Alaskan Grizzly

That is in fact interesting. Never looked at it that way. I mean that although Clausen didn't get to prove a lot in his sole start this last year he was a tad more efficient than was Cutler overall. I know the offense overall seemed to be operating a bit better when he was in. I think if given the chance he might have done better than most of us anticipated; myself included. At the very least I think, to address the Cutler issue, they'd be wise to make it an open competition for the starting job when camp opens. Of course I'm getting way ahead of myself since there is still much to be done. Let alone hire a head coach.

It helps to have teenage kids and I work with a lot of younger people that love that movie.

I think if you read into it you can see that the Bears would "like" to interview Bowles a second time. And that he has second interviews already scheduled with the Jets and Falcons this week. I suspect if Bowles comes out unscathed from one of those other two interviews (meaning no hire with each) the Bears have a chance to interview AND sign him. Otherwise I think we'll still be looking. And to be honest with Fox becoming available now I'm not sure he shouldn't be the top contender. As much as I like Shanny you essentially get the same legitimacy/reputation in a younger version. Although I'm also a big fan of Bowles. I like his defensive mind. BUT he's a newcomer and I still can't help but think the team needs some veteran leadership in the sense of head coaching. *edit: something intriguing I just read about Fox is that he has s link to Clausen from when they were both in Carolina. That could prove to be an interesting factor should Fox get the job and he need to decide the future of Cutler.

Isn't that "Anchorman"?

Taken two teams to SBs. Unfortunately unable to win either but knows what it takes to get there. Could he bring Payton with him? ?

Personally of the three jobs mentioned (to include Bears) the Falcons are probably the gem. With Ryan he has a true Franchise QB with a pretty decent Offense. All they really need is some tweaking on the defense which is Bowles' forte. Unless he wants to beef up a tradition of strong defense and inherit a questionable QB, I'd say the Bears are MAYBE the second choice.

Yep. And Yep

But after making three steps AND (more importantly) making a "football move" to try and cross the goal line. That was as clear as what you said happen which I dont disgree with. The referee and Bryant both had to make milli-second choices which were both overruled by a BS process.

Yeah, the more I think about it he'd be foolish to move from one cold climate to another given he'd have a chance to move to AZ. I nearly moved to AZ about 5 years ago... If only.

Was totally a "what if" but given others have failed then resurged in other jobs what's to say he couldn't if given the chance? If he was hired (more so wanted to) he'd be more a figure head to groom whomever his Asst HC would be. But Id agree more with AZ (and Chile and Adam) in that he's probably going to go to Arizona to replace Bowles. I've heard that a few times since posting this.

I suppose then that it's "quite probable" then that Bill Belichek would have had just as much success (or not) as he did in Cleveland had it not been for Tom Brady. Nor getting ready for his fourth consecutive AFC Championship? As in your hypothesis... One will never know. PS: what was your source for the stats you came up with?

So I'm sitting at the Kona airport waiting for my connection to Honolulu and had some time to think. Dick LeBeau has resigned from the Steelers but said he doesn't plan on retiring. I know he's old but doesn't seem to age. What if be was interested in being a HC? I like that he's been around awhile so he has street cred and might attract some good young eventual coordinator prospects. Most here loved Cowher and the two of them spent some quality time together. What if?

Never lost control. As many commentators have pointed out this is almost identical to the Megatron play from a few years ago. In that play, even though he was playing against the beloved, he was also screwed.

With Kubiak staying in Baltimore, anyone else getting that déjà vu feeling all over again? Back when the Bears tried hiring McGinniis and that fiasco?

Understood. But Im sure you understand my point.

Let me preface that I actually like the guy as a candidate for HC. BUT his overall record during that time is 63-66 (you didn't count the four playoff games he coached). Not really eye-popping. Unless you consider the previous two years before he was fired he was 22-10 to include a 2-2 record in the playoffs. What, other than his health, was differnt that last year?pp

I think it relevant to say that Kubiak was successful in getting Forsett into a viable running back after losing Ray Rice. And when in Houston making Ben Tate look like an all around carry the load back. (I know I was fooled). At any rate, I don't get the warm fuzzier as I do with some other HC candidates but I could see him being a good hire. For the record if he's hired I hope he doesn't bring Schwartz or Phillips as the DC. Hell I'd like Dick Lebeau long before that.

I had plenty of foresight when it came to Cutler. Or don't you remember? I was one of the few here that originally saw fault with Cutler when Trestman was trying to implement his offense. Sure, like you and others here I believed Cutler could be the answer. But when finally they brought in a coach that had the "QB whisperer" pedigree and endorsements by HOF QBs who played for him and he (Cutler) still failed, I lost that awe. I fact I was one of the few (if not only) that asked for McCown to play in Cutlers stead to much ridcule (thanks Lucky Luciano). Yet when McCown came In to play he did pretty darn good. Yes I hated the loss of Urlacher and part of that was what I deemed as Emery's egotism getting in the way. I didn't want much for Urlacher just for him to be able to lead the defense for one maybe two more years. Sure he might not have produced at the level we were accustomed but there's no doubt he could lead. The precipitous fall that followed was all but predictiable. All I said was I wished we could have gotten more out of somethig that was proven rather than change course 'just because'. Losing Lovie after a 10-6 season seemed stupid to me and especially does after what we've witnessed these last two years. Losing Urlacher was similar especially since the defense crumbled as much as it did.

Maybe you didn't hear Pace when he said he wanted to get back to traditional Bear football with a strong defense and a strong running game? Sound familiar? At any rate I think it cute the two of you agree. Fact is fact and Lovie had a winnig record while here. Since then the team has gone 13-19. This only two years removed from you Stinger saying how optimistic you were with Trestman/Emery. History seems to be repeating itself...at least for the moment.

I don't think he's any worse than most of the rest is the starting Centers. But have to wonder would it be bettet to move him to G then put DLP at center and draft a hybrid C/G? I'm more for the idea of trying to keep as much as you have in place and draft only out of necessity. Is that 'necessity' more on offense or defense?

Beg to differ on the lack of talent aspect. I think the current offense is loaded with talent; Bennett, Forte, AJ, BM and Wilson as are the defense. It's just the coachig lacked purpose and direction . Especially on the defense. You have to consider that half the defensive starters were rookies and second year players without a lot of leadership. I don't think the team is necessarily on the precipice of having to rebuild. Just a few players, tweaks and the right coaches could turn this around easily enough.

Garza started out as a G and moved to center full time when Kreutz left. Still have DLP on the roster So having him as C makes the most sense. He's still got a few good years.

Connor, I actually still live in Alaska but have family living in Woodstock.

The more I listen to him the more I like. He's still a little green for my liking (at 37) but seems to have his head screwed on straight. As others have said some of the decisions he has to make In quick succession; HC and Cutler status will help shape his characteristics. In the interviews I get a feel that he's purposeful and a pretty genuine guy. I do like that he played at Eastern Illinois, his dad lives in Crystal Lake (near where my family is) and apparently his wife's family are HUGE Bears fans. And he has a profound respect for Bears tradition. Good luck Ryan!

BM made minor news last season in comparison to others when it came to discipline. Martellus Bennet during training camp, Briggs and his restaurant, Briggs and his sleeping (or at least admittedly zoning out) during meetings and Tim Jennings recently all make BM look like a choir boy. Just because he may have yelled at a player or two and possibly questioned Jay out loud after a game doesn't tell me he's a "cancer" but more passionate about winning and pissed because they weren't. So if "reports are coming out of the locker room" then it's because a few folks' feelings were stepped on. And I don't think BM has ever "self-proclaimed" his leadership. He just provided and opportunity for others to join him in off season trainig and they (AJ and Wilson) followed. And you know what? It seemed to pay off.