#6 IN 2015 DOESN’T MEAN #6 FOREVER
Cutting or trading Jay Cutler makes no sense – fiscally or footbally (deal with it, I am using that as an adverb). The Bears should absolutely be looking for the future at the position but in the meantime you don’t throw away the type of production Cutler provides from the quarterback position. Fans and media seem to believe keeping Cutler and looking to the position in the coming drafts are mutually exclusive concepts. They are not. But if the Bears decide to make a move away from Cutler without a replacement in place they could be doomed to another decade of nightmares at the position.
RODGERS WEIGHS IN ON KROMER
Mike Silver spoke with Aaron Rodgers regarding Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer and all that stuff he did. (To read the entire worthwhile piece, CLICK HERE.) An excerpt:
“I would have a major problem if somebody said something like that,” Rodgers said Tuesday during an interview at Lambeau Field. “I think anybody that plays the position, you can’t help but empathize with Jay for that situation. You talk all the time about being connected, being a unit, believing in each other. But if you have unnamed sources, people out there cutting you down, and then you find out it’s the person calling the plays — that would be really hard to deal with, to look at him the same way.”
Though Kromer reportedly apologized to Cutler — and the quarterback later said he “wasn’t angry” with his coordinator and that the team was in a “better place” following the meeting in question — Rodgers was far less forgiving.
“I felt for Jay that he was having to deal with that,” Rodgers said. “And I was surprised that the coach came out and admitted that it was him. I think, in general, unnamed sources are pretty gutless. But then he comes out and admits it was him. I don’t think he deserves any credit for that, but it was interesting that he did.”
I have listened to all the reasons Aaron Kromer still has a job on Marc Trestman’s staff. Not one of those reasons is good enough. But this is what happens when your head coach is not a leader of men. He forgives treasonous behavior to avoid disruption.
Here is a text I received from a former Bears player when I asked him how he’d respond to the Kromer admission: “I would never take a word he said seriously again”. Sounds like the perfect coach for the 2014 Bears.
Lovie Smith Taken For Granted?
Tony Dungy is now criticizing the Chicago Bears (again) for firing Lovie Smith two years ago, saying the organization took his success for granted. From a piece in the apparently still-in-existence Sporting News:
“Sometimes, you can get spoiled by success,” Dungy said. “Nine-, 10-, 11-win seasons, but you didn’t win the Super Bowl, so that’s unacceptable, you have to strive for more.”
First and foremost, this is ridiculous hindsight. Any coach not named Sandusky would look like Vince Lombardi compared to the current regime in charge of things. Secondly, after the brilliant success of 2005-6, Lovie’s career was the definition of mediocrity. 7-9, 9-7, 7-9, 11-5, 8-8, 10-6. One playoff appearance in six seasons. How many coaches survive one playoff appearance in six seasons?
Lovie Smith was a good head coach for the Chicago Bears. He doesn’t become a great one because Marc Trestman is incompetent.
Chris Conte Says the Darndest Things…
From a post at PFT:
“I’d rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life,” he said. “I don’t really look toward my life after football. I’ll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents.”
Chris Conte won’t be in professional football in five years (and most likely sooner than that). Then he will become acutely aware of life after football as he waits to turn 31, realizes he can’t remember why he left the house in the morning and sends audition tapes to the Pac-12 Network every August.
The NFL has to make goal number one reversing this mentality in players. It sounds insane but players simply don’t value their lives enough due to an immortality complex bred into them by decades of hero worship and weight training. They believe they are superhuman. Until the day they stop playing professional football.
CHRISTY MOORE & MY FAVORITE CHICAGO SONG
This song prominently features two of my five favorite places on earth: Chicago and Donegal.
DBB Meet & Greet
Sunday will be my first Bears tailgate in the 31st Street lot. Me, the Reverend and the entire Josie Woods crew will be drinking and slamming down meat from 9 am. Tweet or email me to stop by.
