel next year won't be the "best". I'll approach it with the angle as you have for the last 8 or 9 years, with guarded optimism.

How do you account for Jennings and his improvement? How about the play of Wright and Conte this year? Granted Urlacher arrived before Smith but he was a Safety, before he was an LB. And Briggs plays better because of Urlacher. Not because he is a "stand alone" great LB. Yes Peppers is a great player, but he thrived as pass rushing DE. Which is a big piece of the "Lovie 2". I think Lovie deserved a lot more credit than "some". I am reserving judgement but I think Cutler has reached his plateau. He has a strong arm and great running ability but not an "elite" mind when it comes to making decisions. I hope to be wrong about him, but only time will tell.

We'll, it's a sad day. And to revel in it continues the trend of poor fansmanship. But you guys got what you wanted. And now I guess we'll see what a team in "rebuilding" mode looks like.

I'm good with this except for the "hoping" part. But in the context I believe I know what you mean.

A few of those games could have just as easily been won too. I count the Houston, Seattle and Green Bay games in those categories. How many times, consecutively, did we see players drop passes in the endzone? Bennett and Marshall were guilty of that in at least two of those games. Ask yourself, in those situations is that a coaching or player problem? So if the team does get in a "groove" and win one, two or three playoff games your still against the idea of Lovie's return? If you still answer yes to that then you have already decided you don't want him back...regardless. And that is the problem I have with how people are judging this "body of work" I keep hearing about. Your repeating the "party line" because he has gotten the team to the Super Bowl. The only Chicago coach since Ditka to do that. Has the third best winning record behind Ditka and Halas for a team that is almost 100 years old. THAT is a pretty good "body of work" in my opinion. That and the players like playing for him, and to me that matters more than what we as fans want.

Agreed.

I'm fairly certain Lovie won't get an extension... this year (especially since the year ends tomorrow). With some kidding aside i still see Lovie returning next year. I know it's not popular but it makes sense and I'm good with it. And frankly those that were wishing for the team to do badly just to get what they wanted are sickening. Shame on you.

Yes.

It seems as though Safety is a tough place to play. The last of note, Mike Brown, was always hurt too. And when one of the current ones (Wright or Conte) are hurt Stelz will come in but eventually get hurt too. Is there a correlation or more a coincidence? I do see some resemblance to how Conte plays how Fencik did when he was in Chicago. Maybe "laying wood" on people wears on you after awhile?

Aren't Sherman and Browner "enhanced"? So maybe an * is appropriate to their true ability?

That Seattle game was probably the angriest I have gotten in a long time in watching Bears games. And you're right. The spate of losses, after starting 7-1, does allow people to question what direction this team is going. It's just that I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. And probably finishing just under 11 wins (at 10-6) isn't all that bad considering.