Chicago Bears News: Pro Sports Daily

February 4

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"His Super Bowl ring from the Bears' magical 1985 season sits in a drawer inside Dick Stanfel's Libertyville home. It means the world to Stanfel, the Bears offensive line coach from 1981 to '92, yet doesn't convey the significance of the more modest ring he wears every day. The gold one with a single diamond and faint engraving commemorating the Lions' 1953 NFL championship. The one Stanfel earned in a 17-16 victory over the Browns that capped a season in which his teammates voted him the Lions' most valuable player. "That was my biggest honor and a pleasant surprise for a guard,'' said Stanfel, 84, who played for the Lions from 1952 to '55. "I got lucky.'' Stanfel hopes fortune smiles on"

NFL expands Thursday schedule

February 4

New York Post

"Are you ready for a lot more prime-time football? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell used his annual Super Bowl news conference yesterday to reveal the league is dramatically expanding the Thursday night package on its own network starting this fall. In what appeared to be a way to up the pressure in its long-running dispute with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision over New York-area carriage of the NFL Network, the league said that channel will now show Thursday games from Week 2 through Week 15. The NFL Network previously broadcast Thursday games the final eight weeks of the season, but Goodell said the expansion resulted from a desire to guarantee every team in the league at least one"

Bears RB Matt Forte eager to meet GM Phil Emery, wants 'to remain in Chicago'

February 3

Chicago Sun-Times

"Refreshed and inspired after his first trip to the Pro Bowl, Bears running back Matt Forte shined in the media spotlight days before Super Bowl XLVI, just blocks from Lucas Oil Stadium. He appeared on three-time Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew's Sirius NFL Radio show, and he exchanged pleasantries with four-time All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. "Man, I'm campaigning for you," Fitzgerald told Forte. In 2011, with a base salary of $550,000, Forte was among the most underpaid players in the NFL, a point reinforced by Vizio naming him a finalist for its annual "Top Value Performer" award."

Bears had first crack at Welker

February 3

Chicago Tribune

"They ignored Wes Welker on draft day. They won't ignore him on Super Bowl Sunday. Welker, the player nobody wanted, led the league in catches this season and has had more receptions than any player in the league since 2007. He has had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has been named to the last four Pro Bowls. You might say the little guy has arrived. He might have arrived as a Bear instead of a Patriot if fate had been kinder to Jerry Angelo."

Goodell: If NFL expands, it'll add two more teams

February 3

CBSSports.com

"It's no secret the NFL wants to expand to Los Angeles. And while so much of the attention has been focused on which franchise would relocate to L.A. -- whether it's the Chargers, Vikings, Jaguars or Rams -- we haven't discussed much the possibility of the NFL expanding. Apparently, that's an option. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday on Costas Live on the NBC Sports Network that if the league places a team in L.A., the NFL probably would add two more franchises to make it an even 34. Goodell said the league "doesn't want to move any of our teams" and "we probably don't want to go to 33" if the NFL decides expansion is a good choice."

Phil Emery's daughter changed the way new Bears GM scouts the world

February 2

Chicago Sun-Times

"Phil and April Emery cruised along the back roads of Kansas City on Saturday afternoon, a coffee in the father's hand and a vanilla steamer in his daughter's. The drives are their favorite tradition; they agree on a radio station, soak in the scene and chat about whatever comes to mind. But Saturday's drive was interrupted every five seconds by the pinging of Phil's phone. Text messages flooded in after the Bears named him the franchise's fifth general manager. ''She looked at me and said, 'Dad, a lot of calls,'?" Phil recalled. After a pause, he looked at her and said, ''But in every one of those, they're saying, 'Go, Bears.'?" Wearing a Bears sweatshirt, April, 28, looked at her father"

Receiver Floyd likes idea of playing for Bears

February 2

Chicago Tribune

"Some draft experts believe Michael Floyd could be selected by the Chicago Bears with the 19th overall selection. Such a scenario would suit the former Notre Dame receiver just fine. "That's a great organization," Floyd said during a phone interview Wednesday. "They're always on TV. And it's great seeing them. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be mad going anywhere. ... Chicago would be great, but you never know how things go.""

Bears spared Giants, Pats by picking Phil Emery as GM

February 1

Chicago Sun-Times

"A day after the Bears introduced Phil Emery as their general manager, executives from the two Super Bowl teams were relieved two of their staff members aren't headed to Halas Hall. New York Giants owner John Mara said Tuesday he had a ''long conversation'' with Bears president Ted Phillips about the GM search. Mara also chatted with Bears chairman George McCaskey. ''I had mixed feelings about that,'' Mara told the Sun-Times of the Bears' decision not to hire Giants college-scouting director Marc Ross. ''Marc deserves to be a general manager, as do [director of pro personnel] Dave Gettleman and [assistant GM] Kevin Abrams. But I was happy we were able to keep [Ross].''"

Doesn't sound like Emery knows how to judge a coach

February 1

Chicago Tribune

columnist Steve Rosenbloom

"Phil Emery got so revved up that he forgot reality. No, wait, Emery didn't get revved up at his introductory news conference. Emery seems incapable of getting revved up. So, maybe Emery was just so focused on offering snappy catchphrases about "leadership'' instead of coming off as the guy in charge that he lost track of the truth. Or at least a clue. Emery was asked whether he could fire coach Lovie Smith, which we know he can't do until next year because that's what team president Ted Phillips said because presumably that's what Viginia McCaskey told him to say."

Matt Forte decision looms for Bears

January 31

ESPN.com

"New Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery has plenty of issues to address as he gets to work at Halas Hall. With three weeks to decide whether to apply the franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte, Emery's boss said Tuesday that the Bears won't let the Pro Bowl running back reach free agency. "We'd like to (work out a long-term deal with Forte)," Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "But as Phil pointed out we obviously will at least consider placing the franchise tag on him. We don't have any intention of letting Matt hit the open market. We'll sit down with him privately, Phil will, and discuss what the plans are prior to the"

New GM Phil Emery shows coach Lovie Smith some love

January 31

Chicago Sun-Times

"Phil Emery is a Lovie Smith guy. He was Monday, at least. The Bears' new general manager not only accepted Smith as his head coach for the 2012 season — he had no choice — but he embraced him. Emery sounded more like Smith's colleague than his boss at his introductory news conference at Halas Hall. There was no hint of a win-or-else standard for next season after the Bears failed to make the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons since playing in the Super Bowl. ''I don't look at it in terms of standards,'' Emery said when asked what the benchmark would be for Smith next season. ''We're all evaluated every day on how we interact with people, how we provide leadership, how we use our"

Armed with 5-year contract, Emery ready to roll as Bears GM

January 31

Chicago Tribune

"Those who have spoken up on Phil Emery's behalf in the last few weeks as the Bears searched for a general manager describe him as a tireless and meticulous worker. So it isn't surprising Ted Phillips said it was the "depth of his plan" that made Emery the clear choice to become the fifth general manager in franchise history, replacing Jerry Angelo, a man Emery once worked under."

Forte back on field but no factor in NFC's loss in Pro Bowl

January 30

Chicago Tribune

"A lot has happened since Matt Forte last played. The Bears' crash without quarterback Jay Cutler was made worse with the running back sidelined for four games with a sprained MCL in his right knee. A once-promising season unraveled and the biggest fallout was the firing of general manager Jerry Angelo on Jan. 3. Eight weeks after he was injured Dec. 4 in the first quarter against the Chiefs, Forte played Sunday night in the Pro Bowl. Fears he would reinjure his right knee were allayed, and the team's medical staff would not have cleared him for the all-star game if he wasn't healthy. In a pass-happy affair, Forte didn't get a lot of work with just three touches."

Bears need Emery's inspired vision

January 30

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"To the delight of Navy football players, the blizzard of 1996 had blanketed their campus in Annapolis, Md., with 2 feet of snow. Everything shut down — except Phil Emery. In case Emery, then Navy's inexorable strength and conditioning coach, decided against canceling a regularly scheduled 5 a.m. workout, team captain Clint Bruce volunteered for an early "reconnaissance mission" to see if teammates were safe sleeping in."

It's up to Phil Emery to right the Bears' ship

January 29

Chicago Sun-Times

"Phil Emery, whom the Bears tabbed as their general manager Saturday, has history with the organization, starting his NFL career at Halas Hall in 1998. But don't expect the status quo. Emery agreed to a multiyear contract with the Bears, beating out another finalist, Jason Licht of the New England Patriots, to succeed longtime general manager Jerry Angelo. He will be formally introduced at a news conference Monday at 2 p.m. But Emery, 53, returns to the Bears a different man, a different scout, someone shaped by a broad range of personalities he's encountered in his 14 NFL seasons. From former Bears personnel executive Mark Hatley, to Angelo, to Rich McKay — a key architect of the return"

Bears new GM knows primary task

January 29

Chicago Tribune

"Having known Phil Emery for more than a decade, I can tell you with complete confidence the Bears new general manager is one of the NFL's best evaluators of talent. He forms strong, substantive opinions based on in-depth research that goes well beyond the norm. Emery should do well on draft day. Drafting players, though, is only one part of being a general manager, even if it's the only one most of the world sees or cares about. If all a general manager did well was draft, he ultimately wouldn't be very successful. He also has to be a leader. He has to be able to manage the coach and his staff. He needs to endure ownership. In a tweeting world, he better be media savvy. A general manager"

Former Bear battles team and NFL over lost benefits, salary

January 29

Chicago Tribune

"The question was one Hunter Hillenmeyer didn't want to answer. It was 2010, and the Bears had just placed him on injured reserve after the third publicly documented concussion of his eight-year career. After meeting with reporters at Halas Hall, he was asked how many concussions he had actually suffered. "Now isn't the time to discuss that," Hillenmeyer said. Sixteen months later, the time has come as he wages a fight to receive what the NFL Players Association says is $900,000 due him according to the collective bargaining agreement after two doctors, one the independent neurological consultant for the Bears, recommended he no longer play football. "It makes me sick to see (the league)"

Bears tab Emery as new general manager

January 29

Chicago Tribune

"The man who once pushed to draft Alex Brown in the fourth round in 2002 has had a hand since in choosing Roddy White, Matt Ryan and Eric Berry, the kind of talents the Bears need to boost their roster. Phil Emery, the director of college scouting for the Chiefs, was announced as the fifth general manager in Bears history Saturday. He will be introduced Monday at Halas Hall, where he worked as an area scout from 1998 to 2004. Bears President Ted Phillips said talent evaluation was essential when he set out to replace Jerry Angelo, who was fired Jan. 3 after nearly 11 seasons on the job and two years remaining on his contract. Emery's reputation as a tireless worker with a keen eye for skill"

Bears tab Emery as new general manager

January 28

Chicago Tribune

"The future of the Bears is being placed in the hands of Phil Emery, who has been chosen to be the team's new general manager. Emery will succeed Jerry Angelo, who was fired after an 11-year run. Emery once worked for Angelo with the Bears as a regional scout. He was hired by Mark Hatley in 1998 and retained by Angelo when he took over in 2001. Emery was offered a promotion to be the Falcons' director of college scouting in 2004 by then-Falcons' personnel director Tim Ruskell, and the Bears gave Emery their blessing to take the job. He joined the Chiefs in 2009 and has overseen their drafts as well. Among the players he has had a hand in drafting have been Brian Urlacher, Rex Grossman, Matt"

Previous experience with Bears could give Phil Emery a leg up

January 28

Chicago Sun-Times

"Kansas City Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery remains the favorite to be named the Bears' general manager after his second interview with the team Friday at Halas Hall. The Bears will name either Emery or New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht to succeed Jerry Angelo, who was fired by team president Ted Phillips last month. Licht had his second interview with the Bears on Thursday. No timetable is set, but the Bears ''don't expect a decision to take too long,'' a Halas Hall source close to the hiring process said Friday night. Emery, 53, is considered the front-runner because of his familiarity with the Bears and his background in college scouting. Emery's"

Bears conclude GM interviews; decision likely next week

January 28

Chicago Tribune

"The Bears concluded their general manager interviews Friday and a new GM is expected to be in place in a matter of days. Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery visited Halas Hall for his second go-round with upper management and then was scheduled to leave town. Emery and Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht are the two finalists for the job. Licht had a second interview Thursday. Outsiders have portrayed Emery as the favorite. It may or may not be significant that he was the final candidate to visit this week, and the final candidate to visit last week in the first wave of interviews."

Next up for Bears QB coach hunt: Plan B

January 28

Chicago Tribune

"When the Bears resume their quest to find a passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach next week, they will be acting on Plan B. The Bears offered the job to Greg Olson, the only man to interview for the job, but he turned it down before becoming the Jaguars' quarterbacks coach, a source told the Tribune. Olson didn't pick Blaine Gabbert over Jay Cutler straight up. The Jaguars gave Olson the title of assistant head coach, and their contract offer was for three years, one more than the Bears put on the table. Olson worked for the Bears in 2003 as quarterbacks coach on Dick Jauron's staff and took over play-calling responsibilities from John Shoop before the season ended. Since then, he"

Bears' general manager will have hands full

January 27

Chicago Sun-Times

"Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery still is considered the favorite to succeed Jerry Angelo as the Bears' general manager. But whether it's Emery or Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, the winner will have a heavy workload the minute he signs his contract. Though coach Lovie Smith is an untouchable and the core of the Bears' roster for 2012 is intact, hiring a general manager in the middle of the evaluation period for the draft and free agency puts the Bears in catch-up mode. But there's more to it than that. When player evaluation and poor draft performance is the reason for change, every aspect of the player personnel department needs to be reviewed. Angelo was a"

Bears bring back Emery, Licht for more GM interviews

January 27

Chicago Tribune

"After five days of little activity, the Bears general manager search is scheduled to heat up again Thursday when the team resumes interviewing candidates. Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery and Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht are scheduled to interview at Halas Hall over the next two days, with Licht leading off. The reason for the lull in the process is both men had other responsibilities this week with Senior Bowl practices being held in Mobile, Ala., and the Patriots preparing to face the Giants in the Super Bowl."

Tice all about putting players in position to succeed

January 26

Chicago Tribune

"It has been three weeks since Mike Tice was promoted to offensive coordinator and nearly every day since he has exchanged information with Jay Cutler. The Bears' new play-caller has hit the ground running in a role new to him even though he briefly was a candidate to become the head coach of the Raiders before the team canceled a Tuesday interview with him and hired Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. "I hoped to go through the process," Tice said. "But the timeline just didn't work out.""

Bears GM search curious

January 26

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"By the end of their poky search to find the right general manager to get back to the Super Bowl, the Bears might find it necessary to make a deal with the devil. Not really, but it is fun to note that GM finalist Phil Emery once went by the nickname "Satan.'' I wonder if Virginia McCaskey knows. The demonic moniker came from Emery's days as strength coach at the Naval Academy when players called him that because of his hellish conditioning workouts. The ability to make Midshipmen puke doesn't mean Emery can make the Bears NFC North champions again or automatically makes him a better choice than Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht. But it speaks to an indefatigable, unrelenting"

Van Pelt may be last man standing for Bears

January 26

Chicago Tribune

"When the Bears initiated their search for a quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator to pair with Mike Tice, former Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt was on the list. As the search continues, fired Bucs head coach Raheem Morris sees no reason why the 41-year-old Van Pelt shouldn't be near the top of that list. "I think the world of Alex,'' Morris said from the Senior Bowl, where he is scouting as the Redskins' defensive backs coach. "As far as being a football mind and being smart and sharp … a guy who can come in with a detailed plan and dynamic ideas to find a way to score, Alex is definitely one of those guys.''"

Urlacher says Toradol use isn't rampant

January 25

Chicago Tribune

"Brian Urlacher's sprained knee is coming along just fine, and his progress has nothing to do with taking pain medicine. "The rehab is going good," Urlacher told the Tribune on Tuesday. "It's still not where I want to be, but the knee gets better and better every day. It's just stiff, but the range of motion is getting better. I still can't play golf though." Urlacher did not need surgery to repair the medial collateral ligament damage he suffered in the last game of the season against the Vikings, but it will prevent him from playing Sunday in the Pro Bowl."

New Bears GM can reshape scouting staff

January 25

Chicago Tribune

"Jerry Angelo's replacement as Chicago Bears general manager will have flexibility with his staff as the team's six college area scouts and three pro personnel scouts are believed to be coming out of contract after the NFL draft. In the past, the Bears staggered two-year contracts for their college scouts so half would be up one year and half the next. Because of the NFL lockout, the Bears re-signed scouts to one-year deals last year and now Chris Ballard, Marty Barrett, Rex Hogan, Ted Monago, Mark Sadowski and Jeff Shiver are coming out of contract."

Brian Urlacher gets injections to play

January 24

ESPN.com

"Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher loves the game so much that he gets pain-killing injections and would not admit to feeling like he had a concussion in order to stay on the field. Urlacher appeared on "Real Sports" on HBO and said that he has been shot up with Toradol, an anti-inflammatory that can decrease pain by reducing inflammation. "It's normal," Urlacher told "Real Sports". "You drop your pants, you get the alcohol, they give you a shot, put the Band-Aid on and you go out and play." Kremer points out in the segment that regularly using the drug can lead to kidney failure and gastrointestinal bleeding. Urlacher professed to not know the side effects but says it didn't really"

Bears' GM search down to Chiefs' Phil Emery, Patriots' Jason Licht

January 24

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears whittled their list of five general-manager candidates to two, and they'll conduct a second round of interviews with Phil Emery of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jason Licht of the New England Patriots later this week at Halas Hall. Eliminated from contention were Marc Ross of the New York Giants, Jimmy Raye of the San Diego Chargers and Tim Ruskell, the Bears' director of player personnel. The Bears were free to interview Emery at any time. But they needed written permission from the Patriots to interview Licht again because New England will play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 against the Giants in Indianapolis."

Bears' Urlacher admits he uses painkiller Toradol

January 24

Chicago Tribune

"Beating the Vikings in the season finale isn't the only thing that made the pain go away for Brian Urlacher The Bears middle linebacker acknowledged he uses the painkiller Toradol in the latest edition of "Real Sports" on HBO. "You drop your pants, you get the alcohol, they give you a shot, put the Band-Aid on, you go out and play," Urlacher told interviewer Andrea Kremer. "Not that big of a deal.""

Source: No Bears decision yet on GM job

January 24

Chicago Tribune

"And then there were two. The Bears have whittled down their search for a new general manager to two men, Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery and Patriots director of pro scouting Jason Licht. Both are expected to get second interviews later this week. The Bears have eliminated two outside candidates, Jimmy Raye of the Chargers and Marc Ross from the Giants, as well as in-house candidate Tim Ruskell."

Bears' Tillman a finalist for Walter Payton Man of Year Award

January 23

Chicago Tribune

"Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and Ravens center Matt Birk are finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. The award will be presented Feb. 4 in Indianapolis, when The Associated Press announces the winners of its annual NFL honors, including Most Valuable Player. The only league award that recognizes a player's community service as well as his playing excellence, the Walter Payton winner will have a $20,000 donation made in his name to his favorite charity."

Hurd changes lawyers, will plead not guilty

January 22

San Antonio Express-News

"San Antonio's Sam Hurd, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, has changed lawyers and plans to plead not guilty in his federal drug-trafficking case this week, his new lead attorney said. On Friday, Hurd, 26, replaced David Elliott Kenner and Brett Allen Greenfield of California with Michael McCrum of San Antonio and Jay Ethington of Dallas. Both are former assistant U.S. attorneys — McCrum in the San Antonio-based Western District of Texas and Ethington in the Dallas-headquartered Northern District of Texas. "We filed a motion entering the case, and we'll be waiving (Hurd's) arraignment," McCrum said."

Harbaugh overcame challenges the Chicago way

January 22

Chicago Tribune

"In 42 years as an NFL executive, Bill Tobin encountered only one other player who matched Jim Harbaugh's competitiveness. Perhaps you have heard of Walter Payton. "Harbaugh and Payton were the two most competitive guys I was ever associated with,'' Tobin recalled. So the former Bears player personnel director still finds amusing the time he caught the gung-ho quarterback with his guard down. Nobody expected the Bears to select Harbaugh 26th overall in the first round of the 1987 draft, not even the intuitive Michigan quarterback. That was obvious when Harbaugh eagerly rushed to old Halas Hall from his parents' home in Kalamazoo, Mich., and showed up wearing a case of the chicken pox — but"

Phil Emery seen as favorite for Bears' GM job

January 21

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears wrapped up their fifth interview in five days Friday with general- manager candidates. And they felt strongly enough about the pool that they won't expand it. So Jason Licht of the New England Patriots, Jimmy Raye of the San Diego Chargers, Marc Ross of the New York Giants, Tim Ruskell of the Bears or Phil Emery of the Kansas City Chiefs will replace Jerry Angelo. If the hunches of three league sources are correct, Emery is the leader in the clubhouse. Emery is the Chiefs' college scouting director, and he served in the same capacity under Ruskell in Atlanta. Before that, Emery worked as an area scout for the Bears from 1998 to 2004. He's considered a "grinder," a college scout"

Emery brings wealth of experience to Bears table

January 21

Chicago Tribune

"There should be no surprises if the Bears hire Phil Emery as general manager. Emery, who interviewed for the job Friday, worked as an area scout for the Bears for six years under Mark Hatley and Jerry Angelo, so he is a familiar face at Halas Hall. And beyond that, the Chiefs' college scouting director is a straight shooter who is not difficult to figure. Here's how former Tribune In the Wake of the News sports columnist Michael Holley described Emery in his book War Room: "He worked at the Naval Academy for seven years, so he's not a career military man, although he does sound like one: His voice is clear and commanding. … He's got an iPad in front of him with his notes as well as reports"

In-house candidate Tim Ruskell interviews for Bears' GM job

January 20

Chicago Sun-Times

"Tim Ruskell, the Bears' interim general manager, interviewed to replace Jerry Angelo full-time on Thursday. Ruskell established himself in Tampa, alongside Angelo, working under Rich McKay. When McKay was hired as the president and general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, he named Ruskell as his assistant GM. Then, in 2005, Ruskell was named general manager of the Seattle Seahawks. Ruskell helped the Seahawks advance to a Super Bowl and win three division titles, but he was fired in December 2009."

Ruskell has solid draft record

January 20

Chicago Tribune

"When Tim Ruskell took over the Seahawks in 2005, he inherited a head coach. He made some roster adjustments to a team that had potential. And the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl. If he takes over the Bears in 2012, he will be in a similar situation. "If not for some of the tweaks and changes he made to that Seahawks team, I'm not sure we get to the Super Bowl in 2005," Tod Leiweke said of Ruskell drafting linebackers Lofa Tatupu (2005 defensive rookie of the year, Pro Bowler) and Leroy Hill (7.5 sacks, Pro Bowler), and acquiring veterans such as receiver Joe Jurevicius (10 touchdowns) and defensive end Bryce Fisher (nine sacks)."

Matt Forte medically cleared

January 19

ESPN.com

"Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte has been cleared to participate in the upcoming Pro Bowl after his injured knee checked out OK during a team administered physical, the club announced on Thursday. Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after he suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. The tailback finished the year with 1,487 yards from scrimmage, good enough numbers to earn Forte his first-ever spot on the NFC Pro Bowl roster."

If Mike Tice leaves for Raiders, Bears are in trouble

January 19

Chicago Sun-Times

"A day after the Bears' 8-8 season ended, coach Lovie Smith was optimistic that his assistants would be in demand. "Hopefully, we'll have guys on our staff that get an opportunity to move up," Smith said. "I would like to see where some guys on our staff would get the opportunity to be head coaches in the NFL, too." After interviewing for the Miami Dolphins' head-coaching position, Dave Toub signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday."

Ross merits high marks from bosses

January 19

Chicago Tribune

"The Bears would like to be where the Giants are, preparing for the NFC championship game. Maybe one of the men who helped the Giants get there, college scouting director Marc Ross, one day can help the Bears get there as well. The Bears interviewed Ross for their vacant general manager position Wednesday. He was the third candidate to be interviewed after Patriots pro personnel director Jason Licht and Chargers personnel director Jimmy Raye. The team also is scheduled to interview Bears personnel director Tim Ruskell on Thursday and Chiefs college scouting director Phil Emery on Friday."

No security at safety position

January 19

Chicago Tribune

"Eighth in a 10-part series A year after the Chicago Bears had both safeties start all 16 games for the first time since 2001, there was more change than ever in 2011. The Bears had a different starting combination in six of the first seven games and used a total of eight combinations in a dizzying rate of turnover that exceeded anything we've seen during the Lovie Smith era. The strong safety didn't have consecutive starts until Nov. 7 and Nov. 13. Starting safeties now have changed 56 times under Smith since 2004."

Football 'lifer' latest GM candidate to talk with Bears

January 18

Chicago Tribune

"If the Bears hire Jimmy Raye as their next general manager, they will hire someone who has been immersed in football since the time he was wearing diapers. Raye, who interviewed with Bears management Tuesday, has been around a college team that featured Earl Campbell and a pro team that featured Eric Dickerson. So it's no wonder he had a hand in the Chargers drafting LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner, Darren Sproles and Ryan Matthews."

Toub gets 2-year deal to stay with Bears

January 18

Chicago Tribune

"The Bears will not lose one of their most significant free agents: Special teams coordinator Dave Toub received a two-year contract Tuesday that should keep him in place through 2013. Toub, who interviewed to become the head coach of the Dolphins, was informed he no longer is in the running for that job."

Raiders request permission to interview Bears' Tice

January 18

Chicago Tribune

"The general manager job the Bears are working to fill might not be the only prominent position the organization needs to address for the coming season. It's now possible recently promoted offensive coordinator Mike Tice could be headed elsewhere. According to a club and NFL sources, the Raiders have requested permission to interview Tice for their head coaching position. In accordance with NFL rules, the Bears must grant permission, unlike the move they made Monday when they blocked secondary coach Jon Hoke from interviewing with the Vikings for their defensive coordinator position. Tice did not reply to messages from the Tribune."

Mike Martz retires from coaching

January 17

Chicago Sun-Times

"Thirty-eight years after starting his career at a Fresno, Calif., high school, Mike Martz decided to retire from coaching Monday. "It's time," Martz told the Sun-Times. His greatest pupil disagrees. "He's a great teacher of the game and has great knowledge of the game, and he has so much to share," two-time MVP Kurt Warner said. "It's disappointing. But it doesn't fully surprise me." Warner pointed to a conversation he had with Martz a couple of years ago, when the coach lamented if the right opportunities would be available to him."

Bears don't let Hoke interview for Vikings' defensive coordinator job

January 17

Chicago Tribune

"For the second straight offseason, the Bears have denied an assistant coach an opportunity to become a coordinator elsewhere. The Bears on Monday declined a request by the Vikings to interview defensive backs coach Jon Hoke for their vacant defensive coordinator position on Leslie Frazier's staff. Hoke, who completed his third season on Lovie Smith's staff, has one year remaining on his contract. It is probable the Bears said no because the Vikings are an NFC North rival. But that wasn't a factor last February when the team prevented offensive line coach Mike Tice from interviewing with the Titans to become their offensive coordinator, and it's a delicate issue telling an employee he can't"