Free Republic

The first rule of public relations disasters is to change the narrative as quickly as possible. With that in mind, I’ll give Family Glazer a cookie for their rapid response in turning the 4-12 stench that was sooooo last season into a Loviefest. Well done. New coach Lovie Smith is a proven winner with local ties, and having a team that competes for the playoffs every year would certainly be refreshing. Call me jaded, though, on at least one big point. I’m not sure even winning automatically will fill Raymond James Stadium every Sunday and beyond. I think fans are...

Bucs and Lovie Smith reached agreement, as @JayGlazer reported. Deal had been in works for days. Smith was favorite all along. Back to Bucs.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2014

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith wants African-Americans to “be patient and look into the future,” setting aside any disappointment in President Obama to actively support his campaign for a second term. “Our future’s looking bright, because I trust the man who’s leading us. And that man is Barack Obama,” Smith, 53, says in a new Obama campaign Web video to promote the group African-Americans for Obama. “I have the president’s back, and it’s up to us as African-Americans to show that we have his back also.” Ninety-six percent of black voters in the latest ABC News-Washington Post poll say...

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...