Bears Fire Emery, Trestman; Now What?

December 30, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Random thoughts while wondering how the guys who signed off on the previous Chicago Bears general manager and coach are the right guys to make the call after firing the aforementioned general manager and coach:

Video below of Samantha Rodriguez to take you mind off anything Bears-related.

* Well, the Bears fired GM Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman on Monday. Oh, and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer. Meaning so far, so good. Except that’s apparently as far as any restructuring goes. Left standing — or seated at an afternoon press conference with team chairman George McCaskey — was president and CEO Ted Phillips. Why? Good question. Short answer: Phillips has been a longtime organization employee, and the McCaskey family places some value on that. Well, except when it doesn’t want to.

* Among the words to leave Phillips’ lips at the press conference: “I don’t regret the hiring of Phil or the hiring of Mark” A regrettable remark, if ever there was one. And for that comment — if for nothing else — Phillips should be kept away from any further football-related decisions.

* From the ElliottHarris.com department of unsolicited advice: The Bears should hire a president of football operations to oversee, well, the football side of things. Let Phillips handle the business side. Hire an experienced (meaning successful) GM and an experienced (also meaning successful coach). Yes, this is free advice. And as always (or at least sometimes), you get what you pay for.

* McCaskey said the organization (which presumably is his family) has complete faith in Phillips. Well, people at one time or another have had complete faith in inanimate objects, the sun, the moon and/or mystical figures they pray to. Not sure why anyone would have complete faith in Phillips (well, other than the McCaskey family, which has seen the value of the franchise increase quite nicely during Phillips’ tenure — although he would appear to be in the right place at the right time more than having a hand in most of that appreciation).

* The headline that many in the media will choose or have chosen to run with regards Virginia McCaskey, 91-year-old daughter of George Halas and matriarch of the McCaskey clan. George informed the media: “She’s pissed off.” Not sure whether her pissedoffedness (and if that’s not a word — and spellcheck says it isn’t — then it should be) is more about losing than it is about the job her sons and other folks running the show have done.

* Speaking of Virginia, George also said his mom is “fed up with mediocrity.” Not sure what her definition of mediocrity might be, but most folks would think a 5-11 team would have to improve significantly to even come close to mediocrity.

* George McCaskey: “People need to know that when they play the Chicago Bears, that they’ve been through hell.” Assuming that the “they’ve been through hell” refers to the opposing team and not to the Bears themselves and their fans.

* Deposed New York Jets coach Rex Ryan (son of Buddy Ryan, former Bears defensive coordinator and an assistant Halas had Mike Ditka keep when he was named Bears coach) — he of foot fetish renown — should be a shoo-in to replace Trestman. OK, maybe shoes off.

* If the actions taken Monday are the Bears’ idea of house cleaning, I wouldn’t hire them to clean my house. Unless I want it partially cleaned.

* The Bears want someone who will create an identity. Being less than an expert at these things (among a plethora of other things), your humble correspondent thinks winning creates an identity.

* On the bright side for the Bears, they have hired Ernie Accorsi as a consultant in their search to fill the GM and coaching vacancies. On the not-so-bright side for the Bears, they apparently cannot do the job themselves.

* Given the problems that the Bears had in the offense, defense and special teams, it will be surprising if the new coach retains more than one of the current coaches. The front office can only hope Trestman’s assistants find other employment first so that the team doesn’t have to pay their salaries.

* For those yearning for the return of Kyle Orton to replace Jay Cutler as quarterback, the Buffalo Bills QB announced he was retiring. Some Bears fans just can’t catch a break, can they?

* With all the questions asked at the Bears press conference, and no one asks about bringing the Honey Bears back? Oh, the humanity!!

* All the Bears news tends to obscure the Bulls’ season-high seventh victory in a row. The Bulls prevailed 92-90 in a game that they had a 21-point lead in the second half. Jimmy Butler had 27 points for the Bulls with Pau Gasol adding 20 and Derrick Rose 17 on 5-of-20 shooting (1-of-7 three-pointers. The Bulls were a season-low 34.5 percent from the field (29-of-84). Chances are they will shoot better Tuesday night at home against Brooklyn. Mainly because it would be awfully difficult to shoot much worse.

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