The Bears this morning "began a major house cleaning" by firing both coach Marc Trestman and GM Phil Emery, according to sources cited by Mark Potash of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Trestman becomes the "first Bears coach to be fired after fewer than three seasons since the end of the George Halas era." The Bears' record got worse in each of Trestman's two seasons, but the "impression, if not the reality, that Trestman did not have control of his locker room also contributed to his demise." His "clumsy handling" of LB Lance Briggs "missing the first day of practice prior to the season opener to attend the grand opening of his restaurant in Elk Grove, Calif. ... gave the impression that players were walking over Trestman." His "ineffectual leadership took an even bigger hit" when offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer "leaked criticism of Jay Cutler to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport after the Bears lost to the Cowboys 41-28 on Dec. 4." Trestman "didn’t help his rapport with many players when he decided against firing Kromer despite the obvious breach of trust" (SUNTIMES.com, 12/29). In Chicago, Campbell & Biggs note "monumental changes were anticipated as the Bears limped to the end of a 5-11 season marred by dysfunction, underachievement and lopsided losses." Trestman's "lead-from-behind style and aversion to hierarchical roles within the team proved to be an ill fit for a roster that included an inconsistent quarterback, an outspoken star receiver and several defensive veterans who longed for Trestman’s predecessor." Emery's departure is "directly tied to the failures of Trestman," who was picked "over fellow finalist Bruce Arians, a move that has been widely skewered with Arians reviving the Arizona Cardinals." Emery also was held accountable for signing Cutler to a seven-year extension, a move "he felt would stabilize the team at its most important position, yet backfired with Cutler’s ongoing struggles throughout 2014" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 12/29).
MOVES COME BACK TO HAUNT EMERY: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes one of the "worst things that Phil Emery did was sign Jay Cutler to that $127 million contract, ensuring that he would be not only their franchise quarterback this year, but also next year." The deal ties the "entire organization to a quarterback that has gotten frankly several coaches fired." Rapoport: "I'm also told by Bears sources that Emery rankled people in the building just in the way he dealt with people was not considered professional by all members of the Bears organization. It was a three-year tenure. It was not good. ... In short in Chicago, nothing good came out of the tenure of Phil Emery” (“NFL AM,” NFL Network, 12/29).
