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Full-blown Bears house-cleaning could be coming

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Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s predictions regarding the team’s future could end up being a lot more accurate than many of his passes this year.

Cutler recently acknowledged that “everyone could get axed.”  There’s chatter in league circles that that could indeed be the case.

By “everyone,” the scuttlebutt includes everyone.  From coach Marc Trestman to G.M. Phil Emery to team president Ted Phillips, who has held the position for nearly 16 years.

Cutler could still stay, depending on who gets the coaching job going forward.  With Mike Shanahan, who traded up to draft Cutler nearly nine years ago, making it clear that he wants to get back into the NFL, Shanahan becomes the obvious pick to try to turn Cutler around — if ownership decides not to bite the bullet on the millions still owed to Cutler under the contract negotiated by Emery or to give Cutler away to another team to avoid paying the money.

Regardless, big changes could be coming in Chicago after one of the worst seasons the franchise has endured.

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90 Responses to “Full-blown Bears house-cleaning could be coming”
  1. buckybadger says: Dec 27, 2014 10:37 AM

    Shouldn’t have fired the last guy. That is what you get for making a knee jerk reaction and hire a CFL guy. Have fun rebuilding again.

  2. redngold1 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:38 AM

    I think the Bears are one of the teams poking their fingers in the Jim Harbaugh pie out here in the Bay Area.

  3. doctorrustbelt says: Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM

    I distinctly remember the national media hailing Marc Trestman as the second coming of Jesus Christ.

    It must be true… they are now crucifying him.

  4. icabodslip says: Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM

    We also need to clean house in the Unites States Congress and get rid of the right-wing obstructionists. Only their gerrymandering allows this nonsense to continue.

  5. dolfan72 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM

    I wish Miami had this gumption! They’re doing it piecemeal! FIRE JOE PHILBIN!

  6. josh4519 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:41 AM

    Give Cutler a good offensive line and put him in a system which plays to his strengths. He may be fun to hate on but he’s a lot better than a lot of QB’s in the league, especially with a weak draft and free agency year coming up.

  7. jimmysee says: Dec 27, 2014 10:42 AM

    It’s been painful to watch what is going on in Chicago.

    When it happens to the Vikings, it’s entertaining.

    But when it happens to the Bears, it’s painful.

    This from a Packers fan who has worked in Chicago and has tons of respect for the Bears, their history, and their fans.

  8. larryboodry says: Dec 27, 2014 10:42 AM

    Two days and counting…About time, too.

  9. mialto says: Dec 27, 2014 10:43 AM

    Ted Philips is an accountant running an NFL franchise. Glad to see he could potentially be moving on. So long Teddy, Trestman, Tucker.

  10. bert1913 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:47 AM

    “bear down” lol

  11. rufustfirefly1303 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:47 AM

    mike shanahan? lol. bring in Clinton portis too

  12. coltscamp says: Dec 27, 2014 10:48 AM

    icabodslip says: Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM

    We also need to clean house in the Unites States Congress and get rid of the right-wing obstructionists. Only their gerrymandering allows this nonsense to continue.
    ——

    You do realize that there are really very few right-wingers in congress, right? And that the democrats controlled congress and the White House for a few years? Your blame assignment ignores history and the facts.

  13. larryboodry says: Dec 27, 2014 10:49 AM

    “Shouldn’t have fired the last guy.”

    Yeah…The guy who currently is in line for the first pick in next year’s draft.

  14. bearmeat81 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:49 AM

    It sounds like the McCaskeys are finally getting something right post Lovie Smith. They are finally acknowledging the truth that the Bears are going to be terrible for years. So you might as well admit a complete reset is needed and burn it all to the ground.

    The entire team – especially the D – needs a makeover. The only players worth keeping (with their contracts in mind) are Forte, Long, Jeffrey and Fuller. Mayyybe Marshall. Maybe. That leaves 49 dudes having to go. And the option of salary cap hell with a QB whose contract cripples the team (considering his level of play) or no franchise QB and a lower draft pick (which they’ll probably have to ship to get rid of Pouty-face).

    It’s going to be really hard to attract top level front office and coaching talent to that dumpster fire in Chicago though. It’s like running the Raiders at the end of Skeletor’s life: Yeah, you could do it, but why? You’re perennially a loser, always under the gun, and serve at the whim of an owner who doesn’t know his stuff.

  15. tommytd says: Dec 27, 2014 10:49 AM

    If the McCaskey clan ever wants another whiff of a Superbowl they would be well served to bring in some football people to run their operation because it’s clear from years of futility that they haven’t a clue.

  16. 700levelvet says: Dec 27, 2014 10:49 AM

    It’s a business and they have failed… Miserably, of course a house cleaning in coming.

  17. leatherface2012 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:51 AM

    the maid will be told she needs to buy her own lemon pledge, to which she’ll reply “nooooo”.

  18. illiniftw says: Dec 27, 2014 10:54 AM

    buckybadger says: Dec 27, 2014 10:37 AM

    Shouldn’t have fired the last guy. That is what you get for making a knee jerk reaction and hire a CFL guy. Have fun rebuilding again.
    ———————————————

    Lovie isn’t exactly crushing it in TB. Trestman didn’t work out but it was time to try something new

  19. sojournofred says: Dec 27, 2014 10:57 AM

    Everyone thinks they’re so smart with this Shanahan fit – it’s not like Cutler was a superstar under him. He was just as Jay Cutler with him. Was the problem this season with the scheme, or Cutler’s execution???

    Parcells said you are what your record says you are – I understand that they owe him bags of money, but Cutler is what his record says he is. In 6 of his 9 seasons he has been .500 or worse. In the 3 winning seasons, they didn’t make the playoffs in 2 and in the 3rd he beat an 8-8 team in the Divisional round and then couldn’t finish the Title Game against the Pack.

    He’s not going to wake up one day and start being an elite QB!!!

  20. bassplucker says: Dec 27, 2014 10:59 AM

    Pleease let this be true. It would be the best Christmas gift a Bears fan could receive.

  21. eljefe322 says: Dec 27, 2014 10:59 AM

    Phil Emery was a bad hire. Marc Trestman was a bad hire. Ted Phillips is overmatched.

    I don’t have any problem with the firing of Lovie – his offenses were always awful (except for the Super Bowl season). And, one year into his Tampa Bay tenure, he has another terrible offense.

    But I wanted Arians and Emery chose Trestman, and that was a terrible choice. And Emery has made some very questionable draft picks. And the defense is horrible and at least Lovie always made that work.

    So everybody needs to go.

  22. mancave001 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:02 AM

    dolfan72 says:
    Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM
    I wish Miami had this gumption! They’re doing it piecemeal! FIRE JOE PHILBIN!
    —–

    That’s delusional. Your franchise is making steady progress.

  23. mshawn75 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:04 AM

    Shanahan? LOL. Cutler was 17 -20 (as a starter) under Shanahan. Shanahan is 116 – 109, without Elway. Sounds like another .500 move

  24. TheWizard says: Dec 27, 2014 11:05 AM

    need to clean house in the Unites States Congress and get rid of the right-wing obstructionists

    Your timing is a little off, you just got blasted in an election.

    If the Bears keep Cutler and fire Trestman, the next coach will knows he’ll be married to the guy no matter what. Imagine Cutler’s attitude under those circumstances. Good luck getting a top level coach to buy into that.

  25. mancave001 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:05 AM

    Lovie isn’t exactly crushing it in TB. Trestman didn’t work out but it was time to try something new

    ———-

    After a 10-6 season, a Super Bowl appearance, and personnel issues beyond his control? Look, I’m not a big Lovie Smith fan, but you don’t fire a guy in that position. That would have been like firing Andy Reid in 2005.

  26. doe22us says: Dec 27, 2014 11:06 AM

    Last i checked this was a football site, comment on politics and all that good stuff elsewhere.

  27. mnfaninil says: Dec 27, 2014 11:07 AM

    It always amazes me when a team puts everything into one player (i.e. Cutler) and then don’t put a great OL in front of him. Cutler is great when he has time, but horrible when he is asked to play with pressure.

    The signing of 32 year old Allen was a weak attempt at fixing a defense that was already aging and without talent. Throw into the mix a CFL guy who has as much carisma as a can of tuna and you have what you have….a mess. The guy who made those decisions should be replaced based on those moves alone.

    Flush the toilet and move on with a fresh stool.

  28. fordmandalay says: Dec 27, 2014 11:10 AM

    I’m still predicting Jay Cutler goes to the Cardinals next year.

  29. kansacity88 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:10 AM

    YES!!!!!!! Get Ted outta there! Sad thing is though, they’ll replace him with one of the McCaskey sons! Unless they give whoever they hire full responsibility of all personnel choices. But oh well…….bring back Rivera as DC.

  30. mancave001 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:10 AM

    icabodslip says:

    We also need to clean house in the Unites States Congress and get rid of the right-wing obstructionists. Only their gerrymandering allows this nonsense to continue.
    ——

    Yes, if the Republicans would only just go along with things they and their constituients deeply oppose because they don’t think they work. See, people are frustrated with gridlock! Right? WRONG. If people didn’t like gridlock, the would have elected a Democratic Congress. Those “right wing obstructionists” you mention are what the Founding Fathers intended. Our system is set up to make sure activist liberal lunatics can’t use government to take our freedom and prosperity at their every whim.

  31. burgandy2260 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:15 AM

    I think they need to bring in a football minded person to oversee everything. Phillips is a business man not a football guru. George McCaskey if you want to change the perception of our beloved then the first meeting you have post 2014 season should be with Bill Polian. Grab Luca Brazi and make Polian an offer he can’t refuse. Make him the head of football operations and let him run with it. And if you can’t land Polian then get Ron Wolf out of his vacation splender. Don’t give the reigns to a head coach give it to someone who lives and breaths success. And Polian’s first hire should be REX RYAN! Time to get some swagger back!

  32. beerbratscheese says: Dec 27, 2014 11:18 AM

    As a Packers fan, I hope the Bears get turned around quickly. As far as I’m concerned, this is the greatest rivalry in all of sports, and it’s just not fun watching one team struggle like this.

    Sure, it’s fun beating the Bears twice a year, but when they are playing like they are this season, it takes a bit of luster off the wins.

    Do whatever you have to do to get back to being competitive. Just……keep Jay Cutler, please.

  33. tinbender2000 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:19 AM

    coltscamp says: Dec 27, 2014 10:48 AM

    icabodslip says: Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM

    We also need to clean house in the Unites States Congress and get rid of the right-wing obstructionists. Only their gerrymandering allows this nonsense to continue.
    ——

    You do realize that there are really very few right-wingers in congress, right? And that the democrats controlled congress and the White House for a few years? Your blame assignment ignores history and the facts.
    coltscamp, you don’t have a clue what a right winger is do you? Sheesh, it you don’t know what something means, look it up first before you post.

  34. kev86 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:20 AM

    Not a Bears fan and thought the Treatman higher was a calculated risk worth taking. Kudos to Bears if they are deciding to clean house in an effort to make it right.

  35. milkcan44 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:20 AM

    Ted Phillips will never be fired, but he may start to be limited only to running the nonplayer finances.

  36. chuckxx says: Dec 27, 2014 11:24 AM

    Emery had a nice job in K C for years. He probably should have kept it. Sometimes the grass really isn’t greener on the other side.

  37. abearsfansince1978 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:25 AM

    What a shame to see this storied franchise look like this. Thank you Mr. Emery!

  38. chiadam says: Dec 27, 2014 11:25 AM

    “After a 10-6 season, a Super Bowl appearance, and personnel issues beyond his control? Look, I’m not a big Lovie Smith fan, but you don’t fire a guy in that position. That would have been like firing Andy Reid in 2005.”

    He made the playoffs once in his last six seasons. The Super Bowl was in 2006, and they lost it. It was time to go.

  39. howiehandles says: Dec 27, 2014 11:27 AM

    “Shouldn’t have fired the last guy”

    Missed the playoffs, 5 of previous 6 years.

    “I distinctly remember the national media hailing Marc Trestman as the second coming of Jesus Christ.”

    It was written as a curious, and ambitious hire.No one claimed he was the second coming. Quit making stuff up. The hiring was questioned, and most said it had the potential of a sneaky good hire.

  40. howiehandles says: Dec 27, 2014 11:28 AM

    Phillips isn’t getting fired. He makes too much money for them. Just remove him from any football related hires or boards. Keep him on the financial end where he belongs.

  41. bassplucker says: Dec 27, 2014 11:28 AM

    The best thing that could happen for the Bears is to lose big to the Vikings tomorrow and look bad doing it. In other words, play like they have played most of this season. That will squash any remaining doubt about what has to happen on Black Monday and keep the powers that be from waffling and dragging it out.

  42. masher1965 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:33 AM

    I think the entire coaching staff will be fired . as for Emery and Phillips, I extremely doubt it. I base that simply on the signing of Garza to a 1 year contract, which makes no sense if Emery and /or Phillips were going to be fired. Emery had to be told his job was safe in order to make that move , why burden a new GM with a new contract ?? ( at least that is logical , but it IS the Bears )
    Now as for Mike Shanahan, I don’t know if the Bears would hire him, I am thinking they would rather have KYLE Shanahan as OC if possible , that is just my opinion, nothing more. Mike Shanahan will want more power than Emery would want to give. IF they happen to fire Emery, maybe Shanahan gets GM/Head Coach ?? However, I seriously doubt the Bears do that again after Wannstedt .
    As for Cutler, he will be here for 2 more years. No other team will trade for him, and the ridiculous trade scenario that Adam Schefter reported about the Bears trading Cutler PLUS the 1st round pick is beyond moronic. If the Bears do that, the entire management should be fired on the spot . Giving up a 1st round pick and the starting QB when the Bears need so much defensive help and there is no backup is saying they want to lose all 16 games .

  43. gfcf42489 says: Dec 27, 2014 11:34 AM

    Um, Democrats took control of the both the Congress and Senate from 2006 to 2010. Don’t forget that the economic crash, which occured in late 2007 and 2008, happened on their watch.

    You can blame Bush all you want but the facts don’t lie. For most of his presidency, which also included a Republican congress, the economy was in good shape. Excluding his final two years when the Dems took control, economic numbers were actually better under Bush than Obama’s entire terms — full time jobs were in abudance and pay was good. People got decent raises.

    And people still forget that the moment George W. took office, Clinton had handed him a recession. Just look up “Recession of 2001.” So much for that economic boom Slick Willie supposedly gave us…

  44. rextraordinaire says: Dec 27, 2014 11:35 AM

    Oh my gosh.
    Of they give Ted Phillips the boot, his replacement might actually be willing to redo the turf at Soldier Field.

  45. jojopuppyfish says: Dec 27, 2014 11:37 AM

    Hire Dave Toub

  46. greengoldandbold says: Dec 27, 2014 11:43 AM

    Little known fact, George Halas helped the Packers with a cash loan in 1930. Mr Halas also came to Green Bay in the 50’s to speak on behalf of the Packers to raise funds to build a new stadium, which is now Lambeau Field.

    As much as we hate the Bears, we have a high level of respect for the Chicago Bears, George Halas, and their history.

    The Vikings we just plain hate with NO respect for the team or their idiot fans.

  47. FireMelTucker says: Dec 27, 2014 11:45 AM

    Folks it isn’t Monday yet so don’t get excited….remember this is the Franchise that hired a Head Coach and changed his VoiceMail BEFORE THEY AGREED TO A CONTRACT…sorry Dave McGinnis, you’d have been a great hire.

    Ted isn’t going anywhere, he’s the Son Virginia never had (see Mike McCaskey)….but if we can keep his fingers out of the Football pie it will be much better. Realize he approves Contracts – would you have approved the Cutler contract?

    They thought Trestman would be acceptable – I want acceptable FROM MY DRY CLEANERS, not my Head Coach!

    Emery is a nice SCOUT, but not a GM.

    Fingers crossed the Tuesday morning Trib has some good Headlines for us.

  48. buckybadger says: Dec 27, 2014 11:50 AM

    larryboodry says:
    Dec 27, 2014 10:49 AM
    “Shouldn’t have fired the last guy.”

    Yeah…The guy who currently is in line for the first pick in next year’s draft.

    ————————–

    Well since you like to judge so quickly on a first year I can see why your team is constantly rebuilding and starting over.

  49. purpleguy says: Dec 27, 2014 11:52 AM

    Christmas with my Bears fan in-laws isn’t always the most enjoyable thing in the first place, but geez has their NFL team got them crabby. It’s amazing how an NFL team’s performance can impact a fan’s mood.

    It’s similarly amazing how the mere existence of another team and their fans can result in pure irrational hate. Merry Christmas Packers fans.

  50. buckybadger says: Dec 27, 2014 11:55 AM

    “Lovie isn’t exactly crushing it in TB. Trestman didn’t work out but it was time to try something new”

    —————-

    Now you have try something new again. Why do you Bears fans judge Lovie on one year of taking over a bad situation? Trestman took over a team that was ready to win and now you have to start completely from scratch. I bet you go through another 2 coaches before you get someone as good as Lovie again.

  51. realitycheckbaby says: Dec 27, 2014 11:58 AM

    Love it.

    Hire the retread Shanahan.

    After all, he and Quitler tore it up in Denver just as he and Bob did in DC.

    LOL

    There’s a reason some teams remain MEDIOCRE.

  52. tedmurph says: Dec 27, 2014 12:02 PM

    Anyone who keeps listening to Hannity or Limbaugh will never get their facts straight. The Bush recession of 2007 was caused by the crash of the Housing mkt and resulting banking crisis. Both were due to Gov’t deregulation sponsored mostly by Republicans. Additional out of control spending by the Bush Administration, including a useless war in Iraq, also contributed. Only now is the economy recovering, no thanks to Republican obstructionist tactics based on their strategy that everything Obama does must be wrong.

    The so-called ‘Clinton Recession’ started in Europe and didn’t take effect in the U.S. until 2002, more than a yr after Bush took office. The Bush administration ignored signs of this, just like they did with warnings about 9/11

  53. beedubyatoo says: Dec 27, 2014 12:07 PM

    larryboodry says:
    Dec 27, 2014 10:49 AM
    “Shouldn’t have fired the last guy.”

    Yeah…The guy who currently is in line for the first pick in next year’s draft.
    —————————–
    Because of the way the Bears stumbled their way to 5 wins, the elite college qb’s available in the draft will be gone when they choose.

    Maybe that’s why they want Harbaugh in Chicago.

    Ahh, Phil, thay’s Jim not John.

  54. randomguy9999 says: Dec 27, 2014 12:09 PM

    dolfan72 says:
    Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM
    I wish Miami had this gumption! They’re doing it piecemeal! FIRE JOE PHILBIN!
    —–

    That’s delusional. Your franchise is making steady progress.

    —————————————

    no they aren’t …. Tanny is dismal and constantly blows second half leads…. Philbin is coaching his way into a hole… the D runs out of gas at the end of the 3Q every game… Tanny can’t complete a ball over 20 yards and the team is famous for never calling deep passes… the Phins are a joke and they are giving Tanny a 4th year to become an NFL QB when he’s nowhere near it. This is a guy who was on hard knocks his rookie year and couldn’t name the teams in his division…. LOL.. the Phins need to clean house too.

  55. squishman says: Dec 27, 2014 12:10 PM

    With the Minnesota Vikings, we have our coach and QB. We also have a top-flight OC who will not be on anyone’s list to be head coach. Nice to have some stability in multiple areas. This year Zimmer gets a mulligan with AP’s situation and losing our starting QB early in the year and finding out that a starting receiver (Patterson) wasn’t all he was cracked up to be. I am optimistic about the future.

  56. frankyt35 says: Dec 27, 2014 12:13 PM

    coltscamp u just made a dumb comment the GOP has controlled congress since 2010 that’s 4 years they have done nothing stop putting lies on the sports comment page please thank you and the bears do need to clean house everyone needs to go including Cutler start over again draft a QB and rebuild a younger defense and special teams that’s what the bears need to do.

  57. truths4all says: Dec 27, 2014 12:14 PM

    “tedmurph says: Dec 27, 2014 12:02 PM

    Anyone who keeps listening to Hannity or Limbaugh will never get their facts straight. The Bush recession of 2007 was caused by the crash of the Housing mkt and resulting banking crisis. Both were due to Gov’t deregulation sponsored mostly by Republicans. ”

    Poor tedmurph missed the Clinton boys crowing how they were the ones who single-handedly removed all of the Gov’t regulations for mortgages so welfare and foodstamp folks could buy houses. Too bad they did not figure out a way for them to make their mortgage payments.

    tedmurph, if you insist on lying and spewing out your fantasy world (fake) events, at least have the decency not to contradict Clinton and his boys on what they still claim as one of their keystone accomplishments. And tedmurph, remember to take your meds or the guys in white coats will be forced to come get you again since they already know where you live.

  58. jmscooby says: Dec 27, 2014 12:16 PM

    Loud Noises!

  59. ap191 says: Dec 27, 2014 12:22 PM

    It is really quite simple if you think about it: Trestman cannot adjust to opposing defenses. Throughout Trestman’s career, his offense typically fell off the wagon after year 1. If you go through the numbers, from his stint in Arizona, Oakland and others, the offensive production fell drastically. And I mean way, way down. Total yards decrease, interceptions increase and total touchdowns decreased after year one.

    From 1998 to 1999 at Arizona, his offensive passing yard production went from being ranked 8th to 27th, and his total point production went from 15th in the league (20.3 pts per game) to 31st in the league (15.3 pts per game). From 2002 to 2003 at Oakland, after being ranked 2nd (28.1 pts per game) in the league for points, his offense dropped to a pathetic 26th (16.9 pts per game) rank. Lastly, his offensive passing yard production ranked 1st in the league in 2002 and it dropped to a horrid 27th rank in the 2003 season. (Courtesy of pro-football-reference.com)

    He has his offense figured out. This isn’t the CFL where you can win multiple championships with only an 8 team league. This is the damn NFL, where the best and brightest (not all the time) are hired to dissect and out maneuver anything you throw at them. Why do you think he has been bouncing around the league for the past few decades?

  60. tws66nam says: Dec 27, 2014 12:23 PM

    Unfortunately Emery is staying as he just sjgned Garza to a new 1 year deal. That means bean counter Phillips is also staying. Hopefully Trestman, and his incompetent staff are headed out of town, especially Mel Tucker and D’Camilla. Worthless both.

  61. tedmurph says: Dec 27, 2014 12:25 PM

    In 1933 the Democratic sponsored bill Glass- Steagall was passed limiting banks affiliation with securities firms. In 1999 it was repealed in a bill sponsored by 3 Republicans(GLBA) that lifted restrictions on banks doing business with securities firms, largely causing the whole Housing/Banking crisis.

    When you have facts, you don’t have to resort to ridicule. Who exactly are the ‘Clinton Boys’?

  62. gfcf42489 says: Dec 27, 2014 12:37 PM

    Wait a minute…if the economy is “recovering” like you say it is (part-time retail jobs around Christmas isn’t my definition of a recovery), then how does Obama get any credit for it?

    Because libs have insisted that for 6 years now, Obama has no power. He’s a helpless shrub in the face of the all-mighty and very powerful Republican congress. His hands are tied and he can’t do anything. So if he is powerless like you guys say he is, why is he getting credit for any economic benefits? Shouldn’t that credit be going to the people who, you know, are actually in charge?

    It’s the same thing about gas prices. Under Obama, libs said that the president has no power over the price of gas. He shouldn’t have gotten blamed for high gas prices. And then suddenly when they start dropping (because of the Saudis flooding the market with oil), libs are giving him all the credit. Why???

  63. 1sttimepftcomment says: Dec 27, 2014 12:47 PM

    Truths4all u r 1000% correct and I’m a dem,although conservative. Tedmurph u can try to spin things all u want, ur arguement holds no weight!

  64. bchap17 says: Dec 27, 2014 12:47 PM

    tedmurph says: Dec 27, 2014 12:25 PM

    In 1933 the Democratic sponsored bill Glass- Steagall was passed limiting banks affiliation with securities firms. In 1999 it was repealed in a bill sponsored by 3 Republicans(GLBA) that lifted restrictions on banks doing business with securities firms, largely causing the whole Housing/Banking crisis.

    When you have facts, you don’t have to resort to ridicule. Who exactly are the ‘Clinton Boys’?

    ———————————–
    Good lord…

  65. msalvash says: Dec 27, 2014 12:50 PM

    starts at the top and ted phillips should be the 1st to go!!

  66. 1sttimepftcomment says: Dec 27, 2014 12:53 PM

    P S, This is a FOOTBALL site!!!!!!

  67. countduku says: Dec 27, 2014 12:54 PM

    Nothing short of the firing of Emery, Trestman, Kromer, and Tucker are acceptable. I could live with how the chips fall into place after that.

  68. ruggyup says: Dec 27, 2014 12:57 PM

    Hey buckybadger, there are thousands, yes, thousands who would love to see the Bears take Lovie back. Hell, we’d probably get people whould contribute to the moving van cost.

  69. tonebones says: Dec 27, 2014 1:02 PM

    It’s one thing to miss on a QB coming out of college. The pro and college games are so much different as far as the QB position goes. But to sign a guy to a huge contract that had already proven to be a bad QB at the NFL level is inexcusable. The Bears need a personnel guy that is at least average. Shanahan is not a personnel guy. He’s a great coach when he has QBs like Steve Young and John Elway, but Marc Trestman would be too. Most coaches would be. The Bears’ problems are not coach related. Try doing what the Packers did. They hired a coach off of a 1-15 team where he wasn’t even a coordinator.

  70. SparkyGump says: Dec 27, 2014 1:03 PM

    Jay Cutler is a quitter. He displayed it a few years ago in the playoffs. Anyone who handed out all that money to him deserves to be fired. I’m not a Bears fan but I lived in Chicago for awhile many years ago and love the city and it’s Bears fans. They deserve better.

  71. metalhead65 says: Dec 27, 2014 1:13 PM

    the way the bears have used Cutler makes as much sense as the broncos signing manning and then telling him we are switching to a offense where you hand the ball off on first and second down and then throw a screen pass on third down and none of that throwing the ball deep stuff you did in Indy. that is what the bears did when they got Cutler, the things you did well in Denver like rolling out and throwing on the run? yeah that’s nice but we don’t do that here. you will be a drop back passer and throw to our all pro kick returner as your #1 receiver. what he did under shanahan is what made them trade for him in the first place but they have spent his entire time with the bears trying to fit him into their offense instead of putting in a offense that plays to his and the players they have skill sets.

  72. codythao35 says: Dec 27, 2014 1:33 PM

    I’ve said all along that Bears need to clean the house in order to have a chance of getting better. With that though, I wouldn’t care if they stick with the current coaches just so that they can be in the bottom again every year.

  73. billh1947 says: Dec 27, 2014 1:34 PM

    For the next week or two there is certainly going to be a whole lot of interesting reading on these websites as teams cut players,coaches,GMs, and presidents.meanwhile the cream of the NFL fight their way to Arizona and the Super Bowl loving the fact they are still solid.

  74. gbfanforever says: Dec 27, 2014 1:45 PM

    They’ve had way worse seasons under Ditka and wannstead

  75. Frazier28/7 says: Dec 27, 2014 1:54 PM

    I kind of feel sorry for Bears fans, not because of this Emery mess but because of the empathy they are getting from packer fans. True Bears fans absolutely hate and despise everyone and everything associated with the green bay packers and getting sympathy from them just makes it worse.

    Thanks again for passing on Mike Zimmer, you guys would love his defense in Chicago. However, I think the 49ers blunder could turn into Chicago’s fortune and Harbaugh could be the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.

    That would be fantastic, anything to make this division better so the packers get taken off their thrown and knocked down in the rankings.

  76. edavidberg says: Dec 27, 2014 3:04 PM

    The Bears have to clean house. Their management structure is why they’ve struggled to get competent personell men and coordinators in the building.

    Phil Emery has had some good pickups but he also has had some awful ones (as anyone who has watched Shea McClelland get abused the last few seasons can attest to). But to me the nail in the coffin is the fact that he hired not just Trestman but also Trestman’s coordinators, which include two of the biggest incompetents in the league in Tucker and Decammilis. (Decammillis couldn’t even use Devin Hester properly, even though he had years of spectacular tape showing him the way to set up Hester on returns.)

    I don’t understand why you hire a coach you don’t trust to hire his own coordinators. But if you are going to hire his coordinators you have got to do better than hiring the worst ones in the league. The defense and special teams, which were so good in Lovie’s tenure, have been complete dumpster fires since those two came to town.

    The best solution for the Bears is Jim Harbaugh. If Jim wants personnel control you give it to him. Or you ask him who he wants running the personnel side and hire whoever he wants to work with. Jim Harbaugh is a hell of a football coach. He is intense and his teams will be well coached and disciplined. He is without question the best choice out there to lead the franchise.

    To me, pick number two is Rex Ryan. Of course, hiring Ryan still leaves you with finding a GM to run the personnel side of things. But Rex has done more with less than any coach out there. He’d be a great fit in Chicago.

  77. sirlurksalot says: Dec 27, 2014 3:12 PM

    As bears fan I love the respect being given by gb fans, but I love even more how they absolutely trash Minnesota and ignore detroit altogether.

  78. realfootballfan says: Dec 27, 2014 3:37 PM

    I doubt it. The Bears have never fired a coach this soon, plus they’re a cheap organization. I expect Tucker to be the sacrificial lamb, along with Cutler some way, and these two will get another crack at it next year.

  79. annes22 says: Dec 27, 2014 5:03 PM

    Dolfan72 go and support another team. The Dolphins don’t need you as a fan, that’s obvious after your comments. For a 3rd year QB Tannehill has played pretty well, and is improving. He hasn’t been in the league 10 years like some of them.

  80. abuleto says: Dec 27, 2014 5:38 PM

    If Phillips Emery Trestman Tucker & Kromer r getting whacked on black Monday who signed Garza yesterday to a 1 year extension ? The powers that continue to be. Not a good sign for this bears fan

  81. kabasaman says: Dec 27, 2014 5:44 PM

    Bear Fans Deserve Better.

  82. frankfortschooldropout says: Dec 27, 2014 6:04 PM

    icabodslip says:
    Dec 27, 2014 10:39 AM

    We also need to clean house in the Unites States Congress and get rid of the right-wing obstructionists. Only their gerrymandering allows this nonsense to continue.
    ———————————————————————-

    It’s official. The culling of comments from the board has to be comments that the NBC overlords disapprove of.
    This one might have been written by Maddow herself.

  83. masher1965 says: Dec 27, 2014 6:31 PM

    @ icabodslip , the one thing worse than one party voters is one party voters infecting everything they see with their over the top biasness and narrow mindedness . Keep the politics to the political topics, the Bears coaching situation is not political . Grow up .

  84. jpat2424 says: Dec 27, 2014 6:51 PM

    Looking forward to Black Monday

  85. trapshoot says: Dec 27, 2014 8:14 PM

    They’re gonna bring back Abe Gibron and Bobby Douglas.

  86. kabasaman says: Dec 27, 2014 8:19 PM

    George Mckaskey will either be a hero or a blunderer. He has to know that this, the most storied franchise in NFL needs to save face. He is got some tough decisions as far as to who to bring in. But, there is no doubt that the current Management are total failures . Yes , that also includes Ted Phillips. He might be a great accountant, but that’s it. Emery has proved to fans that he can’t admit to mistakes. And Testman has proved that nice guys that don’t hold anyone accountable will not win in the NFL, period.
    Please George, do the right thing. It hurts to be the laughing stock of the league. The only thing that would give the Bears instant credibility would be to hire Harbaugh.

  87. rajbais says: Dec 27, 2014 8:34 PM

    Phillips should have been fired after Wannstedt left.

    Why? Wannstedt was kept one season too long.

  88. fugginswheat says: Dec 27, 2014 10:47 PM

    Two words……Bill Polian

  89. wnstonchill says: Dec 27, 2014 11:57 PM

    As Captain Picard would say….. MAKE IT SO !!!

  90. stevejjones says: Dec 28, 2014 6:54 AM

    The support for Lovie is based on his identity and the identity of his supporters. Same folks who would close their eyes if Lovie robbed a store. Lovie failed over and over and continues to fail. Good riddance. Trestman needs to be able to hire his own d coordinator and fully reboot the old defense. Bring in a taskmaster like Shanny who knows how to deal with malcontents like Briggs. Pt him until he is sipping buttermilk. Briggs is another bum like Haynesworth.

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