For the second time this week, a Chicago Bears player has suggested that he’s less than thrilled with the coaching on his side of the ball.
First it was Bears wide receiver Devin Hester saying (and later backtracking) that offensive coordinator Ron Turner will be gone after the season. And now linebacker Lance Briggs is saying the Bears miss former defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, whom head coach Lovie Smith fired after the 2006 season.
“You miss some of those guys when you don’t have them, and sometimes you realize what you have when it’s not there anymore, or what you could of had when it’s not there anymore . . . ” Briggs said, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. “You think about a Ron Rivera, you think about a lot of these guys that were here.”
Just as Hester said his comments about Turner were taken out of context, it will be no surprise if Briggs softens his tone after seeing headlines like Briggs: Bears miss Rivera in the Chicago Sun-Times. But with players openly questioning the coaching staff, it’s looking increasingly like the only way Smith can save his own job is to replace a whole lot of his assistants.
Da Bears still suck.
Oooh. He shouldn’t have gone there.
No sh*t! Thank you Lance! I have been saying this for awhile.
Rivera and Turner’s contracts were both expiring the same year, Bears resign Turner and let Rivera go to Chargers.
Rivera coaches with fire, Lovie stands there and stares down his defense when they screw up. Pretty obvious which one did better.
Its the media’s position in these circumstances that dictate the fate of alot of coaches. They have made ZORN, LOVIE, and mostly MANGINI look like bafoons, when in reality, they are all decent coaches. The Bears have more injuries than I can count. Mangini has zero talent on his whole team(cribbs…ok 1 star)…and Zorn, has a team an ownership in shambles…It is really unfortunate that once the media decides he is on the “HOT SEAT”….low and Behold…he is…
SHAME ON YOU!!! and on the general sports public to run with these fabrications!!!!!
Da bears still suck.
Sure they miss Rivera, and Turner’s a lousy coordinator, but the players aren’t that great either. Wasn’t the word out of Chicago that Maranelli was supposed to jumpstart all the talent on the D-line for example?
Why did Rivera get fired after the defensive-led Bears went to the Super Bowl? Strange.
I knew it was a bad move in ’07, and I don’t think I am alone.
Does this mean we can look forward to Lovie replacing himself?
Oh and I don’t think he was fired. I believe his contract expired, and they were to dumb or cheep to renew it.
I’d say htey miss having real WRs, but I don’t think they’ve ever had them.
# leatherneck says: December 18, 2009 11:25 AM
Why did Rivera get fired after the defensive-led Bears went to the Super Bowl? Strange.
His contract wasn’t renewed. Bears are CHEAP when it comes to coaches. At one time Lovie was lowest-paid head coach.
Like PFFFFT and others said, Rivera wasn’t fired, he just wasn’t given a new contract. They negotiated with him, but couldn’t come to an agreement, and combined with the fact that at the same time they were having trouble reaching an agreement to extend Lovie Smith, Rivera jumped ship to somewhere more stable.
The Bear’s D gone from top 5 every year with Rivera to mid teens now in every category. Of course they miss the guy and Briggs should not have to back off his comments.
What the Bears miss is a QB that will actually WIN games for them and instill some confidence in the sidelines….not leave it up to everyone else to make up for his horrendous play.
Lovie, he’s that last nail in your coffin.
Lovie has lost the locker room. It’s only a matter of time before a bunch of players start chirping in the media and on Twitter. This is going to get even uglier.
# PFFFFT says: December 18, 2009 11:35 AM
# leatherneck says: December 18, 2009 11:25 AM
Why did Rivera get fired after the defensive-led Bears went to the Super Bowl? Strange.
His contract wasn’t renewed. Bears are CHEAP when it comes to coaches. At one time Lovie was lowest-paid head coach.
Wrong, It has nothing to do with cheapness. Rivera wasn’t one of Lovie’s boys and never became one. Rivera’s leaving was Lovie’s doing. Had he wanted him back, he would have been back.
Oh Ya Da Bears suck!
The Bears got old and fast. Cost Ron Rivera his job, and may cost Lovie Smith his job. Cant wait to see Lovie on those coors light commercials…
Thanks for the authoritative replies on how Rivera left Chicago.
As a Vikings fan, it might be none of my business, but the Bears just haven’t run a very tight ship in recent years.
The Bears miss having good players.
Jay Cutler is an overrated cry baby who is better at talking smack with Philip Rivers than he is at throwing the football.
Devin Hester is not a wide receiver.
Brian Urlacher is D.O.N.E.
Lance Briggs should shut up.
Yep, I’ve been saying this for 2 years.
The Bears’ collective attitude reminds me a lot of the 2008 Denver Broncos, but for the life of me I can’t come up with a connection…
Its like some force came along and sucked the heart and character out of the locker room, infected everybody with woulda-coulda-shouldas, and started a rash of extended index fingers.
Its like both teams were infected with a virus or something.
Weird.
HaHa Scoot, you are correct.
Mr. Briggs-shot is quite perceptive and intelligent and one helluva player. He hit the nail on the head. So back off, naysayers! He doesn’t say much, but when he does, it’s worth listening to.
The Bears ownership are idiots. First Rivera (yes, because of “I’m in a lithium-induced coma” Lovie), Berrien, Jones, Brown, and final nail was Orton.
Dumb dumb dumb. Seriously. A good team is all about the collective talent and consciousness of the players, with a coach who is passionate, emotional, intelligent, and perceptive.
Yup demote Cutler, use Haney. Get rid of Hester. Get rid of Pace. Most of all, get rid of Lovie Smith, Ron Turner….has anyone thought about hiring Steve McMichael for crying out loud? He did a fantastic job with his local team last year.
Who does Mr. Briggs (shot) think he is? Probably the best leader on the Bears TEAM right now. Good for him.
Now let’s see if the owners (how you have shamed a good Irish name!) will make some changes for the TEAM instead of their pocketbooks.
Of course he does, this coaching staff my Lovie, Turner, Drake, etc is a complete joke. Changes need to be made.
If you want to help out, check out our website.
Bear Fans United
da bears still suck
The Bear’s D gone from top 5 every year with Rivera to mid teens now in every category.
————
Yes BUT also remember last year! Chargers defense was horrendous then they fired Cottrell at the bye week, Rivera took over and they came from nowhere to make the playoffs then beat Indy and this year continue on to a 9-3 start under RIVERA!
What kind of idiots let him leave Chicago?
Bears have always been overrated including Briggs. Put Briggs on another team and he is “just a guy.”
Lance was talking about believing too much in the system and thinking it will make the players and not the other way around. Rivera left b/c he wanted to. He spent the whole offseason interviewing for head coaching jobs. Lovie had to get some stability not knowing if he was coming back. And as far as Lovie losing the locker room? Get out. Thats all he hasn’t lost the players know what they have. Just like in Cincy, they knew what they had in Lewis and thats why they kept him around. Look at them now.
Lovie got rid of Rivera because he wasn’t running the defense how LOVIE wanted Ron to, so he was out at the end of the season…. and now look at the Bears– it’s sad.
I_Hate_Yams says:
December 18, 2009 2:51 PM
Bears have always been overrated including Briggs. Put Briggs on another team and he is “just a guy.”
————————————————–
Pro bowl linebacker and he’s just a guy? You must be a 49er’s fan
You have to feel a bit sorry for a guy like Briggs. A great player surrounded by a bunch of bums, with a couple of average to above average guys hitting the field with him. A head coach that has no clue, Lovie couldn’t figure it out if somebody gave him Head Coaching for Dummies audio book for Christmas. Jerry Angelo couldn’t manage a draft to save his life. Rivera was competent so Lovie had to get rid of him, he was a threat to Lovie’s job.
Sadly for Bears fans, Lovie will not get fired. While the Bears organization will pay money for talent, they don’t like spending money on organizational people. If Lovie gets fired, the Bears will have to pay the remainder of his contract for nothing, while paying the new head coach’s salary. The McCaskies will not pay two salaries for one coach. I think Lovie has 2 more years on his contract (I may be wrong, I can’t remember the exact year), that’s when you can expect a new head coach in Chicago.
Keep it up Lance we want change too!
If you are a bears fan and want change please help our cause!
http://www.bearfansunited.org
# leatherneck says: December 18, 2009 11:25 AM
Why did Rivera get fired after the defensive-led Bears went to the Super Bowl? Strange.
—————————————————-
Because Lovie viewed him as a threat.
Rivera was successful, respected by the players and well liked by the fans.
He had knowledge of several types of NFL defenses while Lovie is a one trick pony with his stupid cover-2.
Lovie replaced him with his fishing buddy who could never have his job even if he took his lips off of Lovie’s ass long enough to even think about it.