Bears GM Jerry Angelo was dismissed from the team yesterday after "11 seasons and one particularly bad year," according to Brad Biggs of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. An extended run of "poor drafts, particularly on offense, finally caught up with Angelo, who arrived in 2001 with a background in college scouting." Bears President Ted Phillips said that he "surprised Angelo with the decision, which was backed by" Principal Owner Virginia McCaskey. Phillips used a search firm to "help him find Angelo in 2001," but he will "go it alone this time -- with [coach Lovie] Smith's input -- and the search starts immediately, with the Bears possibly contacting candidates working for playoff teams this week." Phillips said that the new GM will "have one restriction: Smith, who is signed through 2013, must be the coach in 2012" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/4). Phillips did not "provide a timetable, and he didn't rule out any candidates." In Chicago, Sean Jensen notes the Bears "surely will discuss" recently fired Colts Vice Chair Bill Polian, "one of the league's most respected talent evaluators." Others often mentioned for GM openings include Falcons Dir of Player Personnel Les Snead and Ravens Dir of Player Personal Eric DeCosta, who is considered the "GM in waiting whenever Ozzie Newsome retires." But according to NFL.com, DeCosta "would be open to leaving Baltimore now and that the Bears' job could 'entice' him" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/4). NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported the situation with Angelo has “been festering for awhile.” La Canfora: “I reported early in the season ... that Angelo was telling GMs and others around the league, ‘Hey, I might retire.’ Other people were were saying he might not get the chance to retire because they may make a move." He added there was a "lot of sentiment in that locker room against Angelo" because players like LB Lance Briggs and RB Matt Forte "didn't get paid" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 1/3).
HANDCUFFING NEXT HIRE? In Chicago, Dan Pompei notes the Bears will be "telling their new GM he's stuck with Smith for a bride, for better or worse." That "doesn't seem to be the best way to start a new era in Bears football." Pompei writes, "If you are going to start over with a new GM, he should have the latitude to do whatever he sees fit in the organization. This job should not come with handcuffs" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/4). Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said, “I'm more surprised that coach Lovie Smith is staying. Good luck hiring the GM that you truly want if you are going to tie his hands the minute he walks through the door” ("Chicago Tribune Live," Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 1/3). In Illinois, Mike Imrem writes more than a new GM is "in order to get this franchise to where the McCaskey ownership wants it to be." As many football minds "as possible would be a start. ... But a couple of additional registered football persons would really make the Bears' organization whole" (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 1/4).
POLIAN A FIT? NFL Network's La Canfora reported he has talked to "a lot of executives in the league," and they think Polian is "going to take a real run at the Chicago Bears opening." La Canfora: "That's a team that was playing in a championship game not that long ago. ... There’s not that many GM openings in the league. So Bill Polian maybe goes to Chicago. If that doesn't develop, then maybe at some point he does retire but I don't get the sense he’s ready just yet” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 1/3). But ESPN CHICAGO's Jon Greenberg wrote it is "valid to consider a younger executive rather than chase respected veteran Bill Polian." Greenberg: "What the Bears need is a guy who will draft football players who are ready to play football today" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 1/3).
