Bears' so-so season won't cost Lovie Smith his job — for '09 at least

Bears' so-so season won't cost Lovie Smith his job — for '09 at least
January 4 Chicago Tribune columnist David Haugh

"It has been pointed out several dozen times this week that unemployed former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan's jewelry collection includes a 1970 class ring from East Leyden High School in addition to two Super Bowl rings. The implication being Shanahan is a local even though there are probably mountains in Colorado that hadn't been scaled when he started his career in Denver.

Diligent (and dreaming) Bears backers also have e-mailed wondering if the McCaskeys realize former Steelers boss and current CBS analyst Bill Cowher has flirted with at least two NFL teams curious about him returning to the sidelines. There's something about mustachioed head football coaches oozing with machismo that Bears fans find irresistible.

To say fan support for Smith has wavered since the season ended would be like saying Americans' confidence in the economy waned in 2008.

No other reaction in recent days to the Bears' 9-7 record has been as obvious or overwhelming.

Or over-the-top.

This isn't exactly breaking news, but some people apparently need to hear these givens repeated: Soldier Field is not changing names, the Bears are keeping the C's on their helmets and Lovie Smith will remain the head football coach at Halas Hall.

If you think Jerry Angelo erred in identifying quarterback as the top off-season priority, by all means vent about receiver, pass-rusher and offensive line posing bigger issues.

If you want to complain about Brian Urlacher sticking his foot in his mouth with more gusto than he stuffed guards in the "A" gap with a rant against his critics, go right ahead.

Those are valid arguments. Saying Smith should go immediately because of the deep pool of coaching candidates is not.

The manner in which the Bears' season ended cast the entire season as a huge disappointment. Objectively, that's a false premise.

Smith and the Bears went 9-7 with a roster built for 7-9 or worse.

They lost three games to NFC South opponents Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta that could have turned on a single play in each game. But they also won three games against Philadelphia, New Orleans and Green Bay that could have gone the other way based on a single play too. Typically over a 16-game season, it all evens out.

Smith has a public persona that can make covering him as exhilarating as a five-month traffic jam. He doesn't always push the right buttons on personnel moves and can be all thumbs on Sundays. But he does have 45 victories in five seasons, and in fairness that cannot be ignored or diminished."Link