And made a Super Bowl with Rex freaking Grossman as his quarterback. The only other starting quarterback in the last 15 years that was as bad as Grossman was Trent Dilfer and he played on a team with arguably the greatest defense of all time. It is nearly impossible to make a Super Bowl with a QB as bad as Grossman starting for you. Lovie will land on his feet, hopefully the Bears don't f*** up this hire but I fully expect them to.

He also had the league's best defense, special teams and a very good running game. Who cares about that one year anymore? We haven't done s*** since then and that's on Lovie.

Last night, while I was being a Packers fan, I was shocked to see Rodgers screaming at McCarthy over that challenge flag. We see a guy like Cutler yell at his teammates, sure. We even saw him do the unthinkable -- walk away from Mike Tice while he was talking to him. Have you ever seen any player get in Lovie Smith's face? Can you even imagine it?

 

This isn't a Lovie > McCarthy thing, we know McCarthy is a great coach in his own right. I do think there is something to be said for the way Lovie earned respect from his players, though.

Something like a .333 winning percentage against teams with winning records in Lovie's tenure. The Bears and their defense in particular feasted on turnover creation against weak opponents and that was never more evident than this season.

Matt Barrows ‏@mattbarrows

Kaepernick v. Manning? #49ers-Broncos is the most likely Super Bowl matchup, according to oddsmakers ....

Cutler on qualities he hopes for in new coach: "ability to hire good assistants"

James Walker ‏@espn_afceast

RT @JamesWalkerESPN: Teams like CHI and SD will be much more attractive to coaches than Buffalo because franchise QBs are already in place.

Any chance Gruden gets out of his ESPN contract? Wouldn't he be a great fit?

the tribune has a list of candidates. A couple on the list made me cringe, Caldwell and Gruden being among them.

 

Gruden may still have it in him, but after this MNF experience, I only view him as a caricature anymore, i cant take that guy seriously

the tribune has a list of candidates. A couple on the list made me cringe, Caldwell and Gruden being among them.

 

Gruden may still have it in him, but after this MNF experience, I only view him as a caricature anymore, i cant take that guy seriously

 

Lists compiled after 10 minutes of an event, typically not the most thought out.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet

#Cardinals have fired coach Ken Whisenhunt, per a team source

I could certainly deal with Gruden. I think he would command a king's ransom.

 

Jim Miller claims we're eying Brian Kelly and Nick Saban. Dear God, no.

I could certainly deal with Gruden. I think he would command a king's ransom.

 

Jim Miller claims we're eying Brian Kelly and Nick Saban. Dear God, no.

 

The Bears are also talking to McCoy

The Bears are also talking to McCoy

 

Yeah, not as bad, though I really would like a more established guy.

Jim Miller said Nick Saban and Brian Kelly are on the Emery list.

 

Kelly would be awful. No NFL experience just lends itself to a disaster.

Saban probably would want too much control, but certainly has built programs in college and has NFL experience.

James Walker ‏@espn_afceast

RT @JamesWalkerESPN: Teams like CHI and SD will be much more attractive to coaches than Buffalo because franchise QBs are already in place.

 

Except that Fitzpatrick is going to be released (at a cost savings) which allows an incoming coach to pick his QB rather than go with very mediocre options in Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet

According to my #BLACKMONDAY #math, that's three coaches who have been fired who coached in Super Bowls -- Lovie Smith, Whisenhunt, Reid

Frank Thomas ‏@TheBigHurt_35

I hope the Bears have a magical crystal ball if they think 10-6 is easy to achieve!!

 

Charles Tillman ‏@peanuttillman

Lovie Smith is a man of God, integrity, and loyalty and that's how he coached. I had the and honor to work with him for 9 years. Sad day!!

Edited December 31, 201213 yr by SOXOBAMA

Frank Thomas ‏@TheBigHurt_35

I hope the Bears have a magical crystal ball if they think 10-6 is easy to achieve!!

 

Charles Tillman ‏@peanuttillman

Lovie Smith is a man of God, integrity, and loyalty and that's how he coached. I had the and honor to work with him for 9 years. Sad day!!

 

At least Tillman isn't criticizing the move like everyone else.

 

Like Hester: I MIGHT RETIRE YOU GUYS GOT WHAT YOU WANTED BECAUSE THE TEAM DIDN'T DO WELL

Jim Miller said Nick Saban and Brian Kelly are on the Emery list.

 

Kelly would be awful. No NFL experience just lends itself to a disaster.

Saban probably would want too much control, but certainly has built programs in college and has NFL experience.

 

Brian Kelly should stay at ND.

Whisenhunt would do really good things if he had a QB like Cutler and healthy RBs like Forte and Bush.

Except that Fitzpatrick is going to be released (at a cost savings) which allows an incoming coach to pick his QB rather than go with very mediocre options in Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers.

 

Picking your own Qb and having them be good is pretty difficult to do.

Hester: I MIGHT RETIRE YOU GUYS GOT WHAT YOU WANTED BECAUSE THE TEAM DIDN'T DO WELL

 

haha. seriously?

Brian Kelly should stay at ND.

 

If he has any brains in that head he will...

I'd love to get Whisenhunt or Turner as the OC.

haha. seriously?

 

He said the fans got what they wanted and that he doesn't even know if he'll play next year.

 

I understand it's hard to watch a mentor and friend get fired, but come on.