Cliff Stein - I hope we never lose this guy....

[Pixote]

An interesting article. I did not realize he was a former agent for NFL players. I hope we never let this guy escape to another team. He is kick butt in his job.

 

ESPN.com Article about Cliff Stein

[AZ54]

After the Cutler deal the Bears front office is getting more publicity. Cliff has done a great job for the Bears and it's nice to see him get some national publicity recognizing that. When you step back and look around the league we standout for our ability to get draftees signed early and our own players signed to extensions early. As stated in that article the salaries we pays our players stand up over time. So why does the perception that the Bears are cheap continue to persist? Why don't we have the perception that our front office does a good job managing the cap and takes care of players who deserve it?

[bradjock]

An interesting article. I did not realize he was a former agent for NFL players. I hope we never let this guy escape to another team. He is kick butt in his job.

 

ESPN.com Article about Cliff Stein

 

Agreed. I never realized he's only 41. Why did I picture him as being 70 years old with huge coke-bottle glasses?

[bowlingtwig]

Agreed. I never realized he's only 41. Why did I picture him as being 70 years old with huge coke-bottle glasses?

I completely agree. I love this guy. Every year we continue to have great cap room space to go out and sign a key FA if we wish to and that provides us JA and company to do what they need to instead of worrying about the cap space.

[madlithuanian]

I'm not so sure that perception is in effect at this time.

 

Even the staunchest porponent of "cheapness" I'm sure has relented. I know I have. The proof is in the pudding.

 

For many with decades under their belt watching, it is somewhat understandable that some of that perception lingers... But given what we've seen in recent years, and especially this particular off season, I can no longer say they are cheap.

 

Old habits die hard, and for those who have prclaimed them cheap, it takes off-season's like this to change that. Let's not forget the lack of activity last season and after the SB... Until this past off-season, I think there was some justification.

 

 

So why does the perception that the Bears are cheap continue to persist? Why don't we have the perception that our front office does a good job managing the cap and takes care of players who deserve it?

[bowlingtwig]

I'm not so sure that perception is in effect at this time.

 

Even the staunchest porponent of "cheapness" I'm sure has relented. I know I have. The proof is in the pudding.

 

For many with decades under their belt watching, it is somewhat understandable that some of that perception lingers... But given what we've seen in recent years, and especially this particular off season, I can no longer say they are cheap.

 

Old habits die hard, and for those who have prclaimed them cheap, it takes off-season's like this to change that. Let's not forget the lack of activity last season and after the SB... Until this past off-season, I think there was some justification.

I tend to agree. In the past we rarely if ever went after a big key off season transition. Most recently to this year I would point to the signing of Mush which was key at the time and then before that they signing of Tate from Kansas City. That contract was a huge deal that KC decided not to match as Tate was a RFA. We are not like teams like Washington and Dallas for example who try and buy there championship. Every year those teams are going after big key guys. We have tended not to do that in the past. This year happens to be the one exception for us. I don't ever remember trading for a guy that is still young and still getting better but ihas put great numbers like Cutler has. Outside of Cutler we have gotten guys who can help fill a void like we got when we signed Bullocks(possibly not sure on him though), Pace and Omiyale will help solidify the Oline tremendously from this past year. Then you want to look at what has transpired within the coaching ranks within this organization. A lot of change without actually changing the HC.

[madlithuanian]

Great points!

 

You can go as far back as Rick Mirer...but usually this team hasn't shown the oomph. This season they have! And I agree that it seemed to start with moose. it's just that the past 2 seasons were so blah...that virtually something big had to happen or you could see heads roll I think.

 

I don't want to discount what JA and team have done, but I think if they didn't make a big splash...the next splash would be them getting tossed into the unemployment pool!

 

I tend to agree. In the past we rarely if ever went after a big key off season transition. Most recently to this year I would point to the signing of Mush which was key at the time and then before that they signing of Tate from Kansas City. That contract was a huge deal that KC decided not to match as Tate was a RFA. We are not like teams like Washington and Dallas for example who try and buy there championship. Every year those teams are going after big key guys. We have tended not to do that in the past. This year happens to be the one exception for us. I don't ever remember trading for a guy that is still young and still getting better but ihas put great numbers like Cutler has. Outside of Cutler we have gotten guys who can help fill a void like we got when we signed Bullocks(possibly not sure on him though), Pace and Omiyale will help solidify the Oline tremendously from this past year. Then you want to look at what has transpired within the coaching ranks within this organization. A lot of change without actually changing the HC.

[nfoligno]

Give Stein his credit, but if we are going to talk about when the change took place, I think we would have to go back to when Mikey was kicked out (technically promoted, but lost day-to-day control) and Ted Phillips took over.

 

Phillips took over in 1999, and in 2000, we had one of our most aggressive FA periods. One of the biggest previous problems as the team being unwilling to shell out the SB dollars. They just would not open the wallet and give the big upfront dollars, and thus had no chance to get the best FAs. But in 2000,

 

We signed Phillip Daniels, who was considered one of the top DEs on the market. In his first 4 seasons, his sack totals had steadily risen (2-4-6.5-9) and he was deemed one of the top young DEs. We gave him a 5yr/$25m deal w/ $8m SB. Funny how small that looks today, but at the time, that represented a top tier contract, and $8m was far and away the most bonus dollars the team had ever coughed up.

 

The team then immediately signed Thomas Smith, who as I recall, was considered the top shut down corner on the market. He was given 5yr/$22.5 m w/ a $6.5 SB.

 

The team that would never spend, and thus could never attract the top FAs, w/ in a couple days signed two of the top FAs on the market, and paid each more in SB than any former bear had ever seen.

 

That year, they also re-signed Marcus Robinson to a 4yr/$15m deal w/ $5m SB, which made him the highest paid WR in bear history. So in one season, they have three players which represent "highest paid X in Bear history"

 

While not big money, they also made aggressive moves trading for or signing: Eddie Kennison (trade), RW McQuarters (trade), Wooden and DT Brad Culpepper. That is in addition to re-signing many of their own, like Engram, Jeager, Ty Hallock, Jim Miller, Bryan Robinson, etc.

 

Now we can all look bad and give a collective "yuck", but the results don't take away from the changes made that season.

 

Stein does a great job negotiating deals and structuring them, but IMHO, it was when Ted Phillips took over that our teams began to move away from the cheap model it always had been under Papa Bear and then Mikey.

 

Great points!

 

You can go as far back as Rick Mirer...but usually this team hasn't shown the oomph. This season they have! And I agree that it seemed to start with moose. it's just that the past 2 seasons were so blah...that virtually something big had to happen or you could see heads roll I think.

 

I don't want to discount what JA and team have done, but I think if they didn't make a big splash...the next splash would be them getting tossed into the unemployment pool!

[madlithuanian]

Yeah, I'd tend to agree! Once Mikey-boy was given the boot, that signified a serious overall change!

 

Give Stein his credit, but if we are going to talk about when the change took place, I think we would have to go back to when Mikey was kicked out (technically promoted, but lost day-to-day control) and Ted Phillips took over.

 

Phillips took over in 1999, and in 2000, we had one of our most aggressive FA periods. One of the biggest previous problems as the team being unwilling to shell out the SB dollars. They just would not open the wallet and give the big upfront dollars, and thus had no chance to get the best FAs. But in 2000,

 

We signed Phillip Daniels, who was considered one of the top DEs on the market. In his first 4 seasons, his sack totals had steadily risen (2-4-6.5-9) and he was deemed one of the top young DEs. We gave him a 5yr/$25m deal w/ $8m SB. Funny how small that looks today, but at the time, that represented a top tier contract, and $8m was far and away the most bonus dollars the team had ever coughed up.

 

The team then immediately signed Thomas Smith, who as I recall, was considered the top shut down corner on the market. He was given 5yr/$22.5 m w/ a $6.5 SB.

 

The team that would never spend, and thus could never attract the top FAs, w/ in a couple days signed two of the top FAs on the market, and paid each more in SB than any former bear had ever seen.

 

That year, they also re-signed Marcus Robinson to a 4yr/$15m deal w/ $5m SB, which made him the highest paid WR in bear history. So in one season, they have three players which represent "highest paid X in Bear history"

 

While not big money, they also made aggressive moves trading for or signing: Eddie Kennison (trade), RW McQuarters (trade), Wooden and DT Brad Culpepper. That is in addition to re-signing many of their own, like Engram, Jeager, Ty Hallock, Jim Miller, Bryan Robinson, etc.

 

Now we can all look bad and give a collective "yuck", but the results don't take away from the changes made that season.

 

Stein does a great job negotiating deals and structuring them, but IMHO, it was when Ted Phillips took over that our teams began to move away from the cheap model it always had been under Papa Bear and then Mikey.

[Mongo3451]

Yeah, I'd tend to agree! Once Mikey-boy was given the boot, that signified a serious overall change!

Agreed, on that point. One think I'd like to point out with Mikey's dismissal; is that we became a business that is a "football operation", When Mikey was in charge, it was "just business". I think someone convinced the McCaskeys that a better product would provide better return in the long run, as the fan base/customers is everything.

 

If we have to replace Lovie after this year; the cheap talk will resurrect if we hire an inexperienced coach at low cost.

[madlithuanian]

Sadly, I think you are correc tin your assessment!

 

Funny side story...

 

When I was in college taking an advanced business management course..the first day this one prefessor started rattling off some info and stats about some person 'X' who he was using as a great example of "how to manage",etc... After a litle bit mentioning Yale and some other accomplishments, I starting thinking, is he talking about Michael McCaskey? Then he asked the students, "Who am I talking about"? I responded, "Michael McCaskey?" He said, yes! And then started going into more that he did. I proceeded to gather my things and walk out to drop the class. He asked me, "Is there somewhere you have to go?" I said, "yes, to a different professor who has a better role model than the man who ruined the Chicago Bears". I then dropped the class and took some other professor for it.

 

 

 

If we have to replace Lovie after this year; the cheap talk will resurrect if we hire an inexperienced coach at low cost.

[Mongo3451]

Sadly, I think you are correc tin your assessment!

 

Funny side story...

 

When I was in college taking an advanced business management course..the first day this one prefessor started rattling off some info and stats about some person 'X' who he was using as a great example of "how to manage",etc... After a litle bit mentioning Yale and some other accomplishments, I starting thinking, is he talking about Michael McCaskey? Then he asked the students, "Who am I talking about"? I responded, "Michael McCaskey?" He said, yes! And then started going into more that he did. I proceeded to gather my things and walk out to drop the class. He asked me, "Is there somewhere you have to go?" I said, "yes, to a different professor who has a better role model than the man who ruined the Chicago Bears". I then dropped the class and took some other professor for it.

LOL!

[nfoligno]

What school was that to even know who Mikey is?

 

Sadly, I think you are correc tin your assessment!

 

Funny side story...

 

When I was in college taking an advanced business management course..the first day this one prefessor started rattling off some info and stats about some person 'X' who he was using as a great example of "how to manage",etc... After a litle bit mentioning Yale and some other accomplishments, I starting thinking, is he talking about Michael McCaskey? Then he asked the students, "Who am I talking about"? I responded, "Michael McCaskey?" He said, yes! And then started going into more that he did. I proceeded to gather my things and walk out to drop the class. He asked me, "Is there somewhere you have to go?" I said, "yes, to a different professor who has a better role model than the man who ruined the Chicago Bears". I then dropped the class and took some other professor for it.

[nfoligno]

Mikey and family is/was cheap, but frankly, there was a reason for it. We were the ONLY team in the NFL whose ownership's sole source of revenue was the team itself. Every other owner had other sources of revenue to rely upon. Thus, if their team simply broke even, it would not be a burden on their bankrolls. For us though, the team was their only source of income, thus why ownership was cheap.

 

Not excusing the action, but simply providing a reason for it.

 

Phillips came in and, I agree, began to run it mroe like a football operation/business. Key too was the new stadium deal. As I understand it, we did not own Soldier Field. The Parks District did. Thus we didn't receive any of the stadium income common for other teams. After the new stadium deal, we still didn't own, but Phillips was able to negotiate our getting much more, like concession and parking money. That really boosts our ability to spend.

 

Honestly, Phillips is one I don't think gets enough credit. Maybe the results are not always what we want, but consider the changes made since he took over. It was Phillips who made the move to hire a GM, something Mikey refused to do. It was Phillips who began spending money like most NFL teams, and thus was able to attrack upper tier FAs. Phillips is the one who negotiated the new stadium deal, and got us a better deal than most fans could have hoped for.

 

Also have to say, I love that while Phillips "takes care of business" on the business side of things, he doesn't meddle with the day-to-day football side.

 

Agreed, on that point. One think I'd like to point out with Mikey's dismissal; is that we became a business that is a "football operation", When Mikey was in charge, it was "just business". I think someone convinced the McCaskeys that a better product would provide better return in the long run, as the fan base/customers is everything.

 

If we have to replace Lovie after this year; the cheap talk will resurrect if we hire an inexperienced coach at low cost.

[bowlingtwig]

Mikey and family is/was cheap, but frankly, there was a reason for it. We were the ONLY team in the NFL whose ownership's sole source of revenue was the team itself. Every other owner had other sources of revenue to rely upon. Thus, if their team simply broke even, it would not be a burden on their bankrolls. For us though, the team was their only source of income, thus why ownership was cheap.

 

Not excusing the action, but simply providing a reason for it.

 

Phillips came in and, I agree, began to run it mroe like a football operation/business. Key too was the new stadium deal. As I understand it, we did not own Soldier Field. The Parks District did. Thus we didn't receive any of the stadium income common for other teams. After the new stadium deal, we still didn't own, but Phillips was able to negotiate our getting much more, like concession and parking money. That really boosts our ability to spend.

 

Honestly, Phillips is one I don't think gets enough credit. Maybe the results are not always what we want, but consider the changes made since he took over. It was Phillips who made the move to hire a GM, something Mikey refused to do. It was Phillips who began spending money like most NFL teams, and thus was able to attrack upper tier FAs. Phillips is the one who negotiated the new stadium deal, and got us a better deal than most fans could have hoped for.

 

Also have to say, I love that while Phillips "takes care of business" on the business side of things, he doesn't meddle with the day-to-day football side.

I agree. I love the fact that Phillips takes care of team and he lets the other coaches and stuff do there job. Makes everyones job alot easier.

[nfoligno]

Kind of funny for me. Living in Dallas, I hear all about an ownership situation which is basically an exact opposite. Jones has plenty of money to spend, and isn't shy about spending it, yet at the same time, is among the most involved owners. He doesn't even make any secret about it as he is the teams GM.

 

Regardless which side of the fence you are on, there are always going to be complaints.

 

I like the situation we have today. We have an ownership which takes a back seat, and appointed a non-family member to run the team. The President is willing to spend, but leaves the "football" to others. We have a GM (my BFF) who is in control. And while I am not the biggest Lovie fan, I like that we have a coach who gets along w/ the GM while not getting into a power struggle.

 

It took too long to get to this point, but I think we have a pretty solid power structure.

 

I agree. I love the fact that Phillips takes care of team and he lets the other coaches and stuff do there job. Makes everyones job alot easier.

[madlithuanian]

I went to Cal Poly, SLO. The professor I think got his PHD at the same school McCaskey did...

 

What school was that to even know who Mikey is?

[defiantgiant]

Cliff Stein strikes again. PFW and Rotoworld are reporting that the Bears just signed Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias, putting all of our draft picks under contract. Only 30 drafted rookies have signed in the entire league so far: 9 of those 30 are Bears.

[madlithuanian]

Rockin'!

 

Cliff Stein strikes again. PFW and Rotoworld are reporting that the Bears just signed Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias, putting all of our draft picks under contract. Only 30 drafted rookies have signed in the entire league so far: 9 of those 30 are Bears.