Free Republic

LAKE FOREST (AP) After turning around the St. Louis Rams' defense, Lovie Smith is taking on the Chicago Bears. Smith was hired Wednesday as the Bears new head coach, and he will be introduced at a news conference Thursday, team spokesman Scott Hagel said. Smith was given a four-year deal to replace Dick Jauron, who was fired Dec. 29. "There's a position right for everyone," Smith said Tuesday when he came to Chicago for his second interview. "And I'm hoping this position is what is right for me." The Bears focused on Smith and Pittsburgh offensive line coach Russ Grimm...

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."

CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka underwent hip surgery Saturday and was expected to make a quick recovery after a fall in his home, according to a business partner. ``He is out of surgery and doing fine,'' Ditka's Restaurant managing partner Todd Gunderson said. He was unsure whether the hip was broken or needed replacement. Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end who played most of his career with the Bears and coached them to victory in the 1986 Super Bowl, already has had both hips replaced -- one of them twice. Gunderson said Ditka was expected...