On the Defensive, Bears Make Coaching Changes

January 13, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: The Chicago Bears are not retaining linebackers coach Tim Tibesar and defensive line coach Mike Phair, the team announced Sunday. You can be assured their replacements will come with much praise from inside and out the organization. Because teams never make bad hires; sometimes things don’t work out. In the Bears’ case, the defense was atrocious. Meaning the 2014 Bears defense will be an improvement on 2013. Meaning the 2014 hires will have been brilliant. Unless, of course, the defense is as bad as — or worse than — what was on display in coach Marc Trestman’s first season. In which case, the heads rolling could include defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, although probably not Trestman, who is considered in some circles “the quarterback whisperer” who can somehow evoke greatness from quarterback Jay Cutler.

Broncos cheerleader Heather is headed to the Pro Bowl. And perhaps the Super Bowl?

* Speaking of greatness and quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos advanced to the AFC title game and will face the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady. Maybe defense does win championships, but it sure is fun watching two future Hall of Famers on opposite sides in a game like that.

* Manning’s future reportedly is to be decided after the season and an evaluation on his surgically repaired neck is made. In which case, you certainly can make a strong case for the Broncos to win Super Bowl XLVIII next month. Some of us would like to see Manning play as long as he would like. He’s too much fun to watch. Then again, there are those rooting for Brady to return to the Super Bowl, if for no other reason than to enjoy a shot or two of his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

* Speaking of Hall of Fame caliber QBs, it’s a lttle early to place San Francisco’s Colin Kaeperncik or Seattle’s Russell Wilson in that category. But is there anyone who wouldn’t rather have either one rather than Cutler as Bears quarterback? OK, anyone other than his family and friends.

Ekatarina Makarova upset Venus Williams (not in this attire, if you were wondering).

* If the Chicago Bulls (17-18) defeat the visiting Washington Wizards (16-19) on Monday night, the statistical-analysis department around here has calculated that the Bulls will have six consecutive victories and a .500 record. They also will have solidified their position are the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. Which speaks less to the Bulls’ strength — character and otherwise — than it does to the Eastern Conference’s weakness.

* Speaking of Monday results, Venus Wiliams lost to Ekatarina Makarova in the first round of the Austrlian Open 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Which provides as about as close as we get to comprehensive coverage around here and also a reason to run photos of folks in Australia in bikinis, etc. Not that there need be any rationalization (one of the joys of being your own boss). Not to be confused with having the site go down as this edition is being finely crafted typed. And calling up the site’s host (which also was down) to hear a recording say if you want to avoid waiting on the phone, you can go to the host’s internet site. Well, if it hadn’t been down, I would have! Anyway, if you are reading this, all is well with the world. Or something like that. Happy Monday!

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