Bears fire head coach

Chicago Tribune ^ | 12/29/2003

[Thane_Banquo]

Dick Jauron, 35-46 with only one winning season in five years as the Bears head coach, has been fired with one year remaining on his contract.

He got the news about 9 a.m. Monday morning in a meeting with general manager Jerry Angelo.

"Simply put, expectations were not met," Angelo said in a Monday afternoon press conference. He also said that the team needs to win "on a more consistent basis."

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Denny Green sealed his fate when he fired the big long snapper, number 68, Mike Morris, who was the heart and soul of the team. The Vikes have gone downhill from that day forward.

[mattdono]

That is very possible, even probable.

His d-line schemes with the Cowboys are well known. And, while he had some great personnel there too, the Dolphins D-line, linebacking core, and D-backs are far more talent.

One has to think that he may have, indeeed, relied too much on the talent.

[discostu]

Well they're going to have to jack up spending at some point. Having that new stadium get worse attendance that Coyotes games (much smaller arena for hockey) would be really embarassing. And as long as they're running 15 mil below the cap there's no reason for people not related to players to show up. They're currently fielding an arena league team on the NFL stage and will have to stop soon or the league might have to step in (IMHO the salary cap needs a matching floor, any team more than 10% off the cap should be fined the difference).

[mattdono]

You too, Captain Stillman.

[Solson]

Being a Bears fan, i can understand your repressed hope and constant feelings of loss. :)

GO PACKERS GO!

[mountaineer]

Angelo has no business being a GM. He gave Jauron nothing to work with.

If he's the idiot who thought signing Kordell Stewart was a bright idea, he should be tarred and feathered. Half a million Pittsburghers could have told him what a loser Kordelia is. We were happy to get rid of him, and he performed in Chicago exactly as well as anyone could have expected.

[cars for sale]

all that is politics and fair game but the Cards have to string wins or their opinion is butt like.....

[mattdono]

Actually, I am a Dolphins fan, not a Bears fan.

However, seeing as how I live in Gainesville, Florida, am a Gator fan, and have met Rex Grossman several times (very nice kid), I like to see how the kid is doing. That, not to mention that they have some of the best young (raw) talent in the NFL. Tillman, Gage, Terrell, A-Train and even Brock Forsey...these are good, young players that can be exciting to watch.

[discostu]

But how are they supposed to string wins together going against teams with more talent? The 15 mil they were reported as being under the cap this year is enough to get a star QB a star WR and beef up both lines. They could have actually put some bids out during free agency instead of hosting a fire sale. 3 of the 11 starters on last years Superbowl winning Bucs were former Cards (I think 3, maybe 2). The league is filled with ex-Cardinals many of which have nice jewelry, no coincidence there.

Speaking of puzzling free agency, does anybody have the inside line on Dillon soon to be a former Bengal? He seemed actually happy back when he was the only good player on the team, now they actually contended for a playoff spot and he can't get off the team fast enough. Is sharing the spotlight that hard for him? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, if I were in his shoes I'd be feeling like God was rewarding me for my previous loyalty.

[mattdono]

True. Again, Kordell, perhaps, is the most overrated QB ever. Even more overrated than Ryan Leaf, in my opinion, and that is saying a lot.

[Snuffington]

Denny Green sealed his fate when he fired the big long snapper, number 68, Mike Morris, who was the heart and soul of the team.

That's SUPERSTAR Mike Morris, these days. He currently does Vikings analysis on television and radio. Still seems quite popular with the current players.

[Solson]

Dolphins fan? Sorry about that as well. Why in the world did you sign Wannstedt to an extension?? The guy wins despite himself. He's a good coordinator...horrible head coach.

Grossman will be a good NFL QB. He just needs time and hopefully, a consistent coaching staff to help him.

The Bears has some good young talent but the entire Bear organization has failed to hang on to that talent once developed. That is the failure of their organization. It wasn't Jauron's issue, IMO, but the front office.

[Zack Nguyen]

How did the Bears go 13-3 (or whatever it was) one year and then do so badly all the others?

[discostu]

That's the Bears magic. Everytime they've gotten 13 wins one year they followed up the next year with 3 wins. It's a special kind of magic.

[Paleo Conservative]

So do you think this is the year Jimmy Johnson comes back?

Only if Chicago has place SCUBA dive.

[Kozak]

I just long to be able to say "DA' BEARS!" again.

Why we say it all the time in Green Bay, as in,

DA Bears Still Suck!

Oh yeah, Brett Favre had more then a little to do with Jaurons travails with Da Bears...

[mattdono]

I agree. I think that Wannstedt is a better coordinator. He was definitely in over his head with the personnel thing, which is why, I think, that you are seeing that duty is going to be given to someone else.

You absolutely right regarding Grossman. By far, the best QB to come out of the University of Florida, probably ever. I hope that his injury isn't too bad. He has a gun for an arm, a quick release, and he is smart. He learned to read a defense very well while he was at Florida and that is a huge plus in the NFL. He works through the progressions very well without getting "happy feet". That is a key to success in the NFL.

Good point on the front office in Chicago. Indeed, it would be sad to see the Bears do that (AGAIN). Myself, I like to see good classic match ups. Frankly, the Bears/Packers games have lack luster in the last decade, and that is sad.

I think that he will end up with the New York Giants, but I Tom Coughlin might be a good fit for Chicago. He is a tough, gritty type of coach who is pretty adept at working with young talent.

[mattdono]

That was actually 2 years ago, but even still. I think that is what is so puzzling to those Bears fans out there.

They lost some talent, but they didn't lose that much talent. Strange? Well, that is why Jauron is unemployed.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Maybe the NFL should go to a 'best 6 teams' format instead of division champs.

Another solution would be to eliminate 1 of the byes in each conference, and add a 7th playoff team to each. Team with the best record gets rewarded with a bye, the division champs get homefield advantage, each conference gets 3 wildcards instead of just 2(which is inadequate), and the NFL gets the revenue of 2 extra games in the first week of the playoffs. A win/win all the way around, except for perhaps the 2nd best teams losing their byes. A good tradeoff.

[Solson]

I know Coughlin was being discussed as a potential replacement for Wannstedt but now that he's staying, I don't know where Coughlin fits in yet. Chicago would probably be a good fit.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jauron as a DC once again. I wouldn't mind seeing him come back to the Pack as a DC but we've got Donatell.

McGinnis is another good coach with little talent to work with. My concern is he comes to the Vikes to coach their defense. That would stink.

So what will the Fins do about the QB situation?